1. Our pilot rapid response program for our most vulnerable neighbors
The H.E.A.R.T. Project
Our pilot rapid response program for our most vulnerable neighbors
Hi, I’m Obie Johnson with the Empowerment Project from the Winston - Salem/Forsyth County, NC Continuum of Care. I’m here to talk about the H.E.A.R.T Project to house unsheltered homeless persons. About our CoC: a single county CoC, county population 370K, city population 240K; 2018 PIT 440 (38 unsheltered); AHAR ,000; HIC 228 ES, 59 Th, PSH 271; SPMs: LOTH avg 73 median 36, Returns ES 24%, TH 25%, PH 8%; other data….TH exits to PH 70%, average cost per PH exit: TH $12,366, RRH $6570.

2. Timeline 1996 - 2015 —Persistent need/gap
2016 — United Way took lead in project management
2015/2016 — Community Planning Meetings
2017 — HUD awarded joint TH/RRH grant
2015 — Rapid Response Housing Team created
2017 — Services funding awarded by mental health agency
2016 — CoC Retreat on the project
2018 — Implementing the project
2016 — Visits to best practice programs
July 1, 2018
For a long time we as a continuum of care where aware of the small population of homeless people who were not being best served through our system. In 2015 the idea for an immediate and extremely low barrier housing option for the people in most critical need was born in a community planning meeting. The Rapid Response Planning Team was first headed by Laura Lama, Lisa Hinson, and myself. We began began-storming and invited other community agencies to join us. I presented the vision to CFAC; MH\SA; and the Mental Health Collaborative. These strong advisory and advocacy groups were instrumental United Way began to lead the project and began to raise funds. … HUD funding is for a joint TH and RRH venture, which allows for the best parts of short term and medium term housing to come together for the benefits of the clients.

3. Population in Need
Unsheltered homeless persons, usually on the streets
Persons without all of their documentation
Avoid the shelters due to:
High cost to the community (est. $42,000/year)
Difficulty being in close spaces with others
Can be challenging to motivate them to action
Difficulty building relationships; lack of trust
Extremely difficult to locate or contact
Mental health symptoms can be disruptive in the shelter setting
Heavily dependent on hospital emergency rooms, jails, services
persons estimated need

4. Can meet the person during the crisis
Transitional Housing
No Hoops
No Wrong Doors
NNonn
Overview
Rapid Response Team Screening Tool
Rapid Response Team
Can meet the person during the crisis
Jail
Emergency Room
Street
Shelter
Homeless Person
Chronically homeless
MH/SA/IDD Diagnosis
Frequent utilization of crisis services to meet basic needs
Motivational Enhancement
CTI
Harm Reduction
Permanent Housing
Wrap around services:
Medical Assistance
Assistance with applying for benefits including Medicaid and SSDI
Transportation
Change lease to Guest
Rapid Re-Housing

5. H.E.A.R.T. Project Goals
Make Housing First a reality for the underserved target population
Same day move - in
Low barriers to housing - paperwork, criminal history, credit, income
Shift from TH to RRH in same unit avoids disruption in healing
Foster stability by embedding services on-site
Make Housing First a reality for the first time for this underserved target population
If a case manager finds them in an ER, or under a bridge, they can be moved in THAT DAY. No more appointments to keep!
Low barriers to housing - no paperwork, criminal history rules, credit checks, income requirements
Move from TH to RRH in same unit to help stability
Site visits by nurse practitioner to improve health, live in peer support specialists, visits from mental health professional, all contribute to housing stability
Note I learned at 2018 NAEH conference: if we get Medicaid waiver, we could also bill for mobile psych services

6. Project Elements Master - Leased Transitional Housing
3 TH units; 7 RRH units
Transition in Place to RRH
Peer Support & Direct Services
Mainstream and Health Services on-site (will not be ready at July 1, Services will be referred out)
Simplified Screening Factors
Name, DOB, Contacts
Living Situation
Health Information (Disability, Diagnoses, Treatment)
Legal History
Assessment Score
Andrea Kurtz with United Way of Forsyth County is the project lead and is raising money for the project. It has a $530K total budget. So far we have $78K from HUD CoC and $130K for services from our regional MH org. (Norm acknowledged that a challenge is to know how much to put in the CoC master leasing budget vs. the CoC rental assistance budget.)

7. Ideal Budget Services Housing Total $530,000 Additional Costs
Wrap Around Services:
Staffing: 5 positions
On Site
Housing
Units & Rent
Household Start - up Funds
Additional Costs
Cleaning
Transport
SOAR Specialist - Disability application support
Total $530,000
Staff
Street Outreach person(s)
Intensive Case Manager
Nurse Practitioner or PA (part time)
Psychiatrist (part time)
Peer Support Specialists (24 hours 7 days)
Housing
Master Lease/Property Manager
Household Startup Funds

8. Funding HUD has awarded $78,528 The Cardinal funding, $130,000
one year of funding to master lease 3 TH units
provide financial assistance for 7 RRH slots.  The idea is transition in place from TH to RRH
The Cardinal funding, $130,000
key for services in the project
United Way is continuing to raise funds for all the services needed and is in communications with potential landlord(s)

9. Issues to Resolve or Finalize
Hiring Peer Support
Coordination with Hospitals and Mainstream Agencies
Balance of Funding
Long Term Rental Assistance
Andrea Kurtz with United Way of Forsyth County is the project lead and continues to work on these issues. We do have a potential site in discussion. We plan to launch the project by the end of calendar year 2018.

10. Contact Information
Russ May, Project Lead
Cities with Dwellings
Winston - Salem/Forsyth County North Carolina Continuum of Care
(336)