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Working With Your Public Housing Authority

Working With Your Public Housing Authority. The Lancaster County Pennsylvania Experience. Our Community. County of 450,000 City of Lancaster: 60,000 person situated in the middle of Lancaster County

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Working With Your Public Housing Authority

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  1. Working With Your Public Housing Authority The Lancaster County Pennsylvania Experience

  2. Our Community • County of 450,000 • City of Lancaster: 60,000 person situated in the middle of Lancaster County • Very diversified population (from very rural Mennonite/Amish communities to a large concentration of Latino’s in the city)

  3. Lancaster County, PA:Two Housing Authorities • Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities • 861 Tenant Based Section 8 Vouchers • As of January 2006, 714 households on waiting list for voucher • Lancaster City Housing Authority • 806 Tenant Based Section 8 Vouchers • As of January 2006, 508 households on waiting list • 566 units of Public Housing • 969 on waiting list

  4. Local PHA Partnerships • Both PHA’s historically have jointly worked together with the social service community • Joint contract between both authorities and Tabor Community Services since 2000 to provide Family Self Sufficiency Program • Joint contract with Tabor Community Services since 2003 to provide the Section 8 Homeownership Voucher Program • These successful relationships were used to build on for larger homeless network

  5. Partnering with the Lancaster Interagency Council on Homelessness • Homeless Preference with both PHA’s • Shelter Plus Care: Lancaster City Housing Authority • Project Based Section 8 for Supportive Housing Projects

  6. Partnering with the Lancaster ICHHomeless Preference • Authorities can establish local preferences as part of their administrative plan • ICH identified key persons for a joint discussion • Both PHA Executive Directors • Section 8 Program Coordinators • Continuum of Care Chair • Tabor Community Services Staff (already established a trust relationship)

  7. Homeless Preference • State your case: • How will it help the community • How you will work together • Be realistic about what is doable • What is the current overall availability • Be aware of their concerns and issues and prepared with viable solutions • Who will take what responsibility • Build on existing partnerships/programs • Gives credibility and trust that it can work • Invite them to be part of the larger organization (ICH) • Staff are aware of the larger homeless system

  8. A Successful Preference since June 2001 • 20% of all available voucher from both authorities given to homeless persons • Referrals must come from pre-approved organizations • Referring organization accepts responsibility to verify homeless eligibility and keep referral information current • Required one year of follow-up services from referring organization

  9. Initial concerns that were addressed • Concern: how is this fair to those who are on a waiting list? • Solution: Cap of 20% • Concern: will this be unmanageable • Solution: Set clear guidelines and eligibility • Concern: who do we go to with problems? • Solution: Establish who is the point person • Concern: will this mean more work when we are overworked already? • Solution: Referring agencies are responsible to screen for eligibility • Concern: what if this doesn’t work? • Solution: Regular evaluation/ Good Communication

  10. Partnering with the Lancaster ICHShelter Plus Care • 20 Slots available through the City • Administered by the PHA • Referrals must come from pre-approved agencies who qualify for eligibility • Referring Agency is responsible to ensure provision of supportive services • Continuum of Care Subcommittee of ICH assists in monitoring the supportive services • Meet regularly with PHA to ensure ongoing communication and program continuation

  11. Partnering with the Lancaster ICHProject Based Section 8 • Local continuum has 4 Permanent SHP projects • Both PHA’s are providing Project Based Section 8 for the SHP Units • 22 County SRO units covered • 16 City units (8 SRO, 5 2BR, 3 1BR) under development

  12. Lessons Learned • Start with reasonable partnerships • Build on existing relationships • Focus on the success of the first partnership to build trust, then continue to build programs/partnerships • Service Partners need to take primary responsibility to continue projects • Good communication is key • Regular review and evaluation on a pre-planned schedule

  13. Final Thoughts • Find the win/wins • Look for common goals • Build good relationships • Communicate, communicate, communicate

  14. Happy Partnering!! • Kay Moshier McDivitt • Director of Housing Counseling • Tabor Community Services, Inc. • 308 East King Street, PO Box 1676 • Lancaster, PA 17608-1676 • kmmcdivitt@tabornet.org • 717-397-5182, ext 120

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