Hope for the future, help when you need it. TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE Partnering with families to achieve stability and academic success

Introductions Housing Amanda Guthrie Housing Program Manager, BCDHHS Julia Grubb Occupancy Supervisor, BCDHHS Human Services Melissa Frank-Williams Programs Manager, BCDHHS Mollie Faughnan TBRA Program Coordinator, BCDHHS School Districts Ema Lyman MKV Liaison, Boulder Valley School District Luis Chavez MKV Liaison, St. Vrain Valley School District

Hope for the future, help when you need it. Wisdom, Best Guesses and Lessons Learned AKA : What will we be sharing with you today Introductions What is the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program : Overview and Need Nuts and Bolts of program design and implementation Program Outcomes Challenges and Barriers Community Engagement: What’s happening in your own backyard? What’s next? Panel Discussion/ Q & A Objective is to share our experience, to provide you with ideas to engage your community in conversations and initiate partnerships to provide resources and housing options for families and children.

Hope for the future, help when you need it. What do you know? On a scale of 1-3, how familiar are you with your local housing authorities and/or housing resources? 1: Extremely Familiar 2: Somewhat Familiar 3: Not Familiar

Hope for the future, help when you need it. On a scale of 1-3, how familiar are you with your local human services, i.e. TANF, Food Assistance, Medicaid, Child Welfare? 1: Extremely Familiar 2: Somewhat Familiar 3: Not Familiar

Hope for the future, help when you need it. As a front end early intervention approach, TBRA provides housing vouchers, intensive case management, and other supports to homeless or marginally housed families with children currently attending school in the County. TBRA is based on the philosophy that children who are raised in a stable home with appropriate resources tend to continue with and excel in their education, and often play a significant role in breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. What is the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program?

Skyrocketing Need for Help 16k 42k 8.9k 20k 162% increase 124% increase

Hope for the future, help when you need it. POVERTY IN BOULDER COUNTY The poverty rate is 14.2% with 6.9% (19,996 residents) living in extreme poverty. The poverty rate for single mother families with children under five is 36.2%. Families with children under 5 are more likely to experience poverty than other families. 31% of renters were considered severely cost-burdened meaning housing costs consume more than half of total household income. 29.1% is the poverty rate for residents without a High School Diploma. 15,317 Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) and St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) Students Eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (preschool through 12th grade), meaning approximately 25% of students in Boulder County Schools are at risk of hunger.

Hope for the future, help when you need it. PHILOSOPHY - COLLABORATION l Determinants of Health & Pillars of Family Stability

Housing Continuum Overview at BCDHHS An array of housing options to meet clients where they are: HSP - DHHS Eviction prevention Differential Response Utilities & Deposit or Rent Self-sufficiency focused Monthly case management Financial literacy Job-focused Lower-risk profile 4 mo to 12 mo HSP - Community Same as DHHS, but with community- based referrals Community Based Organizations Safehouse and Safe Shelter Homeless Shelter and Bridge House Deposit-only avail Family Self- Sufficiency Self-sufficiency focus 5-years of case management and rent support Focused on education and job training tracks Housing Development and housing choice Short Term Housing Emergency housing 1 to 3 months Furnished Family-focused on child safety On-site case management Transitional Housing FUP Vouchers Open child welfare cases where child is at risk of removal Family-focused on child safety Intensive case management in home Chafee eligible TBRA Program Homeless families with McKinney Vento Status Children must be enrolled in school district (BVSD or SVVSD) 2 years of intensive case management in home School and self-sufficiency focus

Hope for the future, help when you need it. “ ANY DOOR IS THE RIGHT DOOR” APPROACH TO SERVICE LINKAGE Purpose of the panel Evolution of the panel Current partners Goals for expanding the panel Post panel process

Hope for the future, help when you need it. The TBRA Program Nuts and Bolts

Hope for the future, help when you need it. TBRA is a Community-wide partnership Community-based Organizations Funders Housing Occupancy Support Landlord Relations Sect 8 vouchers Promote timely rent and utility payments Human Services Case management Resource linkage Academic advocacy Financial Stability and Employment supports School Districts Referrals Data Sharing Connections to appropriate services/personnel

Hope for the future, help when you need it. Families receive : Rental subsidy from BCHA. Families pay 30% of their income for rent with a minimum of $50 per month. Utility and security deposit assistance as needed Choice of where they wish to live in the private market (Boulder County) Housing and intensive case management support for two years and housing support after the program ends Coordinated support to achieve long-term self sufficiency goals (employment, school, child care, transportation, mental health, etc.) Advocacy and mentoring to improve academic successes of children

Hope for the future, help when you need it. Targeted Service Delivery Eligibility Criteria: Must have school-aged children enrolled in either of the County’s two school districts Qualify for McKinney-Vento services and enroll in the program Household’s income is at or below 30% area median income (AMI) All household members are lawfully present in the United States and head of household is over 18

Identification Potential families identified by District Liaisons Releases signed for communication Establishing eligibility Additional information gathered and prepared for presentation Housing Panel Reviews every two weeks Lease - up Housing Orientation Unit located and lease signed Case Management Intensive case management Coordinated case management Graduation Most families move to Housing Choice Voucher 1-2 weeks 1-3 weeks 1 to 120 days 2 years

Hope for the future, help when you need it. OUTCOMES Since the program’s inception, we’ve helped provide housing for 184 children and their families. 83% of families improved their overall self-sufficiency 95% of families improved their income 85% of children had attendance of 85% or better

Hope for the future, help when you need it.

CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES & LESSONS LEARNED LEVERAGING RESOURCES ChallengesOpportunities DepositsPartnership with CBOs Temporary Housing (hotels)Partner with local family shelter Low Vacancy RateLandlord outreach and education Measuring Academic OutcomesData sharing MOU with schools Ongoing FundingLeveraging TANF and other resources Follow up after exitProvide ongoing support network for families that are exiting the program

Hope for the future, help when you need it. PANEL DISCUSSION

Hope for the future, help when you need it. CONTACT INFORMATION: Mollie Faughnan Melissa Frank Williams Amanda Guthrie Julia Grubb Ema Lyman Luis Chavez