1. NAEH Conference Washington D. C
NAEH Conference Washington D.C. July 2017 Understanding Unsheltered Homelessness: Trends, Characteristics, and Strategies Jason Johnson, City of Seattle

2. Objectives Introductions Who is Homeless? What is Contributing?
What Have We Been Doing?
Our Path Forward – How to Use What We Know

3. Overview: The Seattle Human Services Department's work is focused on ending homelessness, hunger and violence in our community and improving the health and well-being of everyone who calls the Seattle area home.
Budget and Funding Sources: The 2017 HSD Adopted Budget is $130,009,276 which includes City of Seattle General Fund, WA State funds, Federal funds and grants from private foundations.
Staff: 340 FTE

4. Human Services Dept. Impact Areas
Preparing Youth for Success
Promoting Healthy Aging
Supporting Affordability & Livability
Promoting Public Health
Responding to Gender-based Violence
Addressing Homelessness

5. Who is living Homeless in Seattle?

6. Nearly 1/3 of people living unsheltered are under age 30.
Needs Assessment Survey, Applied Survey Research 2017

7. They are our neighbors 70%
Needs Assessment Survey, Applied Survey Research 2017

8. Many Are Long-time Residents
38% have lived here 10 years or more
Needs Assessment Survey, Applied Survey Research 2017

9. They Came to Seattle for Friends/Family/Jobs
70% of survey respondents came to Seattle to join personal networks or to pursue job opportunities
Only 15% came to access homeless services
Needs Assessment Survey, Applied Survey Research 2017

10. Many Lived in their Own Homes
Immediately prior to
becoming homeless,
68%
Owned their own home or rented or
Lived in a home owned or rented
by friends/family
Needs Assessment Survey, Applied Survey Research 2017

11. Many Work & Are Educated
41% work in some capacity
35% have some college or a college degree
46% have high school or GED
Needs Assessment Survey, Applied Survey Research 2017

12. Too Many Families Sleep Outside

13. Homelessness Disproportionately Affects People of Color
Needs Assessment Survey, Applied Survey Research 2017

14. Homelessness Disproportionately Affects LGBTQ Community
Needs Assessment Survey, Applied Survey Research 2017

15. What is Contributing?

16. Community Determinants of Homelessness
Research of 300+ cities and states found statistical correlation between these factors and rising homelessness:
Increase in rent of $100 associated with 15% increase in homelessness in metro and 39% in rural/suburban areas
Housing market
Areas with high poverty and unemployment rates associated with higher rates of homelessness
Economic conditions
Areas with more Hispanic, baby boomer, and single person households associated with higher rates of homelessness
Demographic composition
States with lower mental health expenditures associated with higher rates of homelessness
Safety net
Areas with more recently moved people associated with higher rates of homelessness
Transience
Source: Byrne, T., Culhane, D., et. al., “New Perspectives on Community-level Determinants of Homelessness” (2013).

17. Issues We Must Face As A Community
Mental Health Issues
Substance Abuse
Foster Care System Racial Disparities Affordable Housing Supply

18. 3 Main Self-Identified Contributors to Homelessness
25% Lost a job
20% Housing Issues
13% Alcohol or Drug Use
Needs Assessment Survey, Applied Survey Research 2017

19. Drug Epidemic
35% of people self-reported use of harder drugs (meth, heroin, crack).
45% self-report no drug use.
Outreach teams estimate 80% of people they encounter in most challenging encampments have substance use disorders.
Over 50% of people with opioid addictions in Seattle/King County are homeless.
It is unclear whether homelessness was the cause or effect of substance use disorder. (UW study)

20. 93% of people living homeless would move inside if it was safe and affordable 68% need rental assistance 65% need increase in affordable housing
Needs Assessment Survey, Applied Survey Research 2017

21. Housing gap
Total number of unique households who have moved to permanent housing each year since 2013.
Permanent housing placements are based on exits from Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing into “exit destinations”
Exit Destinations: subsidized and unsubsidized rentals, owned housing units, permanent supportive housing, HOPWA permanent housing, permanently living with family or friends.
Homeless Households Housed Against Goal

22. We Need More and the Right Mix of Housing Options
FAMILIES
LGBTQ
YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS

23. What Have We Been Doing?

24. Key Elements of City’s Homelessness Response
2014
Unsheltered Task Force
2015
State of Emergency
Homeless Investment Analysis
HALA/Housing Levy
2016
Bridging the Gap
Poppe & Focus Strategies Reports
Pathways Home
2017
Emergency Operations Center activation
Pathways Home RFP

25. Where Does Current City Homeless Funding Go?
$50 million
Investment increase in…
PROGRAMS FUNDED
Emergency Shelters, Safe Havens, Day Centers, Hygiene Centers, Transitional Housing, Authorized Encampments, Outreach, Safe Parking
$24.8M
Permanent Supportive Housing, Transition In Place, Rapid Re-Housing
$16.8M
Eviction Prevention, Diversion
$4.2M
Services for people experiencing homelessness, meal programs, CDBG capital repair projects
$3.3M

26. An increasing problem
King County Data

27. How Did You Apply This Data?
What Impact Did It Have?

28. Pathways Home Principles
Create a
Person-Centered
Systemic Response
Invest in
Models
With
Demonstrated
Success
Address
Racial
Disparities

29. Pathways Home 6 Focus Action Areas
Commitment to Unsheltered Families
Expand 24-hour Shelter Access
Solve Waitlists
Connect Unsheltered People to Services
Make Housing Available
Good Governance
Youth & Young Adults
Performance-Based Contracting
Family Impact Team
Housing Resource Center
Navigation Center
Navigation Team
Shelter & Housing Prioritization
Long-Term Shelter Stayers
Portfolio Pilot Program
Compass Shelter
Central HMIS
Increase Rapid Rehousing & Diversion Investment
Queen Anne Shelter
Funders MOU

30. 2018 Data-Based Funding & Decision Making
MOU with King County, All Home & United Way for systems alignment
Performance targets in all 2017 contracts
Use of monthly outcomes report to understand real-time performance
Enhanced use of coordinated data through HMIS

31. Standardized Performance Targets
Exits to Permanent Housing
Average Length of Stay
Returns to Homelessness
Homeless at Time of Entry
Utilization Rate

32. $30 Million RFP Focus on connecting people to housing
Alignment to the standard performance targets
Clear racial equity targets
Incentive for applications reflecting collaboration
One RFP 32

33. 2018 Contracting
Portion of contract outcomes will have performance pay
Monthly outcomes report available to track progress and provide support
System-wide continuous improvements through 1:1 and peer learning opportunities

34. Questions? Jason Johnson, Deputy Director
Contact: -
Phone - (206)
Web –
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