Reviewing 10-Year Plans to End Homelessness Asheville, NC

The 10-Year Plan Adopted by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County in January First Plan Adopted in North Carolina. Mission: To end chronic homelessness and reduce all types of homelessness over the next decade by investing resources in a coordinated, sustained effort that addresses the underlying causes of homelessness.

The 10-Year Plan Lead the Way – Develop a Steering Committee to oversee the 10- Year Plan. Develop an Infrastructure – Develop and use the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). – Establish a no wrong door policy. – Establish a Coordinated Assessment System.

The 10-Year Plan Prevention – Coordinate and expand housing resources for short- and medium- term support. – Increase supports for people leaving institutions. – Engage landlords, 211, other resources. – Access mainstream resources.

The 10-Year Plan Housing First/Housing Plus – Create new permanent, supportive housing. – Make existing housing more accessible. – Use outreach and education to engage people. – Develop wrap-around services.

Guiding Principles Everyone has a right to housing. There are achievable solutions to homelessness, and actions should be based on those solutions. People experiencing homelessness should inform planning and be informed of the plans. Consistent, accurate data and measureable results should inform decisions.

Guiding Principles continued Resources should be used responsibly and in a coordinated fashion. People and the groups that support them have unique and diverse needs that require multiple solutions.

How has Asheville done? Lead the Way 10-Year Plan Coordinator hired and Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee began meeting in City of Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Commission make the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee an official commission the city and county in – Provides guidance to city council and county commission on all homeless issues. – Has started making funding recommendations.

How has Asheville done? Develop an Infrastructure 3 of 4 homeless service agencies use the Homeless Management Information System. Participated fully in the Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress in 2011, using HMIS data. Recently started working with local 211 to create a Coordinated Assessment System.

How has Asheville done? Prevention Implemented two ARRA-funded Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Programs. – City and state programs run through four agencies assisted over 400 households to stay in housing or end their homelessness through rapid re-housing. Average cost per household = $2500. – Two of those agencies have obtained funding from other sources to continue operating rapid re- housing for short- and medium-term assistance.

How has Asheville done? Housing First/Housing Plus Creation of Homeward Bounds Pathways to Permanent Housing supportive housing program in late – Has housed 422 individuals with a housing retention rate of 89%. – Expanded services to include not only permanent supportive housing but also rapid re-housing.

How has Asheville done? Housing First/Housing Plus Homeward Bound received a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Cooperative Agreement in – Housing services grant, providing mental health and substance abuse services to individuals moving into permanent housing. – 36 individuals moved into housing in first 10 months with another 19 enrolled, waiting for placement.

How has Asheville done? Housing First/Housing Plus Expanded use of HOME/CDBG funds for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance and Housing Case Management. – 20% of HOME funds used for TBRA vs. 3% nationally. – Expansion of Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-housing programs. – Pairing HOME funds with CDBG for intensive case management and housing stabilization services.

How has Asheville done? Housing First/Housing Plus HUD-VASH began in Buncombe County in – Partnership between the VA and HUD. – The Charles George VA Medical Center has housed 141 veterans since – 87% of those veterans met the definition of chronic homelessness prior to housing. – Program has a 90% housing retention rate. – Success has allowed the program to expand to Polk, Rutherford, McDowell, Cleveland, and Haywood Counties.

How has Asheville done? Overall homeless population: – 689 at plan implementation. – 523 counted in January – Reduction of nearly 25% Chronically homeless population: – 293 at plan implementation. – 72 counted in January – Reduction of over 75%.

Partnership with Local Housing Authority Why is this important in our communities? How did it work in Asheville? – Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee endorsed subcommittee to look at chronic homelessness. – Asheville Housing Authority agreed to a special priority. – Homeward Bound agreed to shift existing resources to initiate a pilot. – Project funded by multiple community stakeholders.

Partnership with Local Housing Authority Through July 2012, 116 individuals have moved into public housing or Housing Choice Vouchered units with a 90% retention rate. Priority has been expanded to include households homeless 90 days or longer to help with rapid re-housing efforts. Project has accelerated our decrease in chronic homelessness.

Looking Ahead... Expand supportive housing concept to other agencies. Develop Coordinated Assessment Process. Understand the scope of the HEARTH regulations and develop method through HMIS to measure important outcomes. – Reduce the overall homeless population. – Reduce the number of newly homeless individuals. – Decrease the number of households returning to homelessness.

Looking Ahead... Boiling it down to one key measurement goal: NO ONE WILL BE HOMELESS LONGER THAN 30 DAYS!

Why do we do this?

Asheville-Buncombe 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness Contact Information: Brian K. Alexander Executive Director Homeward Bound of Asheville, Inc. (828) ext. 256