1. Emergency Shelter for Families
Rebecca Woodard, Program manager

2. Emergency Shelter for Families Overview
History
Goals
Program
Demographics
Outcome
Success Stories
Moving Forward

3. History
The need for emergency housing for families with children was identified
2013 & 2014-Pilot projects confirmed that need
70 unduplicated households
200 families were turned away due to lack of capacity
2016-Year round facility opened through partnership between HACC, United Way and Continuum of Care
For years there was discussion throughout the community (community leaders, concerned citizens, and service providers in Champaign County) about the need for emergency housing for families with children: stories of families doubled up in small apartments, sleeping in cars, moving from one inappropriate place to the next. There was no place an entire family could be sheltered together, instead they were split between separate shelters for men, women and for children.

4. Goals Adults and children will:
have access to safe and secure shelter where the family can remain together while they plan for stable housing
exit to non emergency housing

5. Housing Authority of Champaign County Centralized Intake for Homeless
Collaborations
Housing Authority of Champaign County
Centralized Intake for Homeless
Crisis Nursery
University of Illinois and other schools
Housing Authority of Champaign County (HACC)
The Housing Authority of Champaign County (HACC) owns Maple Grove and allows 9 units
to be used for the ESF operations (8 housing units and a unit for an on-site office). HACC also
provides 15 project based subsidized housing units at Maple Grove and Housing Choice
Vouchers (HCV) for qualifying ESF guests to support families in a transition to permanent
housing.
Centralized Intake for Homeless
When shelter vacancies occur, Centralized Intake for Homeless (CI) refers potential guests from the CI database, prioritized using the VI-SPDAT.
Crisis Nursery
Crisis nursery provides care for preschoolers of ESF guest while their parents
are searching for housing, employment, or performing other tasks required to move to stable
UIUC SSW Interns provide case management assistance increasing intensity of case management support

6. Program Coordination Direct Guest Services Maple Grove case management
Shelter Management
Office supplies and inventory
Unit supplies and inventory
Updates program documents
Guest check in & check out
Unit turn over
Data entry
Guest resource area
Direct Guest Services
Intake
Case Management
Documentation
Handling guest challenges
Transition
Maple Grove case management
Shelter Management –keeps the office/program running
Office supplies and inventory
Unit supplies and inventory
Updates program documents-as adjustments are made-constantly services assessment and improvement, especially in the first few years
Guest check in & check out
unit turn over
Guest resource area-monitored and stocked
Direct Guest Services
Intake-assessing guest eligibility, describing services, rules and responsibilities
Case Management
Documentation-case notes, letters
Handling guest challenges-guest misconduct, extreme resistance
Transition-
Maple Grove case management

7. Shelter Units
8 furnished apartment units can accommodate up to 6 family members (7 two-bedroom units, 1 efficiency unit)
Basic furnishings, cookware and dishes are provided
Short-term Shelter-stay is renewed on a weekly basis for up to 30 days
Guests are responsible for maintaining necessary food, clothing, toiletries and cleaning supplies while at the shelter with staff assistance as needed (donations are available periodically)
School age children must be attending school when in session
Families are given an apartment-style unit with kitchen and living areas, bathroom, and up to two-bedrooms and four mattresses for sleeping arrangements. Light furniture and eating utensils are also provided. Families must be able to live in these units while abiding by HUD rules for living arrangements for children. Due to this, the max family size that can be accommodated at the shelter is 6 persons.
Short-term Shelter-stay is renewed on a weekly basis for no longer than 30 days
Basic furnishings, cookware and dishes are provided
Guests are responsible for maintaining necessary food, clothing, toiletries and cleaning supplies while at the shelter. Shelter staff assist guests in identifying resources to support these needs and periodically donations are available.
School age children must be attending school when in session

8. ESF Case Management
Case managers support guests in their diligent work towards securing stable housing which may include:
Applying for subsidized housing
Searching for housing they can afford/negotiating with landlords
Applying for benefits
Searching for employment
Enrolling in school & securing financial aide
If employed, heads of household must have a plan for savings while in the shelter
Working collaboratively with a case manager is necessary to support successful outcomes
Families are not expected to pay bills during their stay, but must be able to continue to provide food, transportation, and other necessities for themselves and their children. Families are also encouraged to settle debt that may assist in the family finding permanent housing, such as paying off an unpaid utility bill. Families must continuously plan for their next steps upon program exit. It is expected that families have a plan for utilizing their time in the shelter with efforts to improve their living situation upon exit from the shelter. Failure to adequately plan for a living situation after residence in the shelter will result in dismissal from the program.

