The HEARTH Academy System Assessment and Design October 2010

How well does your system prevent and end homelessness?

-Survey consumers, service providers, and community leaders Consumer Survey What services or assistance do you or did you need the most to get permanent housing? What services or help were you offered to help you get housing? Was it easy for you to find services to help you when you became homeless. To get help, were you sometimes asked to do things that you didn't want to do. Do you feel that you got to "call the shots" about when and how you received services.

Estimated release mid-November

Use data to measure outcomes from your homelessness assistance system.

Reduce new episodes of homelessness Reduce lengths of homeless episodes Reduce returns to homelessness HEARTH Measures

Measuring exits to permanent housing is the key! Record housing status at exit Update housing status real time

Track Length of Episodes Shelter 1 16 days Shelter 2 21 days Rapid Re-Housing 90 days Gap 5 days Permanent Housing

Track Length of Episodes Shelter 1 16 days Shelter 2 21 days Rapid Re-Housing 90 days Gap 5 days Permanent Housing Length of Stay 42 days

More Strategies for Tracking Lengths of Episodes Track average stays in individual programs. Look at how many people use multiple programs.

Reduce Repeat Episodes People who exited homelessness during a period of time Of the group that exited, how many experienced an additional episode of homelessness within a period after exiting. 1,

Reduce Repeat Episodes Short Follow-Up Period Long Follow-Up Period Focus on rapid re- housing, and things more within the control of homelessness system Focus on self sufficiency, and things more affected by job markets and mainstream systems

Perform a Simple Cost Analysis 1. Calculate how much is spent on an intervention for each permanent housing exit. 2. Adjust for the fact that interventions serving higher barrier people will likely cost more for each exit to permanent housing.

Compare Interventions Intervention A – $1,000 per exit to PH Intervention B – $5,000 per exit to PH Intervention C – $20,000 per exit to PH

Quality Exits The number of people who exit to permanent housing within 60 days of becoming homeless minus the number who exited homelessness one year ago and since returned to homelessness.

Field testing now. Estimated release late November System Performance Tool

How do you make your system work better?

Functions of Homelessness Assistance Shelter Re-house Prevent

Diverting People From Homelessness Dudley Diversion Pilot, Boston, MA

Rapid Re-Housing Hennepin County, MN In one four‐year period, when internal County funding and staffing changes were implemented to support rapid re‐housing, shelter admissions declined by 42%, average length of stay by 47% and the total number of purchased “bed‐nights” was reduced by 70%. (Community Spotlight: Rapid Re‐Housing—Rapid Exit Program in Hennepin County, MN from the HUD HRE website)

Put the Pieces Together

First Contact Point of Entry Stabilize current housing Immediate re-housing Assess barriers Refer to shelter and/or re- housing

Exit Strategy Point of Entry Shelter Re-Housing Permanent Housing

Example of Progressive Engagement Point of Entry Housed RRH 1 $ RRH 2 $$ RRH 3 $$$ PSH $$$$

Example of Triage Point of Entry Housed RRH 1 $ RRH 2 $$ RRH 3 $$$ PSH $$$$ Assessment of Barriers to Housing High: Evictions Substance Use Medium: Inconsistent work No supports Low: Service engaged Income None: Rental history Support network

Current System New Intervent ions Shelter nights Days homeless # of entries DiversionRRH 1RRH 2RRH 3PSH Old Design New Design ,1501, * , Total ,7952,205 *including multiple episodesAverage Length of Episodes7828 Forecasting a New System

What about all the other programs? Employment Transitional Housing Services

Opportunities for Transitional Housing Assets Buildings Housing location Stabilization Service coordination Employment Options Shelter Interim Housing Rapid Re-Housing Convert to PSH Transition in Place Specialize

Making the Transition 1. Analyze your data. 2. Analyze your programs. 3. Identify gaps and underserved populations. 4. Prioritize changes. 5. Assign timelines, benchmarks, responsible entities. 6. Start transforming!

Making the Transition

Implementing proven strategies to end homelessness Presented by the National Alliance to End Homelessness HEARTH Academy Implementation Clinic Participants in this 1.5 day clinic will assess the performance of their homelessness assistance and implement community-wide strategies to better achieve the goals of the HEARTH Act. Individualized Consulting The Alliance’s Center for Capacity Building and other expert consultants will be available to provide customized assistance. Webinars and Tools Webinars, tools, and training materials will help communities prepare for the Implementation Clinic and learn about and implement the strategies that help prevent and end homelessness.

Aisha Williams Center for Capacity Building National Alliance to End Homelessness If you are interested in participating in the HEARTH Academy or would like more information, please contact: Note: The HEARTH Academy is not sponsored by or affiliated with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or any other federal agency. The HEARTH Academy is a project of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.