1. Homelessness in Ventura County
Challenges, Successes & Best Practices of the local
Homeless Services System

2. Overview Continuum of Care Overview and Strategic Plan
Pathways to Home
Veteran Homelessness
County Programs & Services
Challenges
Best Practices and Success Stories

3. Challenging the Stigma

4. Debunking Myths
1. All people experiencing homelessness are homeless for the same reasons 2. People are choosing to live on the streets 3. Arresting and punishing people will effectively cure the problem 4. Nothing can be done to solve homelessness
The problem of homelessness is quite complex. Each individual has a story. Disability, mental illness, domestic violence, trauma, addiction can all contribute but we also have to look at the economics. Cost of housing and wages earned often don’t add up.
When referring to people with severe and persistent mental illness, choice is often complicated. Circumstances put people on the streets.
Punishing people for being homeless will not reduce homelessness. This strategy does not motivate people to make changes in their life. It often adds to the complexities of their situation.
Communities that provide affordable housing options and supportive services are seeing great success. Housing First is a critical component. Basic needs are the first step to be able to address other mental health, addiction, employment, etc.

5. Opening Doors: The Federal Strategy
Prevent and End homelessness among:
Veterans (2015)
Chronic Homelessness (2017)
Families with Children and Youth (2020)
Set a path to end all types of homelessness
Federal Goals

6. Ventura County CoC Snapshot
Population: ~850,000 (10 cities + unincorporated areas)
Poverty rate: ~9.8%
2016 Homeless Count: 1,271; 777 (61%) unsheltered
~2 million dollars in HUD funding
2-1-1 Housing Related requests in 2015: 8,440
888 persons assisted with housing in 2015
Fair Market Rent: 1 bedroom $1,197
Vacancy Rate: <3%
Homeless Count--- HMIS Data
888 persons includes assistance with various funding streams including CALWorks, County General fund dollars, other HUD funding, CoC & ESG
FMR—set by HUD. Persons on SSI—making less than 900$ per month—need ongoing subsidy to maintain housing.

7. VC CoC Strategic Plan Implementation of Pathways to Home
Increase Housing Options: Year Round Emergency Shelter, Recuperative Care, Affordable rental units for singles and families
Increase Access to Services: Outreach, Mental Health services, Harm Reduction, Employment Services
End Veteran Homelessness in 2016
Coordinated Entry System

8. Traditional Access to Services

9. Traditional Funding Strategy

10. Pathways to Home
The homeless services system is launching Pathways to Home. In the current system an individual shops from agency to agency, looking for services. With Pathways to Home, we are using the HMIS database to input individuals/families into the system and match them with the most appropriate service for their individual needs.

11. Why Coordinated Entry? System level outcomes require system level
reporting
Coordinated Entry helps with minimizing the time that people experience a housing crisis
Coordinated Entry helps with moving clients in and out of the homeless system as quickly as possible allowing them to achieve housing stability
Coordinated Entry lets each project contribute to the common effort to decrease homelessness and shorten the length of stay for each client’s housing crisis
System Level Data:
# of people homeless
# of first time homeless
Exits to PH
Length of time homeless
Returns to homelessness

12. PATHWAYS TO HOME State Funding Private Funding Federal Funding
Coordinate Funding
State Funding
Private Funding
Federal Funding
County Funding
Assess Client Need
Drop-In Centers
Drug & Alcohol Treatment
Street Outreach
Meal Programs
Job Training
Bridge Housing
Benefits Enrollment
Respite Care
Mental Health Services
Service Delivery
Goal is a more coordinated approach to funding, service delivery and performance measures.
PATHWAYS TO HOME
Measure Outcomes
80%
Housing Stability
54% Increase Non-Employment Income
20% Increase Employment Income
56% Obtain Non-Cash Benefits
Exit from TH within 90 days
Exit Bridge Housing w/in XX days

13. A Family Story
Single father moves 2 children from Midwest back to Ventura
Unemployed and sharing housing with family
Father and children begin living in truck after numerous attempts to find housing assistance
Dad hears about a city workshop about homelessness on radio and attends asking community for help
HSA social worker began working with family and helped them secure a 1 bedroom apartment
Dad is employed full time and reports his life is much brighter and his children remain his greatest motivation.

14. Veteran Homelessness
Goal to end Veteran Homelessness in Ventura County in 2016
Successes:
Bringing VA, SSVF and CoC providers together to collaborate
Master List of Veterans
Challenges:
Willing landlords to accept VASH vouchers and SSVF rental assistance
Currently 30 Veterans holding VASH vouchers and looking for a rental unit.

15. A Veteran’s Story Single male, homeless for 24+ years Army Veteran
Unaddressed Mental & physical health issues
SW engaged client in May 2014
Applied for VASH in June 2014
SW negotiated with landlord to take a veteran with no income.
Vet moved in to apartment in late August
VCMilc paying rental assistance of $144/year
A Veteran’s Story
Collaboration is key!

16. How does the County help?
CEO
Human Services Agency
Healthcare Agency
Probation
Public Defender
Library Services
Area Agency on Aging
Sheriff
Public Works
Homelessness touches many if not all of our county agencies. CEO has a Homeless Coordinating Council made up of agency and program leads to improve coordination and share information about new programs, initiatives.
CEO: Staff to CoC/ Community Development Division
HSA: RAIN, Homeless Services, mainstream benefits
Healthcare Agency: One Stop/Healthcare for the Homeless, VCBH services, various special intiatives
Probation: many homeless individuals on probation
Public Defender: Veterans Court/Homeless Court/ Stand Down
Library Services: Impacted by number of homeless individuals that utilize library as a day shelter
AAA: Home Share, Senior services
Sheriff: Jail, encampments, etc
Public Works: river encampment clean-up

17. Best Practices Outreach Prevention & Diversion Crisis Housing
Year Round (24/7)
Low Barrier
Path to Permanent Housing
Rapid Re-Housing
Progressive Engagement
Short term, individualized
Rapid!
Permanent Supportive Housing
On Site Supportive Services

18. How do we meet the needs of the Chronically Homeless population?
Complex. Many times one individual has multiple needs.
Doctors often comment that if they could write a prescription for housing, they would have better health outcomes for their patients.

19. Housing First

20. A Story of Chronic Homelessness
First person housed through CES process
Highest Vulnerability score
Homeless for 30 years, 70 years old
History of substance abuse, mental health
High utilization of ER, jail
Matched with housing and services
Lost housing because of friends
Hospitalization resulted in discharge to Board & Care
A Story of Chronic Homelessness

21. What are the challenges moving forward?
Housing!!!
Short term shelter
Continued improvement with coordination and access to services
Supportive services
Funding
Political will

22. The Key to Ending Homelessness