1. Homeless Leadership Coalition
Working Together to Prevent and End Homelessness in Central Oregon

2. Everyone in Central Oregon has a safe, stable place to call home!
Vision
We are stronger, healthier, safer communities where people can thrive when …
Everyone in Central Oregon has a
safe, stable place to call home!

3. Mission
The Homeless Leadership Coalition is a collaboration of community partners in Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties engaging the community through education, advocacy, planning, prioritization and accountability for services to persons experiencing homelessness.

4. Who is the HLC?
Members:
40+ organizations and individuals from Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties
Includes shelter providers, healthcare providers, public schools, emergency services, veterans outreach, the faith community, public safety, mental health, housing services, public services, private employers, people formerly or currently experiencing homelessness and others
Populations:
Populations served by member organizations include individuals and families throughout Central Oregon - Madras, Bend, Sisters, Redmond, Prineville, La Pine and more - who are either at risk or are experiencing homelessness
Our last full count in 2015 found more than 2000 people were either homeless or unstably housed on just one night in January. The number of people in need of homeless prevention or housing services during the course of a year is in the tens of thousands. They are children, men and women, people with chronic illnesses, veterans, people with disabilities, those hit by economic hardship, and people who have been shut out of the local housing markets

5. Where do we start...

6. High Desert Home: Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
6 Goals
27 Strategies
Strategic Objectives and Timeline
Population and Strategy Measures for Tracking Progress

7. What is ending homelessness...
Housing Ends Homelessness.
“Ending Homelessness” does not mean that no one will ever experience a housing crisis. It does mean that if they do, they can quickly move back into housing and have the supports they need to maintain it.
(Federal Goal: No person or family homeless more than 30 days)

8. High Desert Home: Goals
Goal 1 - Homelessness Prevention
Prevent and divert people from becoming homeless by working with them directly to maintain their housing or obtain safe, stable housing.
Goal 2 - Affordable Housing
Increase access to stable and affordable housing by expanding, developing, and coordinating the supply of affordable housing to prevent and end homelessness.

9. High Desert Home: Goals
Goal 3 - Appropriate Support Services
Cultivate the strengths of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to expand their capacity for self-support in housing through strategies that promote economic security, health and housing stability.
Goal 4 - System Improvements
Improve system coordination, communication and collaboration among agencies and organizations at the funding and service delivery level to move toward a “housing first” system, improve discharge procedures and prevent and end homelessness.

10. High Desert Home: Goals
Goal 5 - Education and Outreach
Increase leadership, collaboration, and civic engagement across all sectors to promote collaborative solutions and commitment to preventing and ending homelessness.
Goal 6 - Better Data
Expand and improve data collection, technology and methodology to better track homeless program demographics and outcomes, improve collaboration, identify gaps and target solutions.

11. Required Roles of the HLC / CoC
Operation of the Central Oregon Continuum of Care (OR-503)
Continuum of Care Planning and System Coordination
Coordinated Entry
Point in Time Count (PIT)
Annual Gaps Analysis
Designation and Operation of a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Preparation of CoC Application for Funds
Funding Prioritization & Oversight - HUD CoC and ESG
System Performance Measures

12. Additional Roles of the HLC
Convene/ Support Community Advisory Committees on Homelessness
Central Point for Information and Communication
Advocacy and Education
Research and Policy Development
Collaborate on Regional Initiatives
Develop New Resources
Convene Trainings on Best Practices
Plan and Support new CoC Projects/ Initiatives

13. How do we do all this….. Governing Board
Community Advisory Committees (forthcoming)
Committees & Workgroups:
Coordinated Entry - Planning, Implementation and Ongoing Improvement
HMIS - Policies, Procedures, and Data Quality
Point in Time Count - Coordination, Implementation, Review of Results
Strategic Planning & Partnerships - CoC Coordination & Plan to End Homelessness
Advocacy - Advocacy Agenda, Vet Opportunities, Plan & Coordinate Actions
Funding and Resource Development - HUD CoC, ESG, New Funds, etc.

