Maine PATH Program Overview 2016 Emergency Shelter & Housing Assistance Training

PATH Program – Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness The purpose and object of the Federal PATH Program is to provide financial assistance to States to support services for individuals who are suffering from Serious Mental Illness (SMI), Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Program activities include: outreach services…case management... The Mission of the Maine PATH Program is to provide outreach, engagement and support services to literally homeless persons who are the hardest to reach and most difficult to engage with serious mental illness OR co-occurring mental heath and substance abuse disorders or homeless youth with serious emotional disturbance.

PATH Eligibility The target population for PATH funded services in Maine are literally homeless persons, youth and adult, who are the hardest to reach and most difficult to engage with yet unknown severity of mental illness or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. 1)“Presumed” Serious Mental Illness: Adults assessed as likely to meet eligibility for services under Section 17 as defined in the MaineCare Benefits Manual or youth for Severe Emotional Disturbance under Section 13.

PATH Eligibility 2) Literally Homeless persons are those individuals that meet these criteria and/or have a documented proven history of homelessness and unstable housing who are: Sleeping in place not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, abandoned buildings, woods, camp grounds or the street; Sleeping in an emergency shelter; Staying in a hospital, correctional setting, or other institution, if the person was sleeping in an emergency shelter or other place not meant for human habitation immediately prior to entry into the hospital or institution; Graduating from, or timing out of, a transitional housing program for homeless persons; Victims of domestic violence Veterans experiencing homelessness

Not Eligible for PATH At Risk of Homelessness: doubled-up living arrangement where the individual’s name is not on the lease; living in a condemned building without a place to move; arrears in utility (electric, heat, hot water) payments resulting in disconnection; having received an eviction notice without a place to move; living in temporary or transitional housing; being discharged from a health care or correctional/institutional setting without a place to live;

Not Eligible for PATH Literal Homelessness but don’t meet Behavioral Health criteria. Applicants currently receiving Community Integration, Community Rehabilitation Services, Intensive Case Management, Assertive Community Treatment under Section 17 of the MaineCare Benefits Manual or ACT or Targeted Case Management for children or persons experiencing homelessness under Section 13 of the MaineCare Benefits Manual.

Maine PATH Program Service delivery through a network of local homelessness and behavioral health agencies. Direct Service provided by Pathfinders and Peer Navigators skilled in engaging the target population: Pathfinders are MHRT-C certified with years of experience engaging homeless persons with disability. Peer Navigators are consumers who have completed the Intentional Peer Support Specialists Program with experience engaging homeless persons.

Maine PATH Program Goal is to successfully engage consumers through assertive outreach and assist them with applying for MaineCare benefits, housing and other Maine Stream resources; health care, educational and employment services. Goal is to work towards enrollment under PATH and transition to a community agency under Section 13 or Section 17 within six months.

Maine PATH Program PATH is able to fund assessment eligibility services for PATH consumers. PATH does not have funds for security deposits or resources to set up an apartment or to settle bad debt for consumers. PATH coordinates with LAA’s to access priority supportive housing resources.

Maine PATH Program PATH participates in local initiatives to prioritize resources towards Literal/Chronic Homelessness and Long Term Stayers. PATH coordinates with local homelessness providers and public safety. PATH client data is entered under the Maine Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) with shared data capability within PATH and commitment to work towards data sharing across the continuum. PATH participates in the Point in Time (PIT) Count Survey.

PATH Program Contacts– To make a referral York County: York County Shelter Program Inc. (YCSP) Contact: Diane Gerry Tel Cumberland County: Preble Street Resource Center Contact: Ali Lovejoy Tel

PATH Program Contacts– To make a referral Androscoggin/Oxford/Franklin/Sagadahoc Counties: Catholic Charities Maine Contact: Janice Lara-Hewey Tel (207) Kennebec/Somerset/Waldo/Knox/Lincoln Counties: Kennebec Behavioral Health (KBH) Contact: Donna Kelley Tel

PATH Program Contacts– To make a referral Penobscot/Piscataquis/Hancock Counties: Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS) Contact: Mary Ellen Quinn Tel Bangor Area Homeless Shelter (BAS) Contact: Rowena Griffin (Greater Bangor area Adult referrals only) Tel Aroostook/Washington Counties: Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc (AMHC) Contact: Access Center (Christine Brown)

Service Capacity PATH Allocations Statewide: $1,341,183 General Fund annual allocation of $1,041,183 Federal PATH of $300,000 Region III: 25% $335,296 CH & CS; FTE (3.3) FTE direct service Bangor Area Shelter; (1) FTE direct service AMHC; FTE (1.2) direct service

Service Capacity Region II: 20% $268, 237 KBH; (3.2) FTE direct service CCM, (2) FTE direct service Region I: 55% $737,650 YCPSI; (1.6) FTE direct service Preble Street: (11) FTE direct service

PATH Program Contacts Problems or general questions: Contact Catholic Charities at Program administrator Don Harden can be reached at /path/index.shtml /path/index.shtml Contact Chet Barnes, Cynthia McPherson, or Don Beckwith at the DHHS OSAMHS.