1. Ryan Vernick ADOH Adriane Clarke ADES
Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH)/Department of Economic Security (DES)
Rapid Re-Housing and Beyond Policy and Standards Coordination for Balance of State and DES ESG
Ryan Vernick ADOH Adriane Clarke ADES
Introductions /Bios
Ryan and then Adriane

2. Consolidated System Planning
Each CoC is charged with developing a consolidated plan(con plan) which coordinates between ESG recipients and the CoC
Key elements include: Shelter, housing, supportive services, and prevention strategies
Con plan is the primary coordination tool used to plan, prioritize, and allocate resources (local, state, federal)
Con plan is a three-five year process document which is strategic in nature
Involves long term collaboration to reduce barriers, leverage funding, and eliminate redundancies
Adriane- A Con plan is 3- 5 year strategic process that is to plan, prioritize, and allocate resources locally and statewide. HUD Funded programs (CDBG, HOME, NSP, COC, ESG) coordinates and develops this document for the purposes of addressing affordable housing and community development needs. Each CoC is tasked with coordinating with ESG recipients to standardize processes, practices, and funding allocations.

3. Rapid Rehousing Standards
Adriane-
BOSCOC and DES ESG has developed a Rapid Rehousing Standards proposal for the Balance of State.
Discuss the purpose of developing RRH Standards.
Rapid rehousing programs philosophy, guiding principles, guiding practices, and outcomes should be aligned across funding sources. It is to the benefit of direct service providers and the program participants to receive a continuity of services.
This is your opportunity to review, discuss, provide feedback, offer suggestions, ideas, whatever have you before the standards go into effect.

4. What is Rapid Rehousing?
Rapid Rehousing is a housing intervention that has been established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that is utilized as part of the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program
Why is it important?
As a Housing First approach Rapid Re-Housing is designed to reduce or eliminate the length of time that an individual or household is experiencing homelessness. RRH is intended to be flexible and offered without required pre-conditions such as employment, income, absence of criminal record or sobriety.
How does it work?
RRH programs provide a tailored package of assistance, which is highly individualized, to the individual client and household need. RRH programs are intended to have a high level of accessibility for the household in need of assistance.
Ryan-
Designed to eliminate or reduce the time the individual is homeless.
Ties into the SPM that will be discussed later. It is unique to other permanent housing programs in that it is designed to be a low to no barrier program.
High Flexibility, High Accessibility, client centric mirroring the housing first approach.

5. Find, Pay & Stay Ryan- Find, Pay, And Stay
Efficiency- Quickly reducing or eliminating length of time homeless
Accessibility-HH accessing housing within days
Networking-Building and developing landlord partnerships
Building Community-Regular education and outreach, streamlining resources, connecting stakeholders

6. Rapid Re-Housing Basics
Eligibility
Documented homeless status. (HMIS, case worker, third party)
All Referrals must come from Coordinated Entry
Assessment
Requires a VI SPDAT to determine the level of vulnerability for a household.
To determine the following: Verification of homelessness and income, identification of individuals, financial calculations for rent and living expenses, a leasing agreement.
Assistance
Case Management based on assessment
Housing choice is client centered and client driven
Short term financial assistance
Follow up
Adriane- How do we get there?
Many of you are already familiar with the basic eligibility , assessment, and the assistance process of RRH. We all know to verify the homeless status and that all referral must come from CE. In CE, we assess to determine the level of vulnerability in order to prioritize and refer to permanent housing programs.

7. Adriane- Even though we are creating a standard, there are eligibility criteria that differs between ESG-RRH and CoC-RRH. It is important to be cognizant of the difference when assessing which funding source can be applied. The Standards provides guidance in the different funding sources.

8. Ryan- Same as the eligibility, the eligible cost differ as well
Ryan- Same as the eligibility, the eligible cost differ as well. For the most part RRH eligible cost are similar across ESG, COC, and HTF. *Through the VA SSVF has their own eligible costs.
Major Differences
ESG allows arrears while CoC doesn’t
ESG allows for Project Based Rental Assistance while CoC does not
ESG allows for Utility Deposits, moving costs, and last month rent while CoC does not
CoC has a more flexible supportive services while ESG is limited.
For eligible COC RRH support services please refer to 24 CFR For eligible ESG RRH supportive services, please refer to 24 CFR

