1. Preventing and Ending Homelessness at Connecticut State Colleges and Universities   December 4, :30am-12:30pm Manchester Community College  

2. Agenda 11:45-12:30 Sharing your plans
9:30-9:45 Welcome and Remarks - Duncan Harris and Lesley Mara
9:45-10:15 Ending Homelessness in Connecticut – Mimi Haley
Background on CT’s Campaign to End Homelessness
Introduction to Single Point of Contact Concept (SPOC)
Introduction to CT 2018 Youth Count!
10:15-10:30 Brainstorm about Volunteer Recruitment
10:30-10:40 Share ideas on volunteers
10:40-
Break
11-11:45 Planning Your Youth Count
11:45-12:30 Sharing your plans

3. Successes in Connecticut
CT is a national leader in ending homelessness.
CT is the second state to end all homelessness among all veterans in 2016.
As of December 2016, all chronically homeless individuals in CT have been matched to housing.
Definition of chronic homelessness: An individual with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for a year or more.

4. Successes in Connecticut
CT is a national leader in ending homelessness.
CT is the second state to end all homelessness among all veterans in 2016.
As of December 2016, all chronically homeless individuals in CT have been matched to housing.
Definition of chronic homelessness: An individual with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for a year or more.

5. SUPER COLLABORATION! Keep Calm and Kumbaya -between state and local
-theory and practice
-providers and community members
-youth and adults
-private and state agencies
-YETIs and CANs

6. Ending Youth Homelessness
Our next statewide goal is to end youth homelessness by 2020.
In January 2017, CT conducted the second statewide Youth Count.
Results showed that there are 4,188 homeless or unstably housed youth in CT.
An estimated 34% or 1,432 are homeless and 2,756 are unstably housed.
The Youth Count is a statewide census of homeless and unstably housed youth and young adults.
These figures come from the 2017 Youth Count report.

7. What is Coordinated Access?
A Coordinated Access Network is a region designated by the CT Department of Housing and CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services as responsible for coordinated entry into shelter services
Client-centric focus: is at the core of the Coordinated Access. The goal of the system is for community resources to come together around the client
CAN Collaboration: providers within CANs will work together from the front door of shelter through housing resources to help each client exit homelessness.
New Service Regions: In order to help providers to come together around clients consistent with the geographic areas in which clients tend to travel the CT Department of Housing (DOH), CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and CCEH developed a map of eight Coordinated Access Networks (CANs).

8. CT is a coordinated statewide system
Balance of State
CoC
Waterbury/Litchfield CAN
Greater Hartford
CAN
Northeast
CAN 8
Coordinated Access Networks (CANs)
Central
CAN
Middlesex Meriden Wallingford CAN 2
Continuums of Care (CoCs)
Fairfield County
CAN
Southeast
CAN
Greater New Haven CAN
Opening Doors Fairfield County CoC
1 statewide system

9. Housing Placement Meetings
CAN System Overview
Mainstream
Self-resolved
Diverted
Young Adults in Need of Assistance
Self-resolved
Diverted
Diverted
Waitlist for ES/TH
By-Name List
Rapid Re-Housing
CALL
2-1-1
CAN Assessment
Housing Placement Meetings
Staying in ES/TH
OUTREACH
No-show
Permanent Supportive Housing
Outreach plays the critical role of ensuring those outdoors or unlikely to use the 211 process are put on the By-Name List
GREEN ZONE indicates time-frame in which VI-SPDAT is completed. Varies on case-by-case basis, but the VI-SPDAT must be completed for the person to be included on the By-Name List
Self-resolved
Begin identifying clients who are Chronically Homeless
Conduct Next Step Tool when/if appropriate, which adds client to By-Name List

10. Why Do Youth Become Homeless?
Common reasons include:
Physical and/or sexual abuse at home.
Parental substance abuse.
Issues such as LGBTQ status or pregnancy.
Aging out of the foster care system, which can lead to struggles with income supports and housing.
Youth that are kicked out of their homes for issues such as LGBTQ status or pregnancy are sometimes known as “throwaways.”
Youth often slip through the cracks of systems, making it harder for them to exit homelessness.

11. Impacts of Homelessness on Youth
Homeless youth are at a greater risk of being victimized.
They often experience sexual exploitation, labor trafficking, assault and harassment.
Goal: end episodes of homelessness as quickly as possible and connect youth with the services and supports they need.
When youth remain homeless for long periods of time, it becomes harder and harder for them to exit homelessness.

12. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY)
An Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY) is a youth whose living situation is not “fixed, regular, and adequate” (homeless) and who is “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian” (unaccompanied).
UHY are the particular focus of this work.
This definition of UHY comes from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (1987)
UHY face specific challenges in higher education.

