HOW COMMUNITIES PREVENT HOMELESSNESS:

1. HOW COMMUNITIES PREVENT HOMELESSNESS: LESSONS FOR HOWARD COUNTY

2. BACKGROUND • Bridges’ Stabilization Services Task Force • Researched family homelessness prevention strategies to: • Educate selves and others • Identify successful strategies • Identify strategies potentially appropriate for Howard County

3. Selection of Best Practices Communities • Reviewed select literature • Focused on NAEH’s Promising Strategies to End Family Homelessness • Solicited staff recommendations

4. Selection of Best Practices Communities (continued) • Selected communities with: • Similar demographics • Relevant strategies • Success!

5. Five (5) Questions • What are your key success factors? • What are your program components? Key points of client intervention? • What have been your major barriers/pitfalls/issues? • How do you determine success? • What are/have been your funding sources?

6. Communities Interviewed • Sacramento, CA • Boston, MA • Montgomery County, MD • Dayton, OH • Columbus, OH • Lancaster County, PA • Hennepin County, MN • Fairfax/Falls Church, VA

7. FINDINGS

8. Success Factors • Community Commitment • Support from key leaders • Community partners working together in single system • Case Management • Relationships and work with landlords • Use of both a holistic approach and housing approach

9. Key Program Components • Assessment • (Intensive) case management • Housing First • Landlord/tenant relationships, involvement, mediation • Legal assistance (eviction prevention)

10. Key Program Components (continued) • Flexible financial assistance • Referrals to community-based supportive services • Follow-up

11. Intervention/Entry Points • Central intake - Single or uniform entry process • Catchment areas (by zip code); service centers • Shelters • Schools

12. Intervention/Entry Points (continued) • Court system: eviction filings, rental delinquencies • Public Housing Authority • Departments of Social Services, welfare offices • 2-1-1; 311;information and referral agencies

13. Barriers • Community buy-in and support • Engaging all relevant services, not just housing • Limited funds • Staffing requirements • Affordable housing

14. Barriers (continued) • Severity of poverty • Number of families needing assistance • Limitations and inflexibility of funding criteria and rules • Mistrust and turf issues among and between agencies

15. Measurement and Evaluation • Significant variability • Rate of return for assistance within “x” (often 12) months • Period of time housing is maintained • Comprehensive system of data collection and analysis is important; HMIS used by some

16. Funding • Multiple resources with as much flexibility as possible • Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) • State and local government funds

17. Funding (continued) • Local tax revenue (recordation tax, property tax levy, human service levy) • Private sector (foundations, United Way, churches, corporations and businesses) • State Trust Fund • Grants

18. Next, we will hear from some of these successful communities!

19. BREAK!