1. Kyle Scott Homeless Initiatives Homeless Program Officer
Housing First
Kyle Scott
Homeless Initiatives
Homeless Program Officer

2. What are Housing First Programs?
Housing First programs are proven interventions that prioritize placing those experiencing homeless into low threshold housing with little to no requirements before or upon entry to housing.

3. Housing First Continued…
Housing First is focused on:
Helping those seeking services (individuals or families) access sustainable rental housing as quickly as possible.
Providing housing before other interventions (like substance abuse and/or mental health treatment)

4. 5 Principles of Housing First
Immediate access to housing with little to no entry conditions
Consumer choice and self-determination
Recovery orientation
Individualized, person centered supports
Social and community integration

5. Housing First Continued…
Housing First is not:
A program. It is a system-wide re-orientation and response to housing services.
Contingent on ongoing compliance with support services. However, must comply with a standard lease agreement.
Case management supports are usually available, and are primarily in place to support the client in maintaining their housing.

6. Housing First Continued…
This means:
Housing First clients do not need to engage in other services if they choose not to do so. This can include:
Substance abuse treatment
Mental health counseling
Vocational training
Anything else the client does not want to do!

7. Housing First Continued…
While Housing First programs can vary, typically they include:
Assessment-based targeting of services
Assistance locating housing
Housing assistance (security deposit, ongoing housing subsidy)
Placements that are not time limited
Ongoing case management

8. Why Housing First?
First and foremost, everyone has the right to safe, affordable and sustainable housing! According to World Health Organization, health is essential to the protection of human rights. This includes access to an adequate standard of living (food, shelter, medical care, clothing, etc.)

9. Why Housing First Continued…
Homelessness is traumatic.
Homelessness is stigmatized, and those experiencing homelessness can be marginalized further, isolating them from the rest of society.
Those experiencing homelessness are much more susceptible to violence and victimization.

10. Why Housing First Continued…
Homelessness is BAD for your health.
“Homeless people have higher rates of chronic health problems than the general population. This takes the form of higher rates of illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and HIV”. Higher rates of disease equals more $$$ spent on healthcare.

11. Why Housing First Continued…
Homelessness is expensive.
Those experiencing homelessness utilize emergency services at higher rates than housed individuals.
Exposure, substance abuse and mental health lead to higher utilization of emergency services, stretching emergency service capacity.
Homelessness tends to exacerbate substance abuse and mental health conditions, leading to a higher utilization of emergency services.

12. Cost of Homelessness
According to HUD Secretary Shawn Donovan (2009 – 2014), on average, it costs approximately $40,000 per homeless person between the jails, shelters and emergency services.

13. Pine Street Inn: Boston, MA
Housing First works!
Pine Street offers more permanent housing beds than shelter beds (65:35 ratio).
5% of shelter guests use up to 53% of available beds each night (at Pine St.). Housing these individuals reduces the strain on available beds and frees up space for emergency shelter stays.

14. Pine Street Inn Continued…
Pine Street Inn, along with their supportive case management team has over a 90% retention rate among their permanently housed tenants.
Permanent housing is saving about $9500 per person per year in emergency medical costs, public services and shelter costs.

15. Pine Street Inn Continued…
The 2016 Boston P.I.T. count identified about 3,384 homeless individuals.
If permanent housing is saving on average $9500 dollars a year per person, this equals about 32 million dollars a year in savings for Boston and emergency service providers if everyone had permanent housing.

16. How do we determine if a Housing First program is effective?
Specific data needs to be captured like:
Length of shelter stays (how rapidly are individuals and families being housed?)
The number of successful placements
Housing stability (retaining housing, usually measured in six month intervals)

17. Measuring outcomes continued…
Housing Outcomes (if the program is time limited, what happened at the end of the subsidy)
Increased health and well-being of the individual or family
Increased economic well-being

18. The story of “Footie” http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/305/video.html
11:58
23:50

19. So what's the point of this presentation???
Lets use STEP as an example:
STEP embodies some of the elements of a Housing First Program
STEP is low threshold, but requires extensive work on the client’s part to become stably housed within the voucher timeframe.
STEP is time limited
STEP requires housing
stability plans
If the client doesn’t follow
through, they could lose their subsidy.

20. HOWEVER…
The spirit of ESHAP program is closer in alignment with the Housing First model:
The ESHAP program is designed to focus on getting housing to those who need it first.
ESHAP funds housing Navigator services, which should be focused on getting clients housed using appropriate resource.
Navigators should not be engaging in extensive case management, but should facilitate warm hand-offs to other case management services when appropriate. WE ARE FOCUSED ON HOUSING STABILITY!

21. Four Components of Navigator Services
1. Assessment & Housing Prioritization
VI –SPDAT within 30 days and record score in HMIS
A valid Verification of Homelessness
Client eligibility for Navigator Services is based on a score or 4 or greater IF
The client is eligible, now is the time to explain navigator services to the client and develop an initial Housing Stability Plan.
IF NOT
A ineligibility letter must be presented by the agency, to the applicant informing them on why they are ineligible.

22. Four Components of Navigator Services Continued…
2. Housing Identification
Identifying housing resources
The initial HSP with goals achievable in 90 days or less
HSPs need to be reviewed an updated at least every 30 days, and any changes in income should be updated on a regular basis.
HSPs include categories other than housing like income, health, transportation, and legal issues
Long term goals should be broken down into smaller goals again achievable in 90 days or less. If the goals are achieved, a new HSP should be created
IMPORTANT: Long term goals might require more extensive case management. If you as the navigator feel the client may need more intensive case management than navigator services can provide, you should help connect your client to those services with a Warm Handoff.

23. So, how do we identify appropriate housing resources?
VI-SPDAT
Vulnerability Index - Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool

24. VI-SPDAT continued Why do we use it?
Assess clients (barriers, supports, risk factors, etc.)
Identify appropriate housing resources and supports, helping the navigator
prioritize services and funding
Streamline services: Eliminates
the need to fill out applications
for every potential housing
voucher

25. VI-SPDAT “How to”…
The VI-SPDAT is part of Coordinated Entry in Maine, and meets HUD’s Coordinated Entry expectations.
It is a person-centered tool, meant to provide data, not make housing decisions.
Client honesty is key.
The score provided is a guide. As Navigators, you are encouraged to use your own skills and intuition in determining the appropriate housing intervention.
Two versions are available, and we want your opinion on which version to use!

27. Four Components of Navigator Services Continued…
Rental Assistance
Assisting clients with housing search and securing housing
Addressing potential barriers to client or landlord participation such as the type of rental assistance or tenant qualifications.
Landlord recruitment
Continuing to address any issues related to client housing stability

28. Four Components of Navigator Services Continued…
Stabilization Services
Monthly participant meetings
Updating HSPs, including income documentation.
Data entry
Once navigator services are no longer needed, recording exit destination and assessment in HMIS.
STEP clients need an End of Participation document completed

29. Wrapping up
ESHAP embodies the spirit of housing first. We want to help all Mainers experiencing homelessness access safe and affordable housing as quick as possible. This can only be done by prioritizing our limited resources using tools like the VI-SPDAT and providing housing stability support after housing is obtained… QUESTIONS?

30. THE END!

31. Just Kidding! Lets talk ShareFile.