State Government: Addressing Youth Homelessness Tracy D’Alanno Colorado Department of Human Services Supportive Housing and Homeless Programs

History & Legislation Office of Homeless Youth Services  Pressure by homeless youth advocates resulted in the passage of The Colorado Homeless Youth Services Act of 2002 (HB )  Legislative Intent: To create a vehicle through which services to homeless youth statewide could be improved by coordinating current services and facilitating interagency collaboration to identify gaps, remove barriers, improve access and share information.

History & Legislation Office of Homeless Youth Services  Office originally housed under the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment with proposed funding form U.S. Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.  Budget cuts resulted in lack of anticipated funding and the office was in operation for just one year with a.5 position.

History & Legislation Office of Homeless Youth Services  In 2004, HB transferred the Office of Homeless Youth Services (OHYS) to the Colorado Dept. of Human Services with one full time position.  Copy of Legislation

Main Objectives Office of Homeless Youth Services  Identification and removal of obstacles to the provision of services to homeless youth;  Improved quality of services provided to homeless youth;  Reduction of duplication in the provision of services to homeless youth;  Identification of funding resources available to serve homeless youth.

Identification of Key Stakeholders Building relationships across disciplines and providers  Non-profit providers  Faith based agencies  Alternative High Schools  Federal Admin. For Children and Families  Dept. of Education  Dept. of Public Health and Environment  Labor and Employment  Key Youth Initiatives  Public Safety  Judicial  Child Welfare  Youth Corrections  Div. Alcohol and Substance Abuse  Mental Health Services  Denver Workforce Development  Denver Police  County Human Services

Success Family Unification Program  100 Transitional Section 8 Vouchers  Six providers  Pilot with Child Welfare and SHHP  Focus on homeless youth involved in foster care

Success Development of a Planning Structure  Advisory Committee on Homeless Youth –Administration for Children and Families (ACF) –Eight State Agencies –Nine Counties –Two Public Schools –Eight Community Providers  Three Work Groups –Data Collection –Mainstream Benefits Acquisition –Employment  Coordination with State Interagency Council on Homelessness

Other Successes  New Homeless Youth Shelter in Grand Junction  Improved focus and emphasis on data collection in state and local homeless point in time surveys  Mental Health Services – facilitated the expansion of free mental health services to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered youth

Identifying Needs and Gaps in Service Delivery 1. Strategic Planning and Data 2. Emergency Shelter and Crisis Services 3. Discharge Planning – Child Welfare and Youth Corrections 4. Outreach 5. Mainstream Benefit Acquisition 6. Transitional and Permanent Housing 7. Education 8. Income 9. Youth Development Opportunities

Challenges  Turf Issues  Difficult Population  Gaining commitment from government officials  Staff Turnover  Lack of state resources  Multi-issued problem

Next Steps  Advisory Committee Retreat –Developing a Strategic Plan, including policy recommendations to facilitate the reduction or removal of gaps and barriers.  Improved data collection – HMIS and Statewide Homeless Survey