9. ESF Case Management
Heads of household are required to meet with case manager 2 times per week throughout their stay to:
Develop a plan to secure stable housing (if employed this will include saving for rent & deposit)
Receive resources, encouragement and guidance
Share progress on movement towards stable housing
Share challenges and barriers to movement towards stable housing and work toward solutions
Approve or deny weekly renewal (guests are only eligible for renewal when there is evidence that they are diligently working towards securing stable housing)

10. Maple Grove Case Management
Staff recommend eligible & appropriate guests for transition to Maple Grove
Case management services will continue to:
Support continued work towards stable housing and self-sufficiency
Track progress towards goals using the Self- Sufficiency Scale
When making significant progress, recommend for a community based Move To Work (MTW) voucher
Eligible & appropriate-clients who are complying with all ESF guidelines, meet HACC eligibility requirements & are interested in pursuing a MTW voucher that may allow them up to 7 years of subsidy while they continue to move towards self-sufficiency.

11. ESF Demographics FY 2018 143 individuals 43 households 48 adults
Domestic violence history- 27
Chronic health conditions- 9
Mental health problems- 10
Physical disabilities- 7
Developmental disabilities- 4
Drug abuse- 1
143 individuals
43 households
48 adults
95 children

12. Situation at Entrance to Date
Emergency shelter/hotel voucher 5
Place not meant for habitation 7
Rental by client, no ongoing housing subsidy 3
Rental by client, with other housing subsidy (including RRH) 1
Hotel or motel paid for without emergency shelter voucher 4
Staying or living in a friend's room, apartment or house 16
Staying or living in a family member's room, apartment or house 14
Homeless Situations
Emergency shelter, including hotel or motel paid for with emergency shelter voucher 5
Place not meant for habitation 7
Rental by client, no ongoing housing subsidy 3
Rental by client, with other housing subsidy (including RRH) 1
Hotel or motel paid for without emergency shelter voucher 4
Staying or living in a friend's room, apartment or house 16
Staying or living in a family member's room, apartment or house 14
Total 50

13. Exit Destinations to Date
Rental by client, no ongoing housing subsidy 18
Rental by client, with other ongoing housing subsidy 37
Staying or living with family permanently 6
Rental by client with RRH 7
Transitional housing for homeless persons 2
Staying or living with family, temporarily 22
Client Doesn't Know/Client Refused 25
65% of shelter guests exited plan-fully to non-emergency housing
41% exited to stable housing
Permanent Destinations
Rental by client, no ongoing housing subsidy 18
Rental by client, with other ongoing housing subsidy 37
Staying or living with family, permanent tenure 6
Rental by client, with RRH or equivalent subsidy 7
Temporary Destinations
Transitional housing for homeless persons (including homeless youth) 2
Staying or living with family, temporary tenure (e.g., room, apartment or house) 19
Staying or living with friends, temporary tenure (e.g., room apartment or house) 3
Client Doesn't Know/Client Refused 25
Total 117

14. Success Stories
One client who was leaving an abusive relationship and struggles with substance abuse was connected to continued to receive treatment upon exit.
Anther client had a temp position that became fulltime and moved to permanent housing on her own.
18 clients moved to Maple Grove transitional housing and may qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher from Housing Authority.
was accepted at Eastern Illinois University. She was leaving an abusive relationship. She also struggles with substance abuse. She's been successfully receiving services at Rosecranse substance abuse.
Stayed at the shelter 45 days. Her temp job became full time permanent and she qualified in her own (without subsidy) for an apartment and even got 1st month rent free. Champaign Township is paying for PARTIAL security deposit. She has a 2 yr old daughter.