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Improving the Crisis Response for Older H omeless Youth

Improving the Crisis Response for Older H omeless Youth. Building on the Lighthouse Transition System of Care Cincinnati, Ohio. Presented by:. Mark J Kroner LISW Director, Lighthouse Training Institute Lighthouse Youth Services Inc. 401 East McMillan St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45206

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Improving the Crisis Response for Older H omeless Youth

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  1. Improving the Crisis Response for Older Homeless Youth Building on the Lighthouse Transition System of Care Cincinnati, Ohio

  2. Presented by: Mark J Kroner LISW Director, Lighthouse Training Institute Lighthouse Youth Services Inc. 401 East McMillan St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 513-487-7130 mkroner@lys.org

  3. Lighthouse Youth Services (1969) • Foster Care • Group Homes • Youth Crisis Shelter • Youth Outreach Services • Independent Living • Transitional Living • Home-based/Wraparound services • Correctional Services • Help Me Grow for high-risk infants and toddlers • Charter school • Shelter for 18-24

  4. Preventing youth,16-19, in the child welfare system from becoming homeless (started in 1981) =Independent Living • Preventing young “non-systems” adults 18-24 from remaining homeless (started in 1989) =Transitional Living

  5. The Lighthouse Transition System Self-sufficiency training Youth Crisis Center Youth Outreach Independent Living Journey MH Transition SOC Emancipated Youth Program Transitional Living Program Permanent Supportive Housing Re-Entry Program Home-based/Wrap Services Community-management 18-24 Shelter

  6. Why a Shelter for 18-24? • Youth not comfortable in existing adult shelter (249 youth in adult emergency shelters in 2010). • Adult shelter not happy with young adults • Needs of young adults often different than older population • Lighthouse already connected to many services for youth/young adults • Lighthouse already operated successful day shelter • Lighthouse already operated a youth shelter (10-17) since 1972 • Part of Cincinnati’s Homeless to Homes Plan. Homeless to Homes Plan. Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless, 2009 at http://www.cincinnaticoc.org/hth.aspx

  7. Challenges • Funding • Location • Community acceptance • Building design • Connections to existing adult services system • Connections to existing child/youth systems • Staffing • Programming • Policy/rules development

  8. Funding • United way • Private Foundations • HUD-case-management • City General Services Funds • CDBG-Expansion of lower level and courtyard • Ohio Dept. of Development-Operations • Caring Cooks-Lunches on M-F • Emergency Solution Funds

  9. The Lighthouse on Highland 28 bed Shelter/Resource Center

  10. Key Services • Case-management/ Crisis support (3CMs) • 12 single rooms/8 doubles • Connections to existing community resources • Rapid housing/short term financial assistance • Health services-Nurse 20 hours a week • Education/Employment services • Life skills/training groups 1-2pm • Mental health/Substance abuse screening • Communication with other CoC services • In-shelter food services • Aftercare case-management

  11. Resource Center • Open 5 days a week. Hours: M-f 9-2pm • On-site GED classes • Counseling • Job Coaching • Benefits enrollment • Basic needs; food and clothing • Access to computer/ phones • On-site nurse • Referrals to needed services

  12. Assuring youth safety • Safety plans • Orientation • Security cameras • Clear policies on weapons, threats

  13. Staffing • Program director • House/operations manager • Resource Center coordinator • Case-managers (3) • Youth workers • Volunteers/activity partners • Registered nurse

  14. Policies and program rules that may inadvertently be keeping youth out of shelters • Expecting immediate cooperation • Blocking those with open warrants (24 hours to clear up) • Expecting youth to be there every day • Pregnant /parenting youth • Transgender youth • Youth in MH crisis

  15. Key Concepts • Safety first • Harm reduction vs. Zero tolerance • Starting where a youth is at/individualize services • Offering, not requiring services • Connecting with other existing services

  16. Outcomes so far • 115 intakes since January • Average length of stay 27 days-down since summer • 50% leave into housing • More females than males • No in-site arrests • 85% maintain or increase income

  17. Lessons Learned so far • If you build it they will come! • Some youth want day shelter only • Use consultants form adult shelters • Prepare/train/support staff • Use family shelters for moms • Police called 6 times since October • Some youth need to go to PES • Work to keep youth from congregating nearby • Hard to find housing for youth with legal issues • Place transgender youth with identity group • No long term funding

  18. If you don’t have an 18-24 shelter… • Work/partner with existing adult shelters • Work with local Continuum of Care • Seek out RHY and HUD finding for supportive housing • Work with/create a local homeless coalition • Work with child welfare system is appropriate • Create a day shelter • Work with faith-based organizations • Seek out private support

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