1. 1 Rapid Re-Housing: An Overview Welcome Home: Addressing Today's Challenges in Homeless Services June 2, 2009 www.homewardva.org

2. Purpose The goal for this presentation is to provide an overview of Rapid Re- housing including a discussion of key program features, Homeward’s rapid re-housing initiative in the Richmond area, and a discussion of how rapid re-housing fits into HPRP stimulus funds. 2

3. What is Rapid Re-Housing? 3

4. Rapid re-housing is a service model designed to immediately return those who are losing or lost their housing back to permanent housing and to shorten the length of shelter stays for families and individuals. 4

5. 5 Connecting your Community’s Ten Year Plan with Rapid Re-housing Goal One: Transform the homeless services delivery system to focus on housing stability. Develop and sustain a public-private system of services and resources for very low income persons that enables those experiencing homelessness to be rapidly re-housed in affordable permanent housing.

6. How is Rapid Re-housing Different? 6 “What will it take for you to return to housing?” & “What will it take for you to be successful in housing? “How can you be successful in our program?” & “When will you be ready for housing?” Rapid Re-housing asks Traditional Models ask

7. Our Model for Rapid Re-housing Family seeks assistance at a central point of entry Housing focused assessment is conducted and a housing plan is developed Identification of most immediate need, either maintaining housing or entry into the shelter system Housing brokerage services begins immediately Placement in temporary housing or shelter if permanent housing options are exhausted Placement in permanent housing with home-based follow-up case management 7 Goal: Families move back into permanent housing quickly and are connected to community-based services.

8. What Are the Benefits? Improved cost effectiveness Ability to serve more people Increased ability to provide intensive resources to those most in need Decreased length of stays in homelessness 8

9. 9 Outcomes for Families Length of stay in shelter Turn-aways from shelters Families placed in hotels –Hennepin County had 50% reduction in average length of shelter stay. Performance outcomes Well-being of children Housing retention –Norfolk had 88% housing retention after 3 months.

10. 10 Programmatic Features Philosophical shift that considers housing stability for all families. Early housing assessment is necessary to identify barriers. Homeless services case plans are based on findings from housing assessment and interventions are focused on helping families maintain housing. Matching the intensity of services provided to the families’ need(s). Other service needs can be addressed after families find permanent housing through home-based services.

11. Partners for Collaboration 11 Partners Housing Providers (including public and private landlords) Housing Brokerage Services Shelter Providers Intake and Assessment Locations Emergency Services Providers Outreach Providers Mainstream Service Providers Non-profit Supportive Services Providers Public Agencies

12. Homeward’s Collaborative Rapid Re- housing Demonstration in the Richmond Area 12

13. Key Provisions Target population: Families with low to moderate housing barriers currently in emergency shelter. Serve at least 50 families with approximately $70k for subsidies and $5k for cost associated with housing brokerage. Based on the Hennepin County Model which relies on a coordinating entity using subcontracted relationships to execute program functions. Homeward will not provide any direct services but will convene and coordinate the process to implement the grant. 13

14. Desired Project Outcomes A reduction in the median length of homelessness for families. Decrease in the number of families who return to shelter after exit. 14

15. Project Components Intake and assessment of family housing needs Short-term emergency sheltering Administration of housing brokerage and placement services Provision of short-term rental subsidies, when needed Home-based aftercare and case management On-going technical assistance, evaluation, and general oversight 15

16. How does this funding relate to the HPRP funds? 16

17. Coordinating Efforts Homeward is working with non-profit services providers and local governments to ensure that stimulus funds are maximized. With HPRP Funds and Homeward’s RRH demonstration, our community will be able to Prevent families with children from entering into homelessness, Prevent single adults from entering into homelessness, Rapidly re-house families with children living in emergency shelter into permanent housing, Rapidly re-house single adults living in emergency shelter into permanent housing, Rapidly re-house families with children in transitional shelters into permanent housing, Rapidly re-house single adults living in transitional shelters into housing. 17

18. Thank you! If you have additional questions, please contact Erika Jones- Haskins, Director of Program Initiatives at ejones@homewardva.org. 18