Presents

The Community Housing Program and Starship

Intervention Case Management..... Permanent Housing Substance Abuse Tx…….

For the Chronic Homeless

What are the goals of this program... To take chronically homeless people off the street and give them a permanent home To develop an individualized case plan to identify their personal needs To engage them and encourage them to accept services To view relapse as an expected part of the recovery process To move the client towards self-sufficiency

USING A HOUSING FIRST HARM REDUCTION MODEL

More than a quarter of a million people live in the metropolitan area that covers 128 square miles. And though Mobile offers the amenities and infrastructure of a major metropolitan area, it has retained its sense of community and friendliness. The rest of the world is taking notice: Mobile has been honored with an All- America City designation by the National Civic League. A recent survey ranked the city as one of the top five most "polite" cities in the nation, and Mobile consistently ranks high in Money Magazine's "300 Best Places to Live" issue. About Mobile…….

Scatter Site vs. Congruent Living All the apartments in Mobile are in one apartment complex – originally because it was difficult to get housing after Katrina The complex has 550 apartments – we currently rent 32 and will eventually have 40+ We have an office on the grounds – a full time staff member has her office there – we expect to also use the space for groups and the living room is set up as a classroom Clients move from the street directly into their own apartment Not really scatter site but not congruent either!

Clients are accepted into housing while they are still actively using drugs or alcohol though we do give preference to those with alcohol issues for legal purposes. They are encouraged to accept services and attend programs but it is not a requirement Rent assessments are 30% of their income for most participants

Single Adults Who have been homeless for at least a year or have had four episodes of homelessness over the past three years Have a disability And are currently living in the street or in a shelter Who Qualifies

Current Statistics We have 26 in housing The average age is 49 The youngest is 33 The oldest is 65 We have 5 females and 21 males The mean age is 52 When full these two grants will house 40

Community agencies provide case management services based on the clients disability This has encouraged our entire community to work towards ending chronic homelessness rather then just agencies in our coalition At this time 12 additional agencies are now providing these services

Who can refer Any agency currently doing case management with the chronically homeless in Mobile or Baldwin County Alabama Any organization who comes in contact with the chronically homeless Any agency that has refrained from providing services to the homeless because of housing related concerns

That means that services to the chronically homeless can now be provided by many agencies who have not previously been able to assist this population because their unstable life style

How Agencies Access This Housing Hospitals should identify homeless individuals upon ADMISSION and begin discharge planning If you feel a person qualifies contact the Homeless Coalition A case conference will be held to determine chronic homelessness, identify the disability and create an individualized plan for the client Those that are chronically homeless with a disability can be housed If they do not qualify as chronically homeless other housing opportunities will be explored

THE REFERRING AGENCY RETAINS CASE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS CLIENT If they do not provide case management services the Homeless Coalition will assist in the transfer of this client to another agency for those services

Clinical assistance to diagnosis and formulate a case plan for and with the client and agency Provide the forms to apply for this housing Assist you to engage the clients participation Remain available for consultation and staffings throughout the time the client remains in this housing and if they should leave but remain in your care. These meetings can occur at your agency, at the clients apartment or at our on-site office Clients in this project will also be included in the HMIS information system The Agency Receives ……

What Does The Homeless Coalition Do For the Client……. Sign the lease, pay the rent and utilities and local phone Furnish the apartment Regularly visit the client to insure positive relations with the client, the community and insure the apartment is maintained We have recently begun acting as payee for the residents who are not able to manage their money

Substance Abuse Treatment To mitigate resistance from the clients we will be opening a satellite substance abuse program on the grounds of the community which we hope will be run by a local agency already providing this service For those in CHP we encourage participation – for those in Starship we require it The ‘housing first – harm reduction’ approach is unique and controversial

It is understood that these clients are generally resistant to intervention They are not always the nicest people to deal with They may not appreciate your involvement We use last names when addressing clients to role model respect and maintain boundaries Staff Issues…….

Community Response The management company of the housing complex has reported no problems with our residents Most of the other residents of the community have no idea that there are people housed in programs living there Other agencies have expressed their concern regarding the model – they follow an abstinence model in managing their housing grants