1. Rapid Rehousing Rent & Move-in Assistance

2. Welcome to Omaha

3. Omaha Demographics
The Omaha-Council Bluffs CoC includes Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties
Population: 408,958 or 895,151 in the Metro Area
Median Household Income: $57,593
Median house value: $143,200
Median gross rent: $813
Rental vacancy rate: 7.66%

4. Homelessness in Omaha In a single day in Omaha (1/28/16)
1,509 individuals were homeless (1,157 households)
Living Situations
983 – shelter
469 – transitional housing
57 - streets
Household Type
1,102 single individuals
399 families with children
8 youth only

5. Heartland Family Service Programs
Multi-service human service agency
Operates 50 programs
3 Focus areas: Child & Family, Counseling & Prevention and Housing & Financial Stability
Housing Programs
Homelessness Prevention
Case Management (PATH)
Street Outreach
Rapid Rehousing
Permanent Supportive Housing
Domestic Violence Shelter & Transitional Housing

6. Rapid Rehousing Programs
Heartland Housing Opportunities
Serves Douglas, Sarpy, Pottawattamie Counties
Program Coordinator, 5 Case Manager, 1 Housing Advocate
125 units, Serves 664 individuals annually
Heartland Housing Passages
Serves Douglas and Sarpy Counties
Youth ages (some dedicated to former wards)
.5 Coordinator, 2 Case Manager, .5 Housing Advocate
40 units, Serves 181 individuals annually
Pottawattamie County Homeless Link
Serves Pottawattamie County
50 units, Serves 479 individuals annually

7. Program Philosophy Housing First Low Demand Trauma Informed Care
Monthly case management Services are mandatory
Trauma Informed Care
Client-Centered Approach to Service Delivery
Minimum Assistance Necessary
Length of stay is based on need (up to 12 months)

8. Rapid Rehousng Eligibility
Category 1 (Literally homeless) OR Category 4 (Fleeing/Attempting to Flee Violence).
No other residence AND lack the resources and support networks to obtain permanent housing.
Assessment determines that RRH is the best fit for the family/individual, as determined by scoring for RRH assessment on the VI-SPDAT

9. Prioritization
RRH prioritizes subpopulations in the following order. 1. Veteran w/ Children 2. Non-Veteran w/ Children 3. Veteran w/o Children 4. All others w/o Children Within each subpopulation, households are organized based on length of homeless, then VI score.

10. Financial Assistance & Budget Management
Assistance determinations are not based on individual need, not monthly available funding
Budget for caseload size, based on average spending
Once caseloads are steady, you can adjust and make staffing or program changes
Financial assistance costs will vary greatly month by month, but average annually

11. Initial Assistance Determinations - Length
All households provided rental deposit assistance.
Rental assistance is provided as needed.
Approvals on a month-to- month basis, unless circumstances clearly outline a need for multiple months (not approved for more than three months at a time).
Maximum length of rental assistance provided is 12 months.
Extensions beyond 12 months are available on a case-by-case basis (not to exceed 18 months total).

12. Initial Assistance Determinations - Amount
Participant’s portion of housing costs (rent & utilities) is equal to 30% of their gross monthly income.
Calculation: gross monthly income x 30%
If utilities are not included in rent, then the monthly utility allowance is subtracted from this amount.
The participant’s portion of rental costs is waived for the first month of rental assistance (whether this represents a full or partial month of rent) so that no amount is due from the participant upon move-in.
Their portion of rental costs is due on the due date identified in their lease agreement beginning the next month after move-in.
Approval amounts can be reevaluated at any time before the next re-evaluation is due, if the participant’s need or circumstances change.

13. Utility Assistance
Assistance is available as allowable by funding source
Monthly approval amount is the amount when the rent calculation comes to a negative number – this the amount of utility assistance provided
The amount by which the housing assistance exceeds the rent to the owner
The participant must submit a current copy of their utility bill within the calendar month.
If this documentation is not submitted then they will forego utility assistance for that particular month.
The amount paid is up to the monthly approval amount, but not to exceed the amount due on the bill

14. Rent Calculation Examples
Monthly Gross Income $1,500 Client’s Total Housing Cost $450 Utility Allowance $131 Client’s Cost minus Utilities $319 Rent Owed to Landlord $600 Program RA Payment $281 Client Rent Payment $319 Program Utility Payment $0
Monthly Gross Income $100 Client’s Total Housing Cost $30 Utility Allowance $131 Client’s Cost minus Utilities $-101 Rent Owed to Landlord $600 Program RA Payment $600 Client Rent Payment $0 Program Utility Payment $101