13. Challenges Supporting Homeless Students
Federally-mandated McKinney-Vento Liaisons support homeless students in the K-12 education system.
This enables more students to graduate from high school and seek higher education.
However, similar guidance is often missing in college.

14. Data on Homelessness Among College Students
Legislation passed by Congress allows UHY to apply for financial aid on the FAFSA without information from their parents or guardians.
FAFSA estimates that there are approximately 58,000 homeless students on campuses nationwide.
UHY can apply for the FAFSA as “independent” students. Colleges are not technically required to keep track of their homeless students. As a result, the FAFSA estimates are the most accurate figures we have on the number of unaccompanied homeless youth in college.

15. Ending Homelessness Amongst College Students
We know there are college students experiencing homelessness in CT.
Homelessness interferes with students’ education.
Students are commonly not aware of their eligibility for services and/or benefits.
Homelessness also increases students’ risk of dropping out.

16. Successes in Other States
In Colorado and a number of other states, each institution of higher education has a staff member called the Single Point of Contact (SPOC).
SPOCs are safe and supportive college administrators committed to helping UHY navigate the college process.
They connect students with campus departments and services and provide ongoing support.

17. Connecticut’s Community Plan
Some Underlying Principles
Maximize Existing Resources
Integrate into Current System
Balance State, Regional, and Local
Data to Understand Specific Needs
Youth Leadership
Inclusive Design
Individualized, Proactive, Responsive
Connecticut's Plans to End Youth Homelessness, July 2017

18. The Single Point of Contact Model
The SPOC model has been gaining traction across the U.S.
SPOC networks are located throughout the country, including here in New England.
Networks have developed ways to meet the unique needs of their students.
Here in New England, there are SPOC networks in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
CT can utilize the experiences of other states that have already implemented the system while considering our unique needs.

19. Why SPOCs Are So Important
UHY face the challenges of higher education without the support of a caring adult.
Often, little if any support is offered in their transition from high school to college.
SPOCs are a valuable resource for students who would otherwise struggle on their own.

20. Challenges for Homeless Students
Some challenges for UHY in college include:
Lack of access to parental financial information and support.
Lack of financial means to live independently.
Limited housing options.
Unmet medical and mental health needs.
Difficulty balancing school and other responsibilities, including work.
Lack of adult guidance and support.
Lack of information about available support systems.

21. Examples of Unmet Needs
Some services that UHY may need assistance with include:
Housing
Meals
Clothing
Health care
Mental health care
School supplies

22. SPOCs Are Able To…
Provide information on federal guidelines and state laws impacting UHY.
Create awareness on campus.
Educate members of the college community on how they can help identify, refer, and support UHY.

23. Creating a SPOC System in CT
A systematic response to homelessness in higher education would:
Provide a framework for standardizing services.
Ensure that UHY have access to support no matter where they attend college.
Harness the collective knowledge and skills of professionals who are scattered throughout the state.

24. Forming a Steering Committee
The SPOC steering committee will be responsible for guiding the implementation of the SPOC model.
The committee will be comprised of key stakeholders in higher education.
Who do you think would be the best people to serve on the SPOC steering committee?

25. Planning your 2018 Youth Count!
Which faculty or staff member is going to be the lead for the Youth Count?
How will this lead person recruit volunteers to conduct the Youth Count?
What other faculty or staff could assist in this project or other efforts related to ending student homelessness? What will their roles be? How will you enlist their help and keep them engaged?
Which active student groups will be most likely to volunteer and help with this Youth Count?
What locations on campus are students experiencing homelessness or housing instability most likely to frequent? (Helpful to make a list of “hot spots” such as the library, student center, cafeteria, food pantry, parking lot, etc.)
What time of the day are these students most likely to be in these locations?
How do you plan to have your survey volunteers staffing these locations during the Youth Count?
What incentives can offer students to encourage them to take the survey?
If a student identifies him/herself as homeless, what existing protocols are in place linking this student to available services?
Who will be responsible for training your volunteers? (The CT Coalition to End Homelessness will provide a train-the-trainer training on how to use the app, conduct survey, engage students)
What will your schedule look like for the week of the Youth Count January 24-31?
How will you market the Youth Count effort and also raise awareness about the issue of homelessness?

26. Planning Your Youth Count!
IDENTIFYING LEADS and ORGANIZING
VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
LOCATIONS and SCHEDULE
CONDUCTING THE COUNT
Administering the Survey
Using the App
Troubleshooting
What If’s
Definition of chronic homelessness: An individual with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for a year or more.

27. Or look for resources at
Thank You!
Visit us online:
Or look for resources at
Youth-help.org