1. BERGEN COUNTY New Jersey A COLLABORATIVE MODEL TO END HOMELESSNESS
Bergen County Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness 2008

2. 2008 Bergen County 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
Focus Groups 2007: 200 community participants
Analyze the shortfalls / barriers in the current system
Develop strategies to reorganize/recreate a system to quickly respond to those experiencing homelessness.
Permanent Housing
Services Provision
Discharge Planning
Education and Advocacy
County Level Re-organization of Homeless Services Dollars
Model Project: BCHHH Center
Develop and expand Housing First
Create a rapid re-housing program for individuals & families
Develop a One-Stop Center

3. Bergen County CoC: Leading the Way
The CoC was exceptionally active and played a large role in the development of the County’s 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. The plan identified the Bergen County Housing, Health and Human Services Center (HHH) as a one stop location and a single point of entry to receive information, care management, nutrition, health and human services, and financial assistance.
The goals identified in the Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness were achieved through the following:
Restructuring County Funding
Create a single point of entry for homeless services and housing fund
Provided oversight for the Plan implementation (BC Community Development and BC DHS)
Ensuring the success of Model projects in the County
Single Point of Entry through the BCHHH Center and County partners
Housing First Projects through the COC partners – HABC, Advance Housing
Rapid Rehousing programs ( CoC partners: Vantage Health Systems Inc., Care Plus Inc. and ESG partners)
Development of Permanent Housing (On-going)

4. Mission Permanent Housing with Support Services
One-Stop Location and Single Point of Entry
Prevent Homelessness / Rapidly Re-house Individuals

5. HHH 5 Keys for Best Practices Low Barrier & Housing Focused Shelter
Housing First
Immediate and Easy Access to Shelter
Housing Focused Services
Rapid Exits to Permanent Housing
Data Driven

6. * Adapted from USICH 10 Strategies to End Chronic Homelessness
Getting to Zero
Ending chronic homelessness takes strong political will, leadership, collaboration and coordination among multiple state and local programs to align resources for housing and supportive services
* Adapted from USICH 10 Strategies to End Chronic Homelessness

7. Bergen County COC: Exceptional Outcomes and Process
CoC members have extensive communication and execution of collective goals,
Process and outcomes in working collaboratively across a network of State and local governmental agencies, public housing authorities, faith-based and non-profit organizations,
Utilizing best practices of Housing First low barrier and housing focused sheltering and,
Coordinated Assessment an essential component in the effort to end homelessness.

8. Culture of Collaboration
Because of its mission and organizational structure, the HHH Center provides a unique opportunity to nurture a culture built on collaboration, learning and shared services.
The Center is a focal point and single location for a broad range of services directed to people who are homeless or need assistance connecting with services needed to ensure successful reentry into society.
It offers the opportunity for agencies to craft collaborations that improve the effectiveness of their efforts while reducing their cost.

9. Notable Partnership: HABC
Within the CoC leadership a notable partnership exist with the Housing Authority of Bergen County (HABC):
This unique relationship between the HABC and the County of Bergen is particularly innovative.
The HABC established policy of a 20% set aside for vouchers and a set preference for homeless individuals within its administrative plan. This kind of commitment and dedication to ending homelessness within collaboration is unique.
HABC also manages the HHH Center which is a shared services project between HABC and the County of Bergen. Funding is provided by a combination of Federal, State and local funds, also a wide range of shared and donated services provided by governmental and non-profit organizations all coordinated by or applied for through the CoC.

10. County Veteran Services Collaboration
Hands-on Director-strong Leadership
Proactively identifies and advocates for affordable housing opportunities
Develop relationships with landlords and effectively obtains set-asides
Coordinates with Federal partners (VA, SSVF, HUD-VASH) and community partners to ensure smooth linkages
On-site Homeless Veteran Liaison at HHH
Assists with obtaining VA documents and medical benefits, expands employment opportunities, basic needs and housing search

11. Notable Partnerships: Christ Church CDC
Under the management of Christ Church Community Development Corporation, the heart of the HHH is the “Next Step” program that operates as a friendly drop-in program where “guests” are welcomed to shelter in a spirit of radical hospitality, affirming each person’s value and accepting each person without judgment in a low-barrier shelter designed to maximize guests’ success.
Christ Church CDC is contracted by the County of Bergen to manage the HHH Center sheltering as well.

