Community Partnership for Youth Housing Background Shelton School District has the 9 th highest student homeless count of all Districts in WA. 8% of students qualified as homeless in Mason County has no youth shelter or student/youth transitional housing. Mason County has many gaps in services for underserved youth.

Community Colaboration Presenting the issues to: Community Service groups (eg Rotary) Faith Based Community Child Welfare Local Legislators Continuum of Care School District Staff/Admin Recruiting student advocates (Mocking Bird Youth N Action

Creating a Youth Sub-Committee The Mason County Youth Housing Committee Recruiting stakeholders in Youth Housing Recruiting youth advocates Educating the group on existing models

Picking a Model Host Homes: Long-term housing with a family with the support of a counselor/coach and additional services, sometimes including a modest stipend to offset some of the costs incurred for food and utilities. Generally, the youth has a preexisting relationship with the family. Group Homes: Long-term housing with a group of unaccompanied youth who live together in a home dedicated to that purpose, usually with an adult providing supervision and counseling/coaching. Independent Living: Long-term housing in scattered-site apartments where youth live independently, with the rent subsidized or paid by the sponsoring program, and usually with counseling/coaching. Emergency Shelter: Short-term, emergency housing in a shelter designed for youth under age 18 or in a separate, youth-oriented wing of an adult shelter. High School + Housing = Success Patricia Julianelle NAEHCY Legal Counsel November, 2009

Pick a Service provider, and partners Look for an organization that already serves youth Liability insurance, licensing?? Fiscal Management?? Staffing?? Partner with agencies….eg… School District ESD Rotary

Resources. Housing + High School = Success Schools and Communities Uniting to House Unaccompanied Youth Patricia Julianelle NAEHCY Legal Counsel November,

W E LL G ET IT D ONE. W E LL MAKE IT FUN. A Proposal for the Shelton Skookum Rotary Club

Last year, the Shelton School District tracked 333 homeless children and youth living in tents, cars, substandard housing, and/or doubling up with non-parent families. W E LL G ET IT D ONE.

Collaborate to create a program serving homeless young adults via a Rotary District 5020/Gates Foundation for the Homeless Partnership Matching Grant W E LL G ET IT D ONE. + Other Funding Sources

Unite the partners, create a framework for the program, and submit a grant application in W E LL G ET IT D ONE. 5 weeks

Formalize the Collaborative Partnerships W E LL G ET IT D ONE. Shelton Skookum Rotary (and Foundation) Shelton School District YES ** (associated with SOCK) Educational Service District 113 Mason County Social Services Other

Create the Framework for the Program W E LL G ET IT D ONE. Rapid housing for ages modeled in a Rotary Exchange Program Support system for Students & Host Families Commitment to complete diploma or GED Education to end the cycle of homelessness and increase economic independence Safety & mutual respect required

Initial Assessment of Risk & Liability W E LL G ET IT D ONE. Informal/cursory review by a great legal mind Authoritative review by Rotary International Risk Management Team Recommendations by Insurance Counsel TO DO: Strengthen hold harmless language

Create the Program Requirements / Students W E LL G ET IT D ONE. Students must agree to background checks & school records release Students must sign Host Student/Host Family Cooperative Agreement Students must remain enrolled in school & complete all required education and advisory components Students will work with social services to obtain food assistance, health coverage, and other

Create the Program Requirements / Families W E LL G ET IT D ONE. Families must agree to background checks & home visit Families must participate in orientation Families must sign Host Student/Host Family Cooperative Agreement Families must maintain homeowners + liability insurance

Create the Program Requirements / Admin W E LL G ET IT D ONE. YES will serve as program administrator Must provide application, screening, support, and mediation services for Students & Families Must serve as a centralized location for information on services for homeless students Must work collaboratively with all partners Must maintain liability coverage Must follow-through with all Skookum fiscal management and reporting requirements

Develop a Realistic & Proactive Budget W E LL G ET IT D ONE. $30,000 Secured / TO DO: Distribution Plan Program Administrator Secured Modest compensation for families Included Safety & security for all ** Developing** Education to end the cycle of homelessness and increase economic independence Included

If you cant feed 100 people, then feed just one. -- Mother Theresa W E LL G ET IT D ONE. Conservatively scaled (Serve 14 in First Year) Support for Students & Families built in Safety & academic success are the top priorities

Dont ask others to do anything you arent willing to do yourself. W E LL G ET IT D ONE. Mutually rewarding Relief, warmth, joy, satisfaction, fun, etc., etc. No guarantees: were dealing with people -- Mother Rhonda

W E LL G ET IT D ONE. Kathy Haigh Jerry Obendorf Paul Everett Vince Himlie Rich Adamson Hauke Hansen Nancy Kissner Denis Leverich Skookum Board

W E LL G ET IT D ONE. Rhonda Stone W E LL MAKE IT FUN.