1 Outline of Presentation Homeless Services in NYC: The Origins of the HomeBase Program NYC’s HomeBase Program HELP USA’s HomeBase Program: Preventing Homelessness in the South Bronx City-wide Outcomes/ Lessons Learned: 2004 – 2007 The Future of the HomeBase Program

2 HELP USA : Agency Overview HELP USA is a non-profit organization founded by Andrew Cuomo in 1986 HELP is NYC-based; also has facilities/ programs in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Las Vegas and Houston Developed and currently operates more than 2,300 units of transitional and permanent housing for homeless and at-risk populations Serves more than 11,000 individuals and families each year Provides emergency and transitional housing and supportive services for victims of domestic violence Operates employment and training programs that have placed over 5,500 clients into unsubsidized employment

3 Origins : NYC’s Homeless Services New York State has a ‘Right to Shelter’ NYC has developed an extensive shelter system administered by the Department of Homeless Services Multiple city agencies & non-profits offer transitional housing, rental assistance, eviction prevention, aftercare Series of studies conducted on homeless services in NYC Special Masters Panel: Family Homelessness Prevention (2003) NYC’s 5 year plan Uniting for Solutions Beyond Shelter (2004) Vera Institute: Understanding Family Homelessness in NYC (2005)

4 Origins: Recommendations Affordable Housing and Rental Subsidies help prevent homelessness Early Identification: Identify precipitating factors; high-risk populations Identify prior housing sources, conditions and precipitating events that lead to family homelessness Incidents of Prior Homelessness, Areas of high receipt of public assistance “Doubled up” households, Young head of household Families at risk may not be help-seeking: need for Outreach, Community Education

5 Origins: Recommendations Prevention Services must be Data-Driven, Targeted NYC develops geo-coded agency tracking system Includes data matches with multiple city agencies Geographic Analysis Patterns of shelter entry, poverty, public assistance Prevention services must be community- based, provide a range of interventions in a variety of settings Cross-agency coordination is essential; need exists to tie together a range of services provided through a variety of sources Program design must be flexible and timely Legal (anti-eviction) services must be included Short-term financial assistance is key

6 HomeBase: The Pilot Program Services Begin: Fall 2004 $12 million dollar commitment per year Programs operated by 6 community-based not-for- profit organizations Funding 40% federal (TANF) and 60% city funds

7 HomeBase Program Model Eligibility: Clients must be at imminent risk of entering shelter and… Reside in a designated community district within NYC May currently be living in an institutional setting or supportive living environment and will be returning to one of these community districts Their household income may not exceed 200% of the federal poverty line Must have a documented threat to their housing stability

8 HomeBase Program Model Ongoing Program Evaluation Client outcomes Community impact measure Process measures Data Will Inform Program Implementation Data sharing: daily, weekly, monthly program and entrant data Collaborative program development (public- private partnership between DHS and non-profit organizations

9 HomeBase Monthly CD Map

10 HomeBase Daily Report DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES HOMELESS FAMILY EMERGENCY SHELTER SYSTEM4/11/2006 INTAKE CENTER ARRIVALS Referral Date: 04/10/2006 Referral Source: All Intake Centers Sorted By:Prevention Community Districts: (111,201,206,303,304,412) FamOrgIntakeActual Arrv Head of Household NameCase #Soc Sec #Birth DateCompCDCenterDate/Time Last Name XFirst Name X ZXXX-XX-XXXX5/14/19781/1111PATH4/10/ :03 Last Name XFirst Name X XXX-XX-XXXX12/5/19761/1111PATH4/10/ :16 Last Name XFirst Name X XXX-XX-XXXX1/22/19652/0111AFIC4/10/ :24 Last Name XFirst Name X ZXXX-XX-XXXX7/30/19561/1111PATH4/10/ :26 Last Name XFirst Name X ZXXX-XX-XXXX9/10/19802/1111PATH4/10/ :50 Last Name XFirst Name X XXX-XX-XXXX1/26/19821/1201PATH4/10/ :39 Last Name XFirst Name X XXX-XX-XXXX7/15/19823/1201PreApp4/10/ :04 Last Name XFirst Name X ZXXX-XX-XXXX1/22/19822/0201PATH4/10/ :42 Last Name XFirst Name X ZXXX-XX-XXXX8/28/19841/1201PATH4/10/ :43 Last Name XFirst Name X XXX-XX-XXXX4/11/19821/1201PATH4/10/ :00 Last Name XFirst Name X XXX-XX-XXXX8/29/19831/1206PATH4/10/ :33 Last Name XFirst Name X XXX-XX-XXXX12/5/19741/0206PreApp4/11/2006 2:13

11 HomeBase Shelter Profile MONTHLY PROFILE OF ELIGIBLE FAMILY SHELTER ENTRANTS CD 303: Jan - Sep, 2006

12 HomeBase: Outreach Presentations to Local Groups, Community Leaders and Elected Officials City-wide media campaign by DHS ‘Branding’ of HomeBase through common logo, graphics & advertising Triage services available by dialing ‘311’ Community Outreach Fliers & brochures Mass Mailings - by zip code; aftercare clients are next HomeBase Mobile Unit Used by diversion workers to pick up clients at conditional shelters Used by outreach workers to canvas target areas Served as advertising tool for the program Used to deliver family items and household supplies

13 HomeBase : Intake & Assessment Intake Case Manager and Supervisor determine applicant’s eligibility/ need for services Assess risk of homelessness; verify housing crisis by calling landlord, primary tenant, etc. Intake Case Manager conducts an Intake Interview with eligible clients Intake Case Manager provides resources that may be able to assist applicants who are found ineligible for the program Eligible clients are assigned a permanent Case Manager

14 HomeBase : Services Case management Legal services (anti-eviction) Money management and household budgeting seminars Day care, education (GED, ESL, job training) referrals and in-house job placement Service referrals: mental health & substance abuse, immigration services, etc.

15 HomeBase : Services ‘Broker’ of relationships with welfare offices, housing court, other non-profit agencies Cross-agency service coordination Flexibility & timeliness of service delivery Client advocacy with Landlords, NYC agencies Full time Advocacy Case Manager Short term financial assistance (for those who qualify) HomeBase is the ‘funder of last resort’

16 HomeBase : Services Short-Term Financial Assistance Most Financial Assistance is limited to one time per family so as not to promote long-term reliance upon HomeBase Rent arrears, deposit/brokers fees, furniture, moving expenses, household repairs Short term rent contributions Work expenses/training HomeBase typically leverages financial assistance from many other funding sources (financial broker)

17 Established collaboration with HELP USA’s Fair Housing Justice Center Housing Discrimination Violates the civil rights of your clients Restricts housing choice and life opportunities Contributes to homelessness (rights in housing court) Disseminate Information about Housing Rights Presentations and Brochures Rental Search Logs Examples of Illegal Housing Discrimination Sexual harassment, Disability discrimination, Family status discrimination HomeBase : Services

18 HomeBase : Housing & Relocation HomeBase provides housing relocation assistance to clients whose current living arrangements are no longer viable. Clients on this track: Meet regularly with the Housing Specialist Apply for all possible subsidized housing opportunities Work closely with the Subsidy Coordinator for assistance with the Section 8 process

19 HomeBase: Diversion Many shelter applicants are in need of immediate housing assistance, but do not require an actual shelter stay. HELP USA piloted diversion program at PATH (family intake center) to identify these families and offer them HomeBase services. HELP HomeBase staff screened interested applicants and triaged appropriate clients to all of the HomeBase providers

20 HomeBase : Diversion HomeBase diverts families & individuals who are : Able to return to a safe doubled-up situation Can be restored to their own housing apartments/homes Have no housing options but have other resources (employment, existing housing subsidy, etc.) Who makes a good diversion candidate? Client has income or the ability to obtain employment Demonstrate eligibility for housing subsidies Positive & motivated attitude Family does not wish to enter the shelter system; is motivated to pursue other options

21 HomeBase : After Care HomeBase families in pilot program receive After Care services for 1 year in an effort to stabilize housing & reduce shelter recidivism Case Managers keep clients engaged to be a support to the family, as well as to ensure that they maintain their employment and housing In new city-wide program, HomeBase will be the after care provider for all clients leaving the shelter system, working with DHS to ensure that self sufficiency plans stay in place.

22 HomeBase Outcomes In 2005, HomeBase neighborhoods saw a 12 % decline in shelter entry compared to 2004, while the rest of the city experienced only a 7% decline. (5% differential) In 2006, the HomeBase community districts saw a 9% increase in shelter entrants compared to 2004, while the rest of the city saw a 20% increase in entrants compared to (11% differential) In 2007, the HomeBase community districts saw a 4.5% decrease in shelter entrants compared to 2004, while the rest of the city has seen a 16% increase compared to (20.5% differential) Of the over 8,400 families and single adults that have been served by the HomeBase program through 2006, only 7% of all clients have entered the shelter system within 18 months. Ninety-three percent of this at-risk population has remained housed.

23 HomeBase: Lessons Learned Targeting Target populations were indeed non-service seekers Need to refocus on shelter history and front door (diversion) Service strategies Housing relocation needed; landlord relationships important Coordinated, accessible employment services are essential Aftercare services must be part of HomeBase Spirit of public/ private collaboration must be maintained Performance-based Contracting Dollars to be allocated according to shelter demand

24 HomeBase Scope of Services

25 City-Wide Expansion Total funding will grow to 20 million dollars in FY 2009, and 22 million dollars in FY Increases in funding will come from reinvestment of shelter savings. DHS is also seeking additional funding from other government and private sources. Performance-based contracting Nearly 50% of budget Paid per diversion that does not enter shelter for 1 year

26 The Future of HomeBase Currently securing outside evaluation Targeting of services Client outcomes and impact Cost-benefit analysis Implementation of Aftercare Services Housing stabilization Employment Day care and Education “Brief” Services Model “Open House” service model, short consultation: Seamless transition to full services if necessary