9. Name three differences between ESG and CoC RRH
Ryan-

10. RRH Assessment Process
Outreach/
referrals/walk-ins
Referral to other system of care (Vet, DV)
Initial Assessment (including ROI, UDE, VI-SPDAT)
Case Conferencing using HMIS By Name List (BNL)
5 minutes
Contact made with client by Provider Agency
15 minutes
Occupancy
standards
Entry into
Coordinated Entry
Agency accepts
referral for RRH
Eligibility meeting
with client
30 minutes
15 minutes
5 minutes
hours
days
Referral to
homeless agency
Verification of household information
Diversion
Provide list of documents needed for eligibility meeting
5 minutes
Identify size of unit needed
Determine how much client can realistically pay for rent
Provide current fair marketrents
Provide listings of apartments & complexes
Provide Request for Tenancy for potential landlord to complete
Determine utility allowance if utilites are not included in rent
Assist with application & fees, if necessary
Advocate with landlords, as necessary
Closeout in Coordinated Entry
Complete intake forms
Verify income
Complete rent calculations
Grievance procedure notice
Copy identification
Complete homeless certification
documentation
Assist client in obtaining social security cards, birth certificates, etc.
Housing search
Schedule case manager in-home visit
Within 3 days
Client move-in
Lease approval
Inspection of unit
Turn on utilities in
client s name
Rent reasonableness
2 - 3 days
1 hour
1 - 2 hours
15 minutes
Adriane- Many of you have seen the RRH flow chart that was introduced in June of High level this flow is designed to demonstrate ideal time frames and process in which you should carry the household through RRH. Does any one to review the assessment process?
Arrange forvisit tonon-profits for furniture, if possible
Purchase household items with other funding, if possible
Notify school district liaison/ ensure children are enrolled
Purchase school supplies & clothing withother funding, if possible
May need LIHEAP or other assistance to pay arrears
Pay utility deposits
Occupancy agreement is signed
Pay security deposit, first & last month s rent, as applicable
Landlord signs W-9 form
Case/house
stability plan
HQS/UPCS is completed prior to clientmove-in
Disclosure of lead based paint/checklist
2 hours
Employment/income plan
Education plan
Child care plan
Family/social functioning plan
Food/nutrition plan
Transportation plan
Credit repair plan
At least monthly
visit with case
manager with assessment
1 hour
At least monthly
follow-up home
visits for 6 months after assistance ceases
1 hour
Client pays portion of rent on an increasing scale
Clients pays entire rent/assistance ceases
Project exit
SUCCESS!
Homeownership plan
Other required/needed plans

11. Program Enrollment
Program enrollment takes place concurrent with the beginning of the housing search. (Note: this is separate from the move in date) For SSVF programs, participants are enrolled prior to the initiation of the housing search.
Once an individual is assessed, enrolled, and a housing choice is made, they are provided with a housing case manager (HCM) or navigator
Adriane- There has been many discussions, questions, concerns about when program enrollment takes place. Program Enrollment does not take place when the household moves in to their unit. Enrollment takes place prior to the household moving into the unit. This standard has been implemented throughout our continuum for a while now. Enrollment takes place when the agency takes the referral. This may be prior to document readiness or housing seach.
Example. If we start the enrollment at move in we loose tons of data, you don’t get credit for the amount of work that is put into housing location, it is skews data by reflecting that our housing stock is open and that we can enroll and house in the same day. Which we know, that’s not the case. We have trouble finding affordable housing. We do a lot landlord and tenant mediation. And so.
Also, it will skew the SPM ,the length of time homeless, in which HUD measures in various reports. Which can affect NOFA scoring, amounts received and more.

12. Case Management
All changes in a HH status, specifically income, must be reported to the HCM immediately.
HCMs meet with HH regularly for home visits and status check ins
HH are re-assessed for increased income and self sufficiency before program exit.
Ryan- the importance of creating a standard around case management is a critical piece to continuity of services and housing sustainability. Once again, the household should be able to go to any RRH program and receive the same level of case management services to the next.
Case Management is the key piece RRH. It involves landlord mediation, negotiations, advocacy, assisting household building community, access to resources, supplementing to income and etc. Case Management should be able to provide the wraparound for the household to self sustain successfully.
Household success is based on good , effective case management.

13. Housing Case Planning
Includes setting goals, reducing barriers and identifying measurable steps that can be accomplished in reasonable timeframes. Housing Case plan should also include at minimum.
Monthly budget and income/employment strategy
Lease with identified key dates (Ex: rent due date, renewal notices)
Emergency Contacts list of community resources
Plan to address health, mental health, substance abuse or other client identified barriers to housing stability
Advocacy with landlords.
Ryan- Designed to assist household identifying and creating their own housing stability plan. This can be done by incorporating both long and short term goals. The components are (Listed).
Housing case plan should be reviewed and updated monthly during the face to face contact with household at minimum. Any and all updates should be notated in the case files and in HMIS. *Income, non cash benefits and health information is critical because it is tied to a SPM. Ensure to submit interim updates in HMIS
Adriane- What do you think about creating a standard around case notes?

14. Financial Assistance Timeframes
1-3 Months
4-6 Months
7-9 Months
10-12 Months
12 + Months
0-30% of rent
30% of rent
50% of rent
100% of rent
Re-Evaluation
Reminder!
RRH is designed to move households toward self-sufficiency
Case plans are designed to set measurable steps within a reasonable timeframe including increasing income.
Please advise that RRH is a short term assistance program
Ryan-Financial housing assistance will be determined based on a comprehensive housing case plan, which will include location preferences, income and expense budget, and payment of rent calculations.
NOTE: Any exception to this guideline will need to have written approval from the ADOH or DES Contract Specialist in the file.
Submit a narrative or synopsis to justify the need for the exception to the rule.