13. Major Challenges
Figuring out how to assist people with minimal options
Poor credit-eviction history-criminal history
Moving to housing people without shelter
Renter’s Market vs. Landlord Market
Individuals refusing housing options

14. Strategic Tools for Getting to Zero
Strong political will at inception and on-going support
Housing Authority commitment and leadership
Coordinated Assessment and strong CoC leadership
Effective collaboration with Veteran and other Specialized Services
One Stop location to reduce barriers and increase access
Robust crisis response system
Command Center Operations-creating space to allow for collaboration
Widespread person-centered outreach into the community
By-name list/monthly meetings
Set and Hold Partners Accountable to ambitious short-term placement goals
Adopt “Surges” to break down the larger goal
Low-barrier and Housing Focused shelter
Quarterly meetings with local leaders

15. The Tough Questions
How do we manage resistance to leave shelter and accept housing?
Discharge planning upon admission
Weekly check-in
Meeting with Julia
Women’s Group
Uncomfortable factor
How do we manage behavioral problems?
Good as you can be
Modifications to schedule
Treatment options
Time out
PESP/AOT/Contract
Nothing is Permanent

16. PIT OUTCOMES 2010-2017 Unsheltered homeless decreased by 95%
Chronic homelessness decreased by 96%
1100+ placed in permanent housing (1/4 Chronic)
465+ Homeless Prevention / Rapid Rehousing assistance ended 2012 (HPRP)
300+ Homeless Prevention / Rapid Rehousing assistance began 2012 (ESG)
Less than 5% Recidivism rate
Reached Functional Zero for Veterans Homelessness July 28, 2016
Reached Functional Zero for Chronic Homelessness February 16, 2017
*Over the past 5 years, from , Bergen County has seen a decrease of 12.7% in overall homelessness.

17. Success Factors*
Implemented a system-wide Housing First response, beginning in 2007.
Identified everyone by name and persistently engaged them until they accepted the offer of permanent housing.
Offered a full spectrum of supportive services and permanent housing options (i.e., supportive housing) to each individual experiencing and at-risk of experiencing chronic homelessness.
Fostered partnerships with health care providers to ensure coordinated access to crisis services and comprehensive health and behavioral health care to support housing stability.
*USICH.gov chronic blog Lindsay Knotts 4/6/17

18. Lessons Learned Collaboration is the only way Flexibility is key
Never give up on anyone….some people need time
Keep ALL your data…you never know
Housing First is not enabling
Coordinated Assessment is integral to this process
If something doesn’t work, try something else
Shelter is not home… ”What’s Your Housing Plan?”

19. Now What? How Do We Sustain?
Pass the red ball whenever possible
Continue monthly meetings with by-name list
Identify people before they age-in to chronicity
Keep partners engaged with new targets/initiatives
Acknowledge how hard it is to for everyone to do
Veterans can just show up…chronic usually predictable
Manage the failed housing placements
Protect Zero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

20. Key Center Partners Advance Housing, Inc. Alcoholics Anonymous
Alliance Against Homelessness
Bergen Community College
Bergen County Dept. of Health
Bergen County Dept. of Human Services
BC Division of Community Development
Bergen County Division of Veteran Services
BC Board of Social Services
BC Prosecutors Office
BC Sheriff’s Department
Bergen County United Way
Bridgeway
Care Plus NJ
Christ Church CDC
Comprehensive Behavioral HealthCare, Inc.
Eastwick College
Family Promise
Housing Authority of Bergen County
Making-It-Home
Mental Health Law Project
Northeast NJ Legal Services
North Jersey Friendship House
One Stop Career Center
Parisian Beauty Academy
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
SSVF Agencies (Soldier On, NHCAP, Community Hope, Catholic Charities)
Transitions Professionals
Hackensack Upper Main Alliance
Valley National Bank
Vantage Health Services
Wilson Life Skills Institute
Women’s Rights Information Center
YWCA

21. County of Bergen
James J. Tedesco III County Executive Lynn Bartlett, Executive Director Housing Authority of Bergen County
Board of Chosen Freeholders Tracy S. Zur, Chairwoman Thomas J. Sullivan, Vice-Chairman Dr. Joan M. Voss, Chair Pro Tempore Steven Tanelli David L. Ganz Mary J. Amoroso Germaine M. Ortiz

22. Julia Orlando, CRC, Ed.M, MA
Contact Me
Julia Orlando, CRC, Ed.M, MA
Director BCHHHC