Homeless Leadership Coalition Working Together to Prevent and End Homelessness in Central Oregon

Everyone in Central Oregon has a safe, stable place to call home! Vision We are stronger, healthier, safer communities where people can thrive when … Everyone in Central Oregon has a safe, stable place to call home!

Mission The Homeless Leadership Coalition is a collaboration of community partners in Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties engaging the community through education, advocacy, planning, prioritization and accountability for services to persons experiencing homelessness.

Who is the HLC? Members: 40+ organizations and individuals from Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties Includes shelter providers, healthcare providers, public schools, emergency services, veterans outreach, the faith community, public safety, mental health, housing services, public services, private employers, people formerly or currently experiencing homelessness and others Populations: Populations served by member organizations include individuals and families throughout Central Oregon - Madras, Bend, Sisters, Redmond, Prineville, La Pine and more - who are either at risk or are experiencing homelessness Our last full count in 2015 found more than 2000 people were either homeless or unstably housed on just one night in January. The number of people in need of homeless prevention or housing services during the course of a year is in the tens of thousands. They are children, men and women, people with chronic illnesses, veterans, people with disabilities, those hit by economic hardship, and people who have been shut out of the local housing markets

Where do we start...

High Desert Home: Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness 6 Goals 27 Strategies Strategic Objectives and Timeline Population and Strategy Measures for Tracking Progress

What is ending homelessness... Housing Ends Homelessness. “Ending Homelessness” does not mean that no one will ever experience a housing crisis. It does mean that if they do, they can quickly move back into housing and have the supports they need to maintain it. (Federal Goal: No person or family homeless more than 30 days)

High Desert Home: Goals Goal 1 - Homelessness Prevention Prevent and divert people from becoming homeless by working with them directly to maintain their housing or obtain safe, stable housing. Goal 2 - Affordable Housing Increase access to stable and affordable housing by expanding, developing, and coordinating the supply of affordable housing to prevent and end homelessness.

High Desert Home: Goals Goal 3 - Appropriate Support Services Cultivate the strengths of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to expand their capacity for self-support in housing through strategies that promote economic security, health and housing stability. Goal 4 - System Improvements Improve system coordination, communication and collaboration among agencies and organizations at the funding and service delivery level to move toward a “housing first” system, improve discharge procedures and prevent and end homelessness.

High Desert Home: Goals Goal 5 - Education and Outreach Increase leadership, collaboration, and civic engagement across all sectors to promote collaborative solutions and commitment to preventing and ending homelessness. Goal 6 - Better Data Expand and improve data collection, technology and methodology to better track homeless program demographics and outcomes, improve collaboration, identify gaps and target solutions.

Required Roles of the HLC / CoC Operation of the Central Oregon Continuum of Care (OR-503) Continuum of Care Planning and System Coordination Coordinated Entry Point in Time Count (PIT) Annual Gaps Analysis Designation and Operation of a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Preparation of CoC Application for Funds Funding Prioritization & Oversight - HUD CoC and ESG System Performance Measures

Additional Roles of the HLC Convene/ Support Community Advisory Committees on Homelessness Central Point for Information and Communication Advocacy and Education Research and Policy Development Collaborate on Regional Initiatives Develop New Resources Convene Trainings on Best Practices Plan and Support new CoC Projects/ Initiatives

How do we do all this….. Governing Board Community Advisory Committees (forthcoming) Committees & Workgroups: Coordinated Entry - Planning, Implementation and Ongoing Improvement HMIS - Policies, Procedures, and Data Quality Point in Time Count - Coordination, Implementation, Review of Results Strategic Planning & Partnerships - CoC Coordination & Plan to End Homelessness Advocacy - Advocacy Agenda, Vet Opportunities, Plan & Coordinate Actions Funding and Resource Development - HUD CoC, ESG, New Funds, etc.

