1. The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) five-year housing strategy is a comprehensive plan to connect Pennsylvanians to affordable, integrated, accessible, and supportive housing. DHS will leverage internal and external resources and collaborate with all levels of government and private agencies to make housing resources and services more accessible and available to a wide range of individuals served by DHS.
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2. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
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3. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
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4. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
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5. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
STRATEGY NO. 1: CONNECT PEOPLE TO HOUSING
GOAL NO. 1: Build better local and state housing partnerships. GOAL NO. 2: Provide IT tools to the Local Referral Network to better connect individuals and families to housing. GOAL NO. 3: Expand the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Program in partnership with PHFA.
LRN
HSW
State and Federal Partners
RHC program expansion
Educational Materials
IT Enhancement
Related to goal 3, in 2016, 811 program expansion: There are 338 on the waitlist, 310 committed units, and 63 have been utilized (not all units are immediately available).
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6. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
STRATEGY NO. 2: STRENGTHEN SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT ADDRESS HOUSING NEEDS.
GOAL NO. 1: Maximize Medicaid funding for housing-related services and supports.
GOAL NO. 2: Increase housing opportunities and services for individuals in the criminal justice system with mental illness and substance use disorder.
Two perspectives:
Billable Services: ODP, OLTL & OMHSAS
Education: ODP, OMAP & OIM
Justice Involved
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7. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
STRATEGY NO. 3: EXPAND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING.
GOAL NO. 1: Develop public and private partnerships.
GOAL NO. 2: Target existing DHS resources for housing programs.
GOAL NO. 3: Redirect existing homeless and housing services resources toward housing; partner with DCED, PHFA and the Homeless Continua of Care.
MCO investment – all three HealthChoices
Philanthropic investment on the rise
Innovative Strategy: Pennsylvania has over 50 Fairweather lodges, several for Veterans, in various stages of development and operation. Lodges are a psychosocial rehabilitation model in which residents live together and work in a business together that provides income.
Related to goal 2, in 2016, TANF dollars were targeted for a Rapid Re-housing demonstration. 50 families experiencing homelessness were housed through a partnership with the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services.
Across DHS, nearly 80 million dollars in housing and housing related services supported Pennsylvanians to transition back to their community, maintain their own homes and obtain critical services.
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8. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
STRATEGY NO. 4: MEASURE AND COMMUNICATE PROGRESS
GOAL NO. 1: Track metrics and measure outcomes.
GOAL NO. 2: Continually improve DHS programs.
GOAL NO. 3: Communicate the progress of the DHS Housing Strategy to stakeholders and advocates. .
Point in Time Surveys for homeless programs
Philadelphia Reserve Bank
Complete and release Permanent Supportive Housing Need Analysis
Medicaid / Permanent Supportive Housing Data Match
Medical Economist information
RHC Housing Summit
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9. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
Accomplishments:
Formed Housing Stakeholder Workgroup to regularly collect local input and feedback.
Housed 150 households through Section 811 Project Rental Assistance
Rapidly Re-housed 50 TANF eligible families experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia
Sought and received approval for MA Housing Services for ODP and OLTL
Completed the data use agreements to conduct an HMIS/Medicaid Data Match to measure the health benefits of Permanent Supportive Housing
Published a Housing Quick Reference Guide
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10. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
Looking forward:
The implementation of Medicaid supported housing services within the Consolidated, Person/Family Directed Supports, Community Living, and Community HealthChoices Waivers
Training for professionals on topics like navigating affordable housing or fair housing discrimination
Publishing housing education and outreach materials for consumers and providers
Launching the Community HealthChoices Managed Care Organizations’ innovative housing efforts
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11. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
In summary, the 2018 update contains four strategies that guide our efforts:
Pipeline
Services
Production
Metrics
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12. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
Resources:
DHS HealthChoices
DHS Waivers
CMCS Housing Services Informational Bulletin
PHFA’s Online Rental & Homeownership Search Tool
Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
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13. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
To read the DHS Five Year Housing Strategy, please visit:
Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
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14. Supporting Pennsylvanians Through Housing
For more information or to get involved, please contact: Ben Laudermilch, Executive Housing Director | Beth Ellis, Executive Housing Specialist |
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