15. In month 5 of a RRH program, your household should contributing what percentage of the total monthly rent? What are the factors that need to be assessed in order to determine rental contribution?
Adriane-
David suggested using this as a trick question to hammer the point of self sustainability as soon as possible is the goal.
The correct answer is 100% for the first quiz question. The minimum is 30%.

16. Program Exit Program exit occurs when:
The household has expressed a desire to become independent or has declined services
The household is self- sustained in permanent housing
The household understands current leasing/contractual obligations and other official documentation
Note: It is recommended that light contact housing case management be continued when financial assistance ceases.
Adriane- Program exit is not automatic to when the rental subsidy ends. It is an evaluation process that involves looking at the entirety of the household ability to self sustain.

17. Program Exit Decision Tool
Ryan- We have designed this tool as an example of what the desired program exit process should look like. These are not rules that are set in stone. Discretionary guide to make a decision.

18. What are three key factors that help determine if a household is appropriate for program exit?
Adriane-

19. RRH Outcomes HUD System Performance Measures
Proposed RRH Performance Measures
75% HH located housing within 45 days
80% of HH remain housed six months after assistance ends
75% HH increase or maintain income through employment or benefits
80 % remain or exit to a positive housing destination
Metric 1-Length of time people remain homeless
Desired Outcome- Reduction in the average and median length of time persons remain homeless
Metric 2- Extent to which persons who exit homelessness to PH return to homelessness within 6 to 12 months
Desired Outcome- Reduction in the percent of persons who return to homelessness
Metric 4- Employment and income growth
Desired Outcome- Increase in the percent of adults who gain or increase employment or non-employment case income over time
Metric 7- Change in Exits to PH destinations
Desired Outcome- Increase in the percent of persons who exit to or retain permanent housing
Ryan- 4/6 Metrics pertain to HUD SPM. If you look at the desired outcomes of the SPM, you will see the correlation between what HUD is measuring and how our RRH programs are performing. The ultimate is goal is gauge how our community is preventing and ending homelessness. As previously stated, the outcomes of RRH programs significantly impact the overall ranking and scoring process of the BOSCOC.
What do you think?
Adriane- We need to think beyond our individual programs and think system wide. Data Drives Decisions. The measures are system measures are system measure but they also can be guide to the health of your program. It can help clue you in on areas of improvement in program design as well as assessing the need the need in your community. Ex. You may find that you have excellent outcomes in increasing income but may not be able to house within 45 days. You can then evaluate housing location practices.

20. Questions

21. ESG/COC Collaboration
We already the intent of ESG/COC collaboration in multiple areas. One of which is standardization of rapid rehousing.

22. CoC Written Standards- The Coc Interim Rule requires written standards be developed
Ideas for areas for possible written standards collaboration
Street Outreach Emergency Shelter
Ryan- We have presented a proposal for RRH Standards, is there a need to create standards surrounding SO and ES? CoC does not fund these interventions however ESG does. Keep in mind that Street Outreach and Emergency shelter impacts our CoC. It impacts by way of SPM, PIT Count, NOFA, Coordinated Entry, HMIS and etc.
Currently, there are varying funding sources for the interventions. We would need to locally organize the funders, providers, stakeholders to determine the level of need and the willingness to collaborate.

23. AMS- Arizona Management Systems
Adriane- Through the implementation of Arizona Management System, our goal is to continuously improve by setting standards by which we can measure progress. The core standards or elements that the DES Homeless Coordination Office and the DOH Special Needs Division would like to focus on, will include but are not limited to:
Standardized work
Problem Solving

24. Areas of Streamlining ADOH/ DES
Homeless Prevention
Monitoring
Reporting Requirements
System Performance
Data Quality Standards
Adriane- DOH and DES has regular standing strategic meetings. These are possible areas that we have identified as points of creating standardized processes. We have begun looking at these areas and would like feedback in terms of your needs.
Currently, we have similarities in these areas, however we can further align or streamline. (discuss list)
Are there any other areas where you might feel that DOH/DES should consider?

25. What is the data timeliness expectation
What is the data timeliness expectation ? What is the data quality expectation?

26. Wrapping Up Next Steps! Take your feedback
Finalize and roll out RRH Written Standards for BOSCoC
Begin conversations around additional standards and or opportunities for collaborations
Look at our system and processes of where we can make improvements and maximize efficiencies for our clients and our state.
Overall, continue to lead with solutions for a stronger Arizona.
Wrapping Up

27. Thanks!
Ryan Vernick , Contracts Specialist, ADOH,
Adriane Clarke, ESG Specialist, ADES,