Homeless Leadership Coalition Committees/ Workgroups Community Advisory Committees Governing Board Homeless Leadership Coalition Lead Agency And/Or Collabora-tive Applicant Strategic Planning & Partnerships Committees/ Workgroups Advocacy HMIS Coordinated Entry Point in Time Count CoC Funding

A “Housing First System” Approach “Housing First is an approach that can be adopted by housing programs, organizations, and across the housing crisis response system.” https://www.usich.gov/solutions/housing/housing-first Why Housing First? Because it’s effective! It improves outcomes, it saves money, and, most importantly, it saves lives.

Housing First = Better Outcomes Better Outcomes for People. Better Outcomes for Systems. “Housing First is a proven approach, applicable across all elements of systems for ending homelessness, in which people experiencing homelessness are connected to permanent housing swiftly and with few to no treatment preconditions, behavioral contingencies, or other barriers. It is based on overwhelming evidence that people experiencing homelessness can achieve stability in permanent housing if provided with the appropriate level of services. Study after study has shown that Housing First yields higher housing retention rates, drives significant reductions in the use of costly crisis services and institutions, and helps people achieve better health and social outcomes.” (https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Housing_First_Checklist_FINAL.pdf)

Housing First - It Works! Federal Plan - “Opening Doors” HUD - CoC, USICH, SAMHSA, VA, CMS, etc. State - OHCS, State Plan to End Homelessness HLC/ Continuum of Care -- Central Oregon’s Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness COHC SDH-Housing Committee Housing for All - A Central Oregon Partnership City of Bend

The Time is Now! Pieces Coming Together Sense of Urgency! Housing Crisis Health Care Law Enforcement Service Providers General Public Federal, State, Local Proven Strategies “We need something different!”

Housing First / Frequent Users Initiative 2016: Stakeholders began meeting more than a year ago to find a better way to address chronic homelessness. The response was in part due to an increase in police time/resources spent on people experiencing homelessness, as well as a recognition that complex health problems cannot truly be addressed while someone is homeless. Agreed on the concept of developing a Housing First Initiative for 200 Chronically Homeless persons in Deschutes Co. / Bend. 2017: Housing First Training with the Corporation for Supportive Housing brought together partners and initiated a community conversation on Housing First, the approach, and possible project models for our community. Workgroup agreed to focus on Frequent Users (FUSE Model) and data-matching among systems is underway. A “Phase 1” cohort will be identified for a Housing First approach project. Key Partners & Stakeholders are engaged - Government, service providers, affordable housing developers, healthcare systems, and law enforcement.

Stakeholders Involved City of Bend - City Manager, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Police Department Bend City Council Members Deschutes County Commissioner Deschutes County Public Health Department Oregon Housing and Community Services PacificSource Housing Works Mosaic Medical Homeless Leadership Coalition NeighborImpact Central Oregon Health Council St. Charles Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO) Bethlehem Inn YOU?

Next Steps ... Identify Phase 1 Cohort of homeless “frequent users”of key systems Refine population focus Determine the model(s) to be used - scattered-site, cluster, project-based Determine service delivery model Formalize Initiative roles and partnerships Project costs Project systems’ savings Identify funding sources (new or redirected plus gap funding) Develop implementation timeline Develop evaluation House first cohort!

Everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call Home

Ways to Get Involved PIT Community Conversations Coordinated Entry Assist in structuring conversations Attend and record conversations Assist in analysis, final report on findings and recommendations Coordinated Entry Evaluation on System Performance Measures Evaluation on C.E. process, accessibility, effectiveness Advocacy Community Education Policy Analysis, Action Alerts

Ways to Get Involved Continued…. Connections to Resources Fundraising: Develop new resources for prevention and/or gap funding Technical Assistance: Connect to professional assistance in campaign development, etc. Others CORC Mapping Workgroup PIT Count 2018 PIT Survey Tool review and reconstruction PIT Methodology review and recommendations

Sign Up, Questions, Ideas ... Monica Desmond HLC Planning Coordinator monica.cohomeless@gmail.com