14. Homeless Leadership Coalition Committees/ Workgroups
Community Advisory Committees
Governing Board
Homeless Leadership Coalition
Lead Agency And/Or Collabora-tive Applicant
Strategic Planning & Partnerships
Committees/ Workgroups
Advocacy
HMIS
Coordinated Entry
Point in Time Count
CoC Funding

15. A “Housing First System” Approach
“Housing First is an approach that can be adopted by housing programs, organizations, and across the housing crisis response system.”
Why Housing First?
Because it’s effective! It improves outcomes, it saves money, and, most importantly, it saves lives.

17. Housing First = Better Outcomes
Better Outcomes for People. Better Outcomes for Systems.
“Housing First is a proven approach, applicable across all elements of systems for ending homelessness, in which people experiencing homelessness are connected to permanent housing swiftly and with few to no treatment preconditions, behavioral contingencies, or other barriers. It is based on overwhelming evidence that people experiencing homelessness can achieve stability in permanent housing if provided with the appropriate level of services. Study after study has shown that Housing First yields higher housing retention rates, drives significant reductions in the use of costly crisis services and institutions, and helps people achieve better health and social outcomes.” (

19. Housing First - It Works!
Federal Plan - “Opening Doors”
HUD - CoC, USICH, SAMHSA, VA, CMS, etc.
State - OHCS, State Plan to End Homelessness
HLC/ Continuum of Care -- Central Oregon’s Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
COHC SDH-Housing Committee
Housing for All - A Central Oregon Partnership
City of Bend

20. The Time is Now! Pieces Coming Together
Sense of Urgency! Housing Crisis Health Care Law Enforcement Service Providers General Public Federal, State, Local Proven Strategies “We need something different!”

21. Housing First / Frequent Users Initiative
2016:
Stakeholders began meeting more than a year ago to find a better way to address chronic homelessness. The response was in part due to an increase in police time/resources spent on people experiencing homelessness, as well as a recognition that complex health problems cannot truly be addressed while someone is homeless.
Agreed on the concept of developing a Housing First Initiative for 200 Chronically Homeless persons in Deschutes Co. / Bend.
2017:
Housing First Training with the Corporation for Supportive Housing brought together partners and initiated a community conversation on Housing First, the approach, and possible project models for our community.
Workgroup agreed to focus on Frequent Users (FUSE Model) and data-matching among systems is underway. A “Phase 1” cohort will be identified for a Housing First approach project.
Key Partners & Stakeholders are engaged - Government, service providers, affordable housing developers, healthcare systems, and law enforcement.

22. Stakeholders Involved
City of Bend - City Manager, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Police Department
Bend City Council Members
Deschutes County Commissioner
Deschutes County Public Health Department
Oregon Housing and Community Services
PacificSource
Housing Works
Mosaic Medical
Homeless Leadership Coalition
NeighborImpact
Central Oregon Health Council
St. Charles
Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO)
Bethlehem Inn
YOU?

23. Next Steps ...
Identify Phase 1 Cohort of homeless “frequent users”of key systems
Refine population focus
Determine the model(s) to be used - scattered-site, cluster, project-based
Determine service delivery model
Formalize Initiative roles and partnerships
Project costs
Project systems’ savings
Identify funding sources (new or redirected plus gap funding)
Develop implementation timeline
Develop evaluation
House first cohort!

24. Everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call Home

25. Ways to Get Involved PIT Community Conversations Coordinated Entry
Assist in structuring conversations
Attend and record conversations
Assist in analysis, final report on findings and recommendations
Coordinated Entry
Evaluation on System Performance Measures
Evaluation on C.E. process, accessibility, effectiveness
Advocacy
Community Education
Policy Analysis, Action Alerts

26. Ways to Get Involved Continued….
Connections to Resources
Fundraising: Develop new resources for prevention and/or gap funding
Technical Assistance: Connect to professional assistance in campaign development, etc.
Others
CORC Mapping Workgroup
PIT Count 2018
PIT Survey Tool review and reconstruction
PIT Methodology review and recommendations

27. Sign Up, Questions, Ideas ...
Monica Desmond HLC Planning Coordinator