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A Collaborative Effort to End Homelessness Among Veterans in Salt Lake County

A Collaborative Effort to End Homelessness Among Veterans in Salt Lake County. COSCDA Presentation: Tuesday, September 17, 2013. Salt Lake County. 2010 census population: 1,029,655 37% of the State’s population Veteran population: 51,513 (2010 census) 2,066 homeless persons (2013 PIT)

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A Collaborative Effort to End Homelessness Among Veterans in Salt Lake County

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  1. A Collaborative Effort to End Homelessness Among Veterans in Salt Lake County COSCDA Presentation: Tuesday, September 17, 2013

  2. Salt Lake County • 2010 census population: 1,029,655 • 37% of the State’s population • Veteran population: 51,513 (2010 census) • 2,066 homeless persons (2013 PIT) • 64% of the State’s homeless population • 216 homeless veterans (2013 PIT) • 167 sheltered through VA programs • 74% of the State’s homeless veteran population

  3. Collaboration Timeline • October 2012 – Initial veteran housing boot camp; • core team formed • initial 100 day goal established • January 2013 – Annual Point-in-Time Count; • chronic homeless veteran count; verification & follow-up • February 2013 – 2nd boot camp; • report on initial goals • new/renewed 100 day goal • August 2013 – 3rd boot camp; • new/renew 100 day goal

  4. What is a boot camp? • National, State and Community leaders come together to: • Identify needs and barriers • Create a goal in which all parties are invested in the outcome • Create a team of people from community organizations to carry out this goal • Specify a timeline for carrying out the goal (100 days) • Participants: • U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) • Rapid Results Institute • 100,000 Homes Campaign • Community Teams

  5. Expected Outcomes • Significantly reduce processing times for HUD-VASH vouchers • Target VASH vouchers for chronically homeless veterans • Policy and Process innovations • Improved coordination and cooperation across agencies and local organizations • Sense of shared accountability for community-100-day-goal and the ultimate goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015: • 100 Day Goal: Have all infrastructure and systems in place by 1/1/13 to end chronic homelessness among eligible veterans in Salt Lake County.

  6. Salt Lake County Innovations • Relocating the VA outreach clinic to the emergency shelter for increased access. • Expediting HUD-VASH and PHA applications so they are completed upon the initial assessment with VA outreach. • Housing authorities accepting non-traditional supplemental documents, actively recruiting landlords, and expediting housing inspection. • VA dedicating 2 employees as temporary housing specialists.

  7. Measurable Results Expected Outcome: Significantly reduce processing times for HUD-VASH vouchers 69% decrease in the average number of days from VASH intake to application (71days to 22.1 days) Expected Outcome:Target VASH vouchers for chronically homeless veterans 20-30% increase in the number of chronically homeless veterans referred, issued and placed in VASH Result: Result:

  8. Homeless Veterans in Salt Lake County *During the 2013 PIT, every counted chronically homeless veteran in Salt Lake County was identified, assessed and offered a VASH voucher for permanent housing prior to the announcement of the 2013 numbers.

  9. The next step for our community to end Veteran’s homelessness by 2015….. Next Steps: • Continue regular community meetings to discuss high resource users and chronically homeless veterans. Target these individuals for rapid housing using a Housing First approach. • Using data from 2013 Registry Week and HMIS, Identify name-specific eligible Veterans for permanent housing. • Expand methods developed in SLC area to other areas in the State (i.e. Ogden & St George). Need HUD support in order to be effective. • Discussion among VA to explore contract shelter housing for non-chronic couples or families, with housing first philosophy; i.e. “Bridge Housing” or Safe Haven. Ongoing Goal: • Maintain sufficient resources to immediately offer VA funded programs or permanent housing to 100% of eligible veterans • Increased focus on housing retention.

  10. The Salt Lake County Team

  11. Reflections on the Experience • Implementing a Housing First approach requires extensive resources and intensive time commitment. • Amazing communication and collaboration has occurred among community agencies. • Out of the Box thinking was required, combined with a No Barriers approach to assist the most difficult-to-house chronically homeless population. • Ongoing communication with veterans after a voucher is issued is a major barrier. (Free cell phones with limited minutes are generally not available without a residential address.) • Extremely low vacancy rate and a “Landlord’s Market” has made finding affordable housing for the chronically homeless population very difficult.

  12. Suggestions to Future Teams • Most effective approach occurs when ALL providers in the community, involved to any degree with homelessness, are included and actively involved. • Ready access to HINQ and VIS databases (VA) are necessary to determine veteran eligibility – primarily for those not enrolled and without a DD-214. • Need to have or develop an inter-agency agreement/ROI to facilitate an open discussion regarding specific individuals.

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