1. Rapid Re-Housing Home for Everyone Conference July19, 2017
Robyn Thibado and Erica Schoch

2. Workshop Objectives Understand basic program components
Housing First philosophy
Program standards
Funding
Additional Resources

3. What is Rapid Re-Housing
“Rapid Re-Housing is an intervention designed to help individuals and
families quickly exit homelessness, return to housing in the community,
and not become homeless again in the near term.” (NAEH RRH Toolkit)
Housing Identification
Move-in and Rent Assistance
Case Management and Services

4. Eligibility
To receive COC or ESG/HPP RRH assistance, individuals and families may be defined as homeless under the following categories included in the Homeless Definition Final Rule:
Literally homeless (Category 1).
Fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions (Category 4).
For HPP households must also be at or below 30% CMI

5. West CAP’s Approach
Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
Changing people’s lives
We move people out of homelessness into permanent housing as quickly as possible
Embody the spirit of hope
Housing First
We always assume a positive outcome
Housing plans focus on stability & no longer needing our assistance
Improving communities
Decreasing homelessness
Educational stability for children
Increased employment
Decreased use of emergency services (ER, crisis line, CPS)
Helping people help themselves in achieving self-sufficiency
Families are resilient
Provide “just enough” assistance
Helping people help each other
Our greatest source of referrals is current and former program participants

6. Housing First Philosophy of providing housing
Housing is a right, not a reward
Housing provides stable environment to address other issues
Program Model
Immediate focus on housing
Minimal barriers to obtaining housing
Targets the most vulnerable
Supportive services offered, not required

7. Housing First in Practice
Program Participation
Supportive services offered, but not required
Regular home visits are an expectation
Harm reduction approach
Program moves with the client if an eviction occurs
Program termination is rare
Case Management
Initial focus: overcoming housing barriers and finding safe, appropriate housing
Once housed: focus on long term goals, support to maintain housing, and connection to community resources
Goals are developed by the participant, NOT case manager

8. Housing Identification
Build relationships with landlords - a successful RRH program will have a large landlord database including:
Contact Information
Building Type
Amenities
Up-front costs
Utility information
Remember to note the less desirable landlords too!
Recruit landlords continuously
Before you have participants that need housing
The more partnerships with landlords you develop, the more opportunities your program participants have to rapidly obtain permanent housing
Work with developers of affordable housing to prioritize homeless units in multi-family developments

9. Housing Identification
Find units near jobs, access to transportation, & in safe neighborhoods
Craigslist/Online/Newspapers
Looking for “FOR RENT” signs in prospective neighborhoods
Ask your Facebook followers for landlord names
Ask your current tenants for landlord names
Ask your current landlords for referrals to other landlords
References from partners/board of directors
Send out brochures to realtors/landlord associations
Units must be sustainable for the household after the assistance ends

10. Housing Identification
Identify the household’s barriers to obtaining housing & develop a plan to overcome the barriers
Lack of income = Rent assistance, security deposit assistance, utility assistance
Poor rental history = Case management, letters of support from other providers, tenant statement
Criminal history = Case management, letters of support from other providers, tenant statement
Lack of communication skills = Case manager initiates contact with the landlord, role playing with tenant, case manager attends apartment showing, help with applications
Be honest with the tenant about what you know about the prospective landlord
Try to make a good match considering personalities, communication styles, tenant’s barriers, landlord’s values
After a negative experience with a tenant, try to make sure the next tenant is “low risk”

11. Move-In and Rent Assistance
Moving costs
Security Deposits
Rental Assistance
Utility Deposits
Utility Assistance
HQS Inspections
Supportive Services

12. Case Management and Services
Trauma Informed Approach
Realize the prevalence of trauma
Recognize the effects of trauma on your clients and yourself
Learn how to mitigate re-traumitization
Avoid forcing eye contact
Be aware of your proximity
Avoid asking too many questions
Pay attention to your tone of voice

