Rural Homelessness: The Hidden Homeless

1. Rural Homelessness:The Hidden Homeless June 2nd, 2009 Matt Leslie, Housing Policy Analyst Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)

2. What is rural? • Communities less than 100,000 people • Located 100 miles from a major urban area • Large geographic areas with many small towns or communities • Large areas which are dependent on one industry such as agriculture, timber, mining, tourism, etc. • Higher poverty rates • Lower levels of educational attainment • An area that is described as “country”

3. Rural Homelessness:the effected population • Tend to be women with young children and men who have lost employment • More families than chronic individuals • More first time homeless • Possible higher reported incidence of family violence • Younger than urban trends • But also more likely to see elderly as compared to urban trends • Under employed • Less visible, hidden population (in woods, cars, campers, etc.) • Had been staying with friends/family • Often precariously housed, rather than literally homeless

4. Rural Homelessnessthe causes • Pervasive poverty, including multi-generational, is more of an issue • Substandard housing/code enforcement • Less diversity of housing and fewer rental options (older housing stock) • Lack of affordable housing and rental assistance • Nonexistent or shrinking mental health and drug and alcohol services • Rural economies based on one industry (eg. agriculture and/or mining, tourism, etc.) • Local employment patterns (low-paid, part-time, and temporary employment) • Transportation issues as barriers to employment and services • Federal homeless definitions that have favored homeless in larger metropolitan areas • Limited capacity for resource development (eg. Grant writing and management)

5. Challenges for Service Providers in Rural Communities • Lack of transportation infrastructure (eg. Public transportation) • Single agencies providing many services • Individuals wear several different “hats” • Sense of isolation • Fewer dollars when funding decisions are based on population • Difficult for staff to attend “state-wide” meetings/trainings/workshops • Less public awareness due to “invisibility” of homeless • Less existing research about what works in rural areas

6. Rural Communities Strengths • Multi-service mainstream agencies • Good access to local political leaders • Relatively small numbers of homeless • Involved and supportive church communities • Rural culture of community • Extended family support

7. Rural Homelessnesspromising approaches • Increased coordination and collaboration (among programs, agencies, and localities) • Rapid re-housing • TBRA, housing vouchers, rent subsidies • Transportation • Case management

8. Case study: Rural Homeless Initiative of Southeast and Central Ohio • Improve point-in-time counts • Engage mainstream programs that assist low-income people (Often there has been found to be a disconnect on the relationship between housing and the program’s goals) • Work on finding people housing (eg. Real estate function- building of relationships with landlords, helping individuals overcome barriers to housing) • Coordinate resources within the community • Develop supportive housing for those with severe disabilities • Improve access to information (eg. Public information campaigns) • Improve prevention of homelessness • Promote intraregional collaboration

11. 50.1 % UR

12. 85 % UR 50 % UR

13. 34 % UR 27 % UR

14. Summary • Appearance of surplus in shelter bed inventory • Particularly for family beds • Resulting low utilization rates • Shelter-based funding (fixed costs- good or bad?) • Firehouse approach vs. flexible approach • Future funding implication • Case for rapid re-housing? • McKinney-Vento Reauthorization

15. References • 2007. Virginia Homeless Report, Department of Housing and Community Development, retrieved from http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/HomelessnesstoHomeownership/default.htm • 2008. Virginia Homeless Report, Department of Housing and Community Development, retrieved from http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/HomelessnesstoHomeownership/default.htm • 2008. January Research Matters.   Housing Vouchers are Critical for Ending Family Homelessness.  National Alliance to End Homelessness, Homelessness Research Institute. • 2005.  Hunger Report.  Strengthening Rural Communities.  Center for Rural Affairs.  • 2008. Rural Homeless Initiative of Southeast and Central Ohio:  A National Model for Planning to End Homelessness.    National Alliance to End Homelessness.  

16. References (cont.) • 2002. Continua of Care Best Practices:  Comprehensive Homeless Planning in Rurik America.  Housing Assistance Council.  • 2006.  Homelessness in Rural America:  Policy and Practice.  Paul Rollinson and John Pardeck.  Haworth Press.  • 1996. Out of Sight out of Mind:  Homeless Children and Families in Small Town America.  Yvonne M. Vissing.  University Press of America.