Housing First Opportunities and Barriers

1. Housing First Opportunities and Barriers South Central Pennsylvania Housing Recovery Summit April 29, 2