13. Case Management and Services
Identify barriers to maintaining housing & develop plans to overcome
Frequency of case management
Connection to:
Legal services, health care, vocational assistance, transportation, child care, education
Obtaining necessary documentation – ID, birth certificate
Identify & access supports
Mainstream & community services
Employment & income
Resolve tenancy issues as they arise
Assist with conflict resolution as a tenancy skill
Sometimes we provide case management for landlords
Tenant education
Reading & understanding a lease
Home maintenance basics
Exit Plan
Based on client needs, not arbitrary deadlines or spending limits
Housing is stable and no longer at risk

14. Performance Benchmarks
Reduce the length of time program participants spend homeless (30 days from program entry)
Exit households to permanent housing (80% remain in permanent housing)
Limit returns to homelessness within a year of program exit (Less than 15%)
2016 (53 households – 6 chronic, 10 transition age youth)
32 adults with disabilities
53% of households had DV history
17% were fleeing DV at entry
46 adults had zero income at entry
19% of adults increase income from entry
62.5% Exited the program to permanent housing
83% maintained or exited to permanent housing (those who remained in RRH + exits to PH)
First half of 2017 (72 households – 10 chronic, 10 transition age youth)
37 adults with disabilities
64% of households had DV history
23.6% were fleeing DV at entry
58 adults had zero income at entry
16% of adults increased income from entry
35% exited the program to permanent housing
79% maintained or exited to permanent housing (those who remained in RRH + exits to PH)

15. RRH Program Standards
The WIBOSCOC developed the following COC-funded Rapid Re-Housing Program standards to insure:
Programs are held accountable to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
That the program is in compliance with HUD rules.
That the program is uniform and has adequate program staff that are competent and trained to work with individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

16. Standards
Personnel : The program shall be adequately staffed by qualified personnel to ensure quality service delivery, effective program management, and the safety of program participants
Client Intake Process: The program will be an active member of the Coordinated Entry system. The program will have minimal entry requirements to ensure the most vulnerable of the population are being served. The program will assist participants in locating safe, affordable housing that meets participants’ needs in accordance with client intake practices and written CoC guidelines for Rapid Re-Housing Programs.
Prioritization : Programs will determine and prioritize which eligible families and individuals will receive Rapid Re-Housing assistance.

17. Standards
Program Operations: The program will assist participants in locating safe, affordable housing that meets participants’ needs in accordance with client intake practices and within CoC guidelines for Rapid Re- Housing programs.
Case Management Services: The program shall provide access to case management services by trained staff to each individual or family participating in the program.
Service Coordination: The program will assist program participants, pursuant to 24 CFR , in obtaining appropriate supportive services and other Federal, State, local, and private assistance available for such individuals as needed and requested by the household. Staff should be knowledgeable about mainstream programs, services in the community, and requirements pertaining to school age children – designated staff person – 24 CFR (c)(4)(iv).

18. Standards
Termination: Termination is expected to be limited to only the most severe cases. Programs will exercise judgment and examine all extenuating circumstances when determining if violations are serious enough to warrant termination.
Follow-up Services: The program may provide continuity of services to all participants following their exit from the program. These services can be provided directly and/or through referrals to other agencies or individuals.
Client Files: The documentation necessary for the effective delivery and tracking of service will be kept up to date and the confidentiality of program participants will be maintained.
Evaluation & Planning: Ongoing program planning and evaluation will be conducted.

19. Program Funding A successful program uses a mix of funding sources
Federal funds – CoC Program, ESG
State funds - HPP
Private funds – United Way, Foundations, Business Community
Assistance for tenants:
Moving costs
Security deposit
Rent assistance
Utility deposit
Utility assistance
Meeting basic needs at move-in:
Furniture
Kitchen basics
Cleaning supplies
Stocking the pantry

20. Additional Resources National Alliance to End Homelessness
HUD Exchange
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
Implementing a Homeless Preference in Multi-Family Housing
through-multifamily-housing-toolkit-for-implementing-a-homeless- preference