15. Other Move-In Costs All assistance limited to CoC/ESG eligible costs
Needs based, case by case for those with income
Rental application fees
Utility deposits - if no mainstream assistance available
Utility arrears
Moving costs - truck rental or moving company, storage fees for up to 3 months prior to move-in
Bus tickets
Rental arrears – only if it is a requirement for approval at an apartment
Last month’s rent – available for high barrier clients
High barrier = 3 of the following categories:
No/low income (less than $800 per month)
Sex Offender or a felony within the last 10 years (can also include a prostitution, drug or a violent misdemeanor)
No rental history or Evictions within last 10 years

16. Securing Basic Needs at Move-in
Identify needs once inspection passes
If furniture is needed
Access donation center
Identify community resources
Refer to program volunteer
Program volunteer
Secures donations and stores them
Identifies household needs
Organizes move-ins weekly
Move in kits – available to youth, former wards
Kitchen essentials, bedding, trash cans, baskets, hangers, towels, hygiene items, cleaning supplies
Costs is about $100 each

17. Recertifications Eligibility
- Re-evaluated every 3 months. Criteria for approval:
Income does not exceed 30% of AMI.
Lacks sufficient resources.
Attend monthly case management meetings
If miss one month, a retention plan is completed
Process
Gather income verification at CM meeting
If client has income, budget is completed
housing and basic needs in one column, other expenses in another
Staff complete new calculation
Bring to bi-weekly staffing meeting for approval

18. Transitioning from RRH & Progressive Engagement
Discharge planning beings at program entry!
Progressive Engagement
Begin planning for alternatives at six months, including subsidized housing applications
Assess for PSH eligibility (if VI score qualifies) and refer at nine months
If nothing in the months prior to timing out… get creative, plan for the possibility of moving
Aftercare planning at exit
Monthly check in recommended
Case Management available for1-3 months after exit

19. Results Average LOS – 3-5 months (including search)
3 – PCHL (serves more families)
3.5 – Passages (youth)
4.8 – Opportunities (all populations)
Total Program Cost/Household = $2,491
$1,967/household & $714/person (PCHL)
$2,810/household & $1,506/person (Passages)
$2,696/Household & $1,226/person (Opportunities)
Average Financial Assistance/Household = $1,304
$1,018 (PCHL)
$1,444 (Passages)
$1,451(Opportunities)

20. Program Outcomes Housing Stability (retain/exit to PH)
74% (PCHL), 75% (Passages), 73% (Opportunities)
Total Income (remain/increase income)
56% (PCHL), 53% (Passages), 56% (Opportunities)
Earned Income (remain/increase)
31% (PCHL), 41% (Passages), 33% (Opportunities)
Days until Housing Placement: days
Avoid Recidivism (no ES entries one year post exit)
83% PCHL, 90% HHP, 87% HHO

21. Braiding Funding Sources for Financial Assistance
CoC, ESG, Housing Trust Fund, Private Foundations
CoC & ESG
utilize most stringent of the two regulations
All clients are eligible for both
need a 3rd match source still
CoC doesn’t pay for utilities & is heavy on RA costs
Cross walk billing workflow for both
Private/Unrestricted funds are the bestest
Still only provide eligible financial assitance costs
Pays for admin and overhead costs that others don’t

22. The Stuff that Didn’t Work… as well
Determining assistance case by case or dependent on the client budget
Inconsistent, appears unfair
Puts the CM and program in difficult role
Encourages clients to be dishonest about expenses
Tiered approach
Keeps clients in the program longer than needed
Costly – more financial assistance than needed
Paying rent the program instead of landlord
Duel role of service provider
Clients are less likely to pay

23. Lessons Learned
Clear policies – every supervisor and staff should be able come to the same conclusion on each case
Set a policy for participant’s portion and stick to it
More than 12 months wasn’t successful
Month to month approvals take more time, but ensure lower LOS
Use community resources and allow clients to use their resources before offering additional assistance types. Staff should assess, don’t advertise them all.
Plan well for move-ins (use a checklist)
Check in with clients on rent/utility payments at every meeting
People are more resourceful that we give credit for!
Must enjoy data & numbers to manage these programs – have to be strategic and think outside the box