1. Colorado's Effort to House Its Re-entry Population
Kristin Toombs, Director
Office of Homeless Initiatives
Division of Housing
Department of Local Affairs
NAEH Conference
February 22, 2019

2. Colorado Division of Housing
Created to improve the access of all Coloradans
to decent, affordable housing
How do we do it?
Funding for operating and rental subsidies
Funding to acquire, rehabilitate, and construct affordable housing
Regulatory role as building department
Technical assistance
What have we done?
Funded over 700 supportive housing units in past 4 years
Serves over 35,000 households
Created 3,500 new affordable housing opportunities in past year
Avg voucher recipient income: $11,400
Over 83% of vouchers serve people with disabilities

3. Office of Homeless Initiatives
To help Colorado communities have sustainable solutions to ensure homelessness is prevented whenever possible or is otherwise a rare, brief, and single experience.
Manage various programs (vouchers, rapid re-housing, and others) throughout the state.

4. The Challenge: - Colorado ranks 43rd in the country for overall health care need vs access. - Mental illness among CO inmates is 2-3x that of the general population. - 74% have substance use disorders. - CO prisons treat 4x people for mental health than the state’s psychiatric hospitals. - 10,555 individuals were counted as homeless in 2018 PIT. - 8,300 individuals are discharged from corrections annually. - 25% are homeless upon discharge. - 59% recidivate to incarceration. Sources: AHAR, DOC, and Equitas Project

5. The Aim: Reduce Homelessness and Justice Involvement
The Response: Connect people with justice involvement to housing
How:
C-SCHARP
Homeless Solutions Program
Public Housing Authority
Vision for Future

6. (4) Served 3 cohorts 2013-16. Cohorts between 30-60 each.
C-SCHARP
Colorado Second Chance Housing & Reentry Program (1) Provided 2 years of rental assistance (HOME TBRA) + intensive behavioral health services (BJA/OBH funds). (2) Served dually diagnosed parolees exiting state prisons to homelessness in Denver and Colorado Springs. (3) Partnership between Dept. of Local Affairs + Dept. of Corrections + Office of Behavioral Health + Community Mental Health Centers. Original funding by Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Second Chance Act funds.
(4) Served 3 cohorts Cohorts between each.

7. C-SCHARP
ELIGIBILITY
Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R): 27 or above
Dual-diagnoses: Psychiatric needs score 3 – 5; Substance abuse score 3 - 5
Exiting to homelessness
Paroling to Denver Metro area or Colorado Springs
Participant agreement
AIM: Reduce recidivism. Reduce homelessness.
Retain housing
Avoid arrest and incarceration
Improve mental health
Increase vocational skills and/or income
Link to community services

8. Results DATA EVALUATION
Integrated BJA outcomes + Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) Recovery Markers Inventory (RMI).
RMI measured 8 realms of treatment.
Significant positive housing and recidivism outcomes with housing and services support.
LESSONS LEARNED
Vouchers: Must be paired with adequate services and supportive property owners.
Services: Needs vary among participants and over time.
Environment: Surroundings impact likelihood of success.
Match Resource to Need: Short term vs. Permanent.

9. Vision Get flexible recurring state funds.
Improve assessment, prioritization and referral process.
Expand geographically. Serve the state.
Expand numbers. Serve more.
Match shorter term resources with less acuity.
Match longer term with higher needs.
Use best practices for housing models. (RRH and SH)
Expand across intercept points in justice system.
Partner with local justice systems in addition to state.
Track other systems utilization changes.
Coordinate with coordinated entry.

10. TARGET POPULATION:
The Homeless Solutions Program (HSP) $20m in new state funds.
Supports the creation of supportive housing interventions (Permanent Supportive Housing & Rapid Re-housing)
Used to strengthen existing DOH efforts to create supportive housing, build local capacity, & advance systems-coordinated housing initiatives.
HSP is prioritized to serve individuals with an extensive history of homelessness and behavioral health needs who are frequent or high-cost consumers of public systems

11. Supportive Housing Toolkit and TA
State Efforts to Increase Supportive Housing
Supportive Housing Toolkit and TA
Builds capacity in participating communities to develop, operate and provide services in high quality supportive housing projects. Provides TA for financial, operational and services aspects as needed.
Joint Underwriting
DOH and CHFA coordinate and stream line application process tax credits, gap funding and/or project-based vouchers.
RFAs
Annual RFA for creation of supportive housing. Multiple new RFAs for project and tenant based.
Results
Collectively funded over 700 project-based units in four years. Hundreds more tenant-based.

12. Homeless Solutions Program Rapid Re-housing (RRH)
The RRH model provides short to medium term financial housing assistance and housing-focused case management in a progressive engagement model to secure housing. Follows NAEH national standards.
In October 1, 2018, Volunteers of America, Colorado Branch (VOA) began implementing the Colorado Rapid Re-housing for Re-entry (COR3) program.
Aim: Successfully house 110 justice involved individuals per year in 30 counties throughout Colorado.
Partners with Department of Corrections, Community Re-Entry, COCs, and local jails.
50% Coordinated Entry + 50% Department of Corrections.

13. COR3 Components Rapid Rehousing + Care
Tailored to serve individuals with multiple, co-occurring and significant barriers to housing
Additional temporary financial assistance dollars per household
Slightly extended lengths of stay (9- to 18-month average) in the program to promote housing retention
Prioritization of connection to employment and mainstream public benefits in support of housing objectives
Integration of/direct connection to behavioral healthcare into rapid rehousing service teams for gap service provision

14. COR3 Referral Process
Three CO regions chosen based on data indicating they have the highest populations of persons experiencing homelessness coinciding with high rates of re-entry from correctional institutions
HUD Continuum of Care-based Coordinated Entry Systems
Points of contact within the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC)
Literally homeless/identified as homeless by DOC
Identified behavioral health issues
Prior or current justice involvement
Prioritized based upon JD-VI-SPDAT scores ranging from

15. COR3 Outcomes and Expansion
164 referrals in first 4 months for 110 slots. Had to stop referrals.
Governor Polis’ Criminal Justice Reform Initiative announced January 2019.
As of February 2019, COR3 Expansion - doubled size and # serve, with focus on inmates ready for parole but for housing.

16. Public Housing Authority’s Role
Technical Assistance from Vera Institute to increase access to PHAs housing for people with justice involvement.
Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan changes regarding eligibility and denials due to criminal background:
HUD-only for “must” denies
1 year violent/threatening criminal activity may deny
Automatic review for felonies per state statute

17. Vision – What’s Next Ultimate Aim:
Continue Increased Production & Access to Supportive Housing & RRH
Tenancy Supports Funding
Data Sharing – Targeting, Impact, Improvements
Advance Solutions Along the Continuum/ Intercept Points (ie Prevention & Diversion)
Ultimate Aim:
Reduce Homelessness & Recidivism
Improve Well-being
Reduce Public Costs
Improve Efficiencies

18. For more information: https://www. colorado
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