1. Housing First: Ending Homelessness in North Carolina
2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016
Housing First: Ending Homelessness in North Carolina
October 12, 2016
Nicole R. Dewitt, MSW, LCSWA

2. Our House “Find & Keep Housing” C
2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016
Our House
“Find & Keep Housing” C
Homeownership Education & Foreclosure Counseling
Homeless to Housing
Financial Empowerment
Travelers Aid
Buy a Home
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Move to Rental Housing
Avoid Foreclosure
House Rehabilitation

3. 2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R
2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016
Homeless to Housing
Permanent Supportive Housing, Emergency Solutions Grant & Continuum of Care Rapid Rehousing & Prevention, HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (RR & Prevention), Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS
Overlaps 4 Continuums of Care; Multiple Regional Committees- Northwest COC, Balance of State COC, Charlotte- Mecklenburg COC and Gaston Cleveland Lincoln COC
SSVF Counties: Alleghany, Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Davidson, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union, Wilkes

4. End of Year Results
1,088 individuals served July 2015 to June 2016: Plus almost 300 of Cardinal’s S+C and PSH consumers
1,088 Individuals = 534 Households
308 Housed in FY, 43 in Housing Search, 183 Housed in Previous FY
19 Direct Service Staff + 6 Leaders

5. North Carolina Continuum of Care (CoC) Primary Areas
2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016
North Carolina Continuum of Care (CoC) Primary Areas

6. Community Link’s Housing First
2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016
Community Link’s Housing First
Coordinated Assessment
Referrals taken ‘as is’ from CA, prioritized by VI-SPDAT score
Similar models in most counties
Helped to create a By Name List of Homeless persons
Discuss Housing Options Day 1
Housing Needs Assessment
Helps to identify the family’s needs regarding housing (close to school, work, bus line)
Staff locates scattered site housing in the community
No Income Requirement, Criminal Backgrounds not Screened Out, No Housing Readiness

7. Services Abstinence is Not Required Housing Search and Placement
2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016
Services
Abstinence is Not Required
Housing Search and Placement
Scattered Site locations
Housing Barriers
Poor credit histories, criminal backgrounds, past evictions
Case Management

8. Services
Linking to Mainstream Benefits- Social Security Administration, Department of Social Services
Housing Inspections- Staff are Housing Quality Standards (HQS) certified
Guide to Sustainable Housing Workshop- a curriculum developed by Staff to teach basic household maintenance, budgeting, tenant rights and responsibilities
Regular Home Visits

9. Housing First was… Philosophical and Organizational Culture Shock
2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016
Housing First was…
Philosophical and Organizational Culture Shock
Needed Staff & Board buy-in
Had to change the narrative in the community and with landlords
Funding was changing
Nuances of Change

10. Success Tenant Education Staff Acceptance
2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016
Success
Staff Acceptance
Retained staff that were supportive of the shift in the agency’s housing intervention
Building Better Relationships in the Community
Helped to create flow at the emergency shelter level
Holistic Case Management Approach
Helping clients address other areas like employment and healthcare/ treatment
Tenant Education

11. Needs Rowan Veterans Housing Taskforce Affordable Housing
2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016
Needs
Rowan Veterans Housing Taskforce
Started with the Rapid Results 100-Day Challenge
Affordable Housing
Passes inspection
Meets family needs
Landlord Participation
Leveraged media and political contacts to solicit units
Community Support
Active participation from SSVF Providers, NC Works staff (DVOP), Goodwill, Housing Authorities, Law Enforcement,
The Case with HUD VASH
Multiple unused HUD VASH vouchers

12. Thank You! Nicole R. Dewitt, MSW, LCSWA
2016 NC Affordable Housing Presentation-Nicole R. Dewitt- October 12, 2016
Thank You!
Nicole R. Dewitt, MSW, LCSWA
Director of Outreach, Policies & Analytics
601 E 5th Street, Suite 220
Charlotte NC 28202
communitylinknc.org ::