1. Housing and Employment Alignment in Portland: Rent Assistance for the Economic Opportunity Program

2. Economic Opportunity Program (EOP) Partners

3. Participants must be City of Portland residents at 50% Area Median Income or below Participants work on their Career Plan goals with a Career Coach at a local non-profit: -Central City Concern -Constructing Hope -Human Solutions -Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization -Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. -SE Works -Self Enhancement, Inc. Over the last 3 years, EOP has served more than 1400, with about 450 active at one time. About 70% exit the program with a job. Participants must be City of Portland residents at 50% Area Median Income or below Participants work on their Career Plan goals with a Career Coach at a local non-profit: -Central City Concern -Constructing Hope -Human Solutions -Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization -Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. -SE Works -Self Enhancement, Inc. Over the last 3 years, EOP has served more than 1400, with about 450 active at one time. About 70% exit the program with a job. Economic Opportunity Program

4. Training Short-Term Occupational Work Experience Internships On –the-Job- Training (OJT) Employment Job Placement OJTs Targeted Recruitment V OCATIONAL C ASE M ANAGEMENT R ETENTION P LACEMENT S TABILIZATION A DVANCEMENT S UPPORTS Preparation Career Mapping and Career Plan Basic Education Interpersonal Skills Economic Opportunity Program

5. EOP Participants experiencing housing instability were often not able to complete training or job search. Worksystems explained these needs to Home Forward and they wanted to support participants working toward career track employment. EOP Participants experiencing housing instability were often not able to complete training or job search. Worksystems explained these needs to Home Forward and they wanted to support participants working toward career track employment. Rent Assistance for EOP Participants

6. The EOP Rent Assistance Partners Home Forward contracts the short term rent assistance funding with Human Solutions with Moving to Work Demonstration funds. Worksystems contributes WIOA funds to hire the Human Solutions staff who coordinate the rent assistance and help homeless participants search for housing.

7. Available for participants who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless The length of assistance is based on need, but is usually no more than 12 months for homeless placements and 6 months for eviction prevention. People receiving eviction prevention assistance pay up to 30% of their income toward rent. Assistance can also pay for application and move-in fees, security deposit, rent debt or arrears, late fees and utility bills. Available for participants who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless The length of assistance is based on need, but is usually no more than 12 months for homeless placements and 6 months for eviction prevention. People receiving eviction prevention assistance pay up to 30% of their income toward rent. Assistance can also pay for application and move-in fees, security deposit, rent debt or arrears, late fees and utility bills. Rent Assistance for the Economic Opportunity Program

8. Preliminary Outcomes Received Rent Assistance Unmet Housing Need Total Participants in PY153538 % successfully completed training 23%11% % employed 63%40%

9. Systems Alignment Challenges Maintaining EOP’s Employment focus Homeless participants not always able to find housing Participants are often working to overcome long term barriers- the results take time and in some cases participants relapse

10. Successful Partnerships Partners recognize the inherent relationship between employment and housing Bringing housing to workforce development and workforce development to housing 

11. Future Alignment Opportunities Worksystems is part of A Home for Everyone’s Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity workgroup. Meyer Memorial Trust funding for a Project Manager at Human Solutions who studies rent assistance implementation. Preliminary outcomes and work with AHFE led to expanded EOP rent assistance & funding for EOP Career Coaches who will work specifically with people who are homeless. 

12. Thank you! Bschaeffer-bisht@worksystems.org

13. Goals 70% participants engaged in training will complete training 70% participants will successfully complete EOP 90% households will remain housed during the time assistance is provided and 3 months after rent assistance ends 80% will remain housed 6 months after rent assistance ends 70% will remain housed 9 months after rent assistance ends. 1. Career Track Employment Outcomes 2. Housing Stability Outcomes

14. Rent Assistance Flow Career - Track Employment and Housing Stability Career Coach (CC) refers client to Rent Assistance Coordinator (RAC) and RAC assesses eligibility RAC, CC, & Participant have meeting to determine housing plan that coincides with the Career Plan If homeless, RAC helps participant search for housing. Once housed, RAC begins making payments to landlord. Rent Assistance Ends when Participant is employed and able to pay for their own rent Career Coach Support and Career Plan Progress