HOMELESS SERVICES: A new approach Ed Gemerchak, LISW Assoc. Director, Men’s Shelter Services

Who are the Homeless? 6,066 persons were served by Cuyahoga County Homeless Service System in ‘09: 1,380 People in Families (471 adults, 909 children) 4,686 Singles Women & Families 29% of single homeless people are women 22% of homeless persons are part of a family (9% of homeless households are families) Many other families are “doubled up” temporarily with family or friends, or move from place to place. Ethnicity 14% White 72% African American 3% Hispanic 4% Several Ethnicities 7% Unknown Special needs Disability: Over 50% of single homeless adults self-report as having a disability or special need: - Mental illness, - Alcohol or Drug Addiction, - Physical Disability, - HIV/AIDS, - Domestic Violence Veterans: Approximately 20% of homeless persons are veterans. Chronically Homeless: 25% of those who are homeless are long-term, or “Chronically Homeless”. These individuals have been homeless for more than a year, or multiple times over several years.

Paradigm Shift in Homeless Services  Ending homelessness vs. managing homelessness  Moving from shelter and program-based solutions to housing and community- based solutions.  Designing programs based on research about client needs, evaluations of existing programs and services, and best practices.

Ending Homelessness Close the Front Door to the Shelters Open the Back Door

Reducing & Ending Homelessness  Prevent and divert families from entering shelter – short term rental/utility assistance  Rapidly re-house individuals & families in shelter- assess barriers to re- housing – provide mid-term subsidy or subsidized housing  Permanent Supportive Housing for long term, disabled homeless.

Housing First Philosophy  Housing First is an service approach that centers on providing homeless people with housing quickly and then providing services as needed.  Homelessness is perceived as an housing/ financial emergency, not a behavioral emergency.  Housing First is consistent with what most people experiencing homelessness want and seek help to achieve.

HOUSING FIRST  Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs : A theory of human motivation. Abraham Maslow believed that people are motivated to fulfill unmet needs, and their efforts are dominated by satisfying the most basic unmet needs first. Once they feel safe in housing, most people become motivated to achieve other goals.

HOUSING FIRST Learning by doing Households are not required to wait in temporary housing while they attend classes, acquire skills or otherwise demonstrate a given level of “housing readiness.” They move directly into permanent housing. If there are skills and information they must learn to sustain their housing, those things are learned in their own housing. Cost Effective

HPRP – Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-housing Program  National Priority  $1.5 Billion nationally in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act  $14.5 million locally  Closing Front Door/Opening Backdoor  HUD HEARTH Act – Starting in 2011  HPRP is a Proven Strategy

Who is targeted for assistance?  Individuals and families in housing at risk of becoming homeless. “But for this assistance the household will become homeless”.  Individuals and families who are “literally homeless” – living on the street or in a shelter – who can obtain and retain housing with temporary assistance.

Prevention prior to Eviction  40,000 evictions take place each year in Cuyahoga County.  Cleveland Tenants Organization - reaches out to tenants facing eviction via mail contact  Cleveland Mediation Center – focuses on mediating conflicts between tenants and landlords, + focuses on preventing evictions from subsidized housing.

Shelter Diversion (closing the front door)  Central Intake function established at 2100 Lakeside and Community Women’s Shelter  Diversion to determine if there is any other place the household can stay. Short term assistance, family mediation, etc.  Triage + Housing Plans

Housing Barrier Summary Household Income ____________________________________________________ Work History____________________________________________________ Housing History____________________________________________________ Health □ AOD: ______________________________________ MH: ________________________________________ □ Physical: ____________________________________ Other: ______________________________________ Debts/Expenses____________________________________________________ Legal Issues _____________________________________________________ Family Status/Obligation_____________________________________________ Other Challenges (Immigration/Language/etc.)______________________________ Client Preference___________________________________________ Housing Plan REFERRAL to CMC? Yes No DIVERSION BY CI TEAM? Yes No INTERIM HOUSING PLAN Non-Shelter: Family Friends Detox Hospital Nursing Home Other ____________________________ 2100 Shelter: (Check more than 1, if necessary) CI Emergency Passages Independence Sojourn Vet Other Shelter: _______________________________________________________________________________________ PERMANENT HOUSING PLAN Non-Shelter: Family Friends Detox Hospital Nursing Home Other ____________________________ Rapid Re-Housing Transitional Hsg., then Rental: North Point PASS Railton Y-Haven Other _________________________ Housing for those with Disabilities: Gateway Team MHS: PATH, OPP Other ____________________________ Referrals made? Yes No If Yes, describe: ______________________________________________________________ DISPOSITION AT CI EXIT : Diverted same-day by: CI CMC Diversion in Process by: CI CMC Referred to Rapid Re-Housing CI Bed Other Shelter Bed Referred to/On Waiting List at: _______________________________________________

Rapid Re-housing  Rapid Re-Housing is a bridge : RRH is a bridge out “literal homelessness” to permanent housing.  Short-term subsidy  Housing Location Assistance  Follow-up Support

Central Intake: Path out of Shelter Return to Housing Family/Friend Detox / Treatment Hospital CMC - Mediation - Subsidies - Other payments MHS CENTRAL INTAKE  Complete intake  Assess for diversion opportunity  Create Housing Plan (Short & Long term)  Service Point entry for shelter bed  Service Point referral to CMC or 2100 Community. Bus out of town Rapid Re-Housing CI COMMUNITY  Stay working with CI staff (up to 30 days)  Stay until bed opens in other community (up to 2 weeks) Subsidized Housing - S+Care, PSH, SRA, etc. Transitional Housing PERMANENT HOUSING CI COMMUNITY  Stay while working with CMC ( up to 30 days) Emergency Sojourn Independence Passages Veterans

Annual Public Funding Streams