CalWORKS Housing Support Program 2014/2015

 Tuolumne County’s population estimate for 2013 was 53,874  Total area is 2, 274 square miles and the majority of land is rural  Sonora is the County Seat, has the most urbanized areas, and is the only incorporated city in the county  The city of Sonora is comprised of an estimated 4, 808 residents

 Of the Sheltered Homeless: 38% were Ages % were Ages % were Ages % were Age 5 or under  Of the Unsheltered population: 13% were Ages 60 or older 76% were Ages % were Ages % were Ages 17 or under  Of those surveyed who reported to be ‘couch surfing’ or experiencing other unstable housing circumstances not included in the HUD definition of homelessness: 17% were Ages 60 or older 53% were Ages % were Ages % were Ages % were Ages 5 or under

 CalWORKS caseload consists of approximately 630 cases  As of February 2015, approximately 56 reported being homeless. However, many fail to report their situation as homeless, but do report experiencing unstable housing or ‘couch surfing’ as barriers to employment  Nearly 42% of the CalWORKS population resides in the rural regions of Tuolumne County  Of the 630 CalWORKS Assistant Units, approximately 76 receive earned income in addition to CalWORKS assistance  The average monthly income earned is roughly $  The WTW caseload consists of approximately 220 cases

 Active Welfare to Work Participants in Unstable Housing Employed full-time or part-time Intensive job search activities  Single parent families  Victims of Domestic Violence  Active Welfare to Work Participants who report being literally homeless

 Active Welfare to Work Participants who are literally homeless Full-time or part-time employment Intensive job search activities  Victims of Domestic Violence residing in a shelter or hotel/motel  CalWORKS recipients who are literally homeless and have begun the process to re-engage in the Welfare to Work process

 Assist 25 CalWORKS and WTW families locate affordable housing  Provide families with financial assistance to sustain housing  Through our partnership with Amador- Tuolumne Community Action Agency (A- TCAA), provide housing case management support, landlord engagement, and WTW case management support  Support these families in gaining Self- Sufficiency

 Tuolumne County was awarded $142,

Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency (A-TCAA) Our community expert agency in meeting the needs of our homeless population since 2007  Has operated a Rapid Re-Housing Program since 2009 using an Emergency Solutions Grant through HUD, and using the HUD definition of “literally homeless” to determine eligibility  Operates homeless shelters in Tuolumne and Amador counties  Are Community experts of HUD requirements, Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), Continuum of Care (CoC) requirements  Utilizes an evidence-based Housing Stabilization Assessment Tool to determine eligibility for assistance  Provides homeless and housing case management services  Recruits landlords and foster landlord relationships  Utilizes a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to collect data  Is integral to the Tuolumne County Homeless Taskforce

CalWORKS Housing Support Program WTW Social Worker(SW) CalWORKS/WTW Integrated Caseworker(ICW)- WTW/CalWORKS Family reports they are homeless or requests HSP support A-TCAA Makes an assessment of the family’s housing needs to determine whether they qualify for a referral for HSP. The family is determined to be literally homeless, residing in a place not meant for or ordinarily used for regular sleeping, or residing in shelter completes a referral to HSP. A collaborative conference call is held weekly to discuss new referrals and program eligibility between A-TCAA and WTW SW Denied Approved Client referred for other housing resources through A-TCAA, or other community agencies (i.e. Section 8) Assessed for eligibility in other WTW programs, such as Family Stabilization. Continues to receive WTW employment and training case management Completes “Housing Stabilization Assessment Tool” Assists with affordable housing search and placement and works with landlords Determines financial assistance for housing needs Housing habitability inspections Assists with credit rehabilitation Track data in HMIS Joint intensive case management Joint home visits Assistance with budgeting Weekly client contact Referrals to other Community Agencies WTW appraisal/assessment Development of a WTW Plan Assessed for Family Stabilization Program Assessed for SEP/WEX/MLJT/ESE WTW Supportive Services (i.e. transportation, child care, etc.) Transfers case to WTW SW

 Tuolumne County was able to hit the ground running once the funding was awarded and the Board of Supervisors approved the contract.  A-TCAA utilizes the Rapid Re-Housing Model and the procedures already developed.  HSP consumers are screened through the use of the Housing Stabilization Assessment Tool, which includes their current housing status, recent housing history and eligibility for housing, and service needs.  The following is taken into consideration during an assessment of a family’s housing status: Household composition Monthly budget, bills, and what can the household afford What besides financial assistance is needed in order to support stabilizing the family in housing How much financial assistance will assist the family with stabilization and the duration of financial assistance  Housing support specialist makes a recommendation to the family and the HSP WTW case managing social worker.

A-TCAA determines the level of financial assistance to meet a family's housing needs Short, medium, or long-term rental assistance Extended assistance Full or partial rental subsidy Re-housing costs, including first and last month’s rent and deposits, turning on utilities, and utility arrearages Hotel/motel vouchers

 Once a family has been approved for the HSP program they may receive the following support and services depending upon their needs appraisal and WTW plan: Intensive case management through the Family Stabilization (FS) Program Referral to Mother Lode Job Training for job search activities, Work Experience (WEX) program, On-The-Job Training (OJT) program, or Subsidized Employment Program (SEP) through CalWORKS contract placed in a private sector employment opportunity Expanded Subsidized Employment (ESE) and placed in a public sector employment opportunity position Vocational Training GED preparation courses, community service activities, parenting, life skills education Families may also receive other services through other community partnering agencies to assist with addressing other barriers to employment, such as: substance abuse treatment, mental health, domestic violence, learning difficulties, etc. Supportive Services, such as: child care costs, transportation costs, job/school related costs (i.e. interview clothes, CNA supplies, etc.), DMV registration and drivers licenses

 Together with A-TCAA they will receive: Joint Home Visits Joint Case Management Services Monthly Budgeting Assistance Weekly contact

Lack of affordable housing, low-income housing, and long waiting lists Average rental amount in Tuolumne County is between $ and $ Average earned monthly income for Tuolumne County CalWORKS recipients is approximately $ Rural county and transportation barriers, lack of child care providers, and jobs Families experiencing unstable housing vs. literal homelessness The unknown availability of future funding Discontinuance from CalWORKS due to full-time employment

 Nine families have been referred  Two families are in pending status, as they are in the process of searching for affordable housing, and receiving HSP support.  One referral was denied based on not meeting the homeless criteria, and one family discontinued from the program for reasons unknown, but was employed at the time.  Four families have identified housing and continue to receive HSP services, including partial subsidies for monthly rent.  After the 3 month re-evaluation and intensive case management, one family has been terminated from the HSP program due to lack of compliance and cooperation. They continue to be housed, and one parent is continuing their participation in the WTW program.  One family has transitioned out of HSP due to no longer requiring HSP assistance.  There are four adults of four different Assistant Units employed and three are meeting WPR.  Approximately $16,000 has been expended of the HSP funding awarded to Tuolumne County. Housing Support Program Highlights

A-TCAA tracks data in the Bell Data System, an approved HUD HMIS computer tracking data system WTW Staff tracks in the C-IV system as part of a families WTW plan and appraisal A-TCAA staff and WTW staff jointly track referrals and information required of the HSP monthly data CDSS data report on an Excel spreadsheet A-TCAA provides an excel spreadsheet as an attachment to their monthly invoicing

 Continue to refer families in need, but at some point need to determine a date to no longer accept referrals  Continue intensive case management to assist these families achieve self-sufficiency, including permanent housing  The status of each family receiving HSP assistance will need to be re-evaluated at some point prior to the end of the fiscal year  Complete a request for funding for fiscal year 15/16 should funding become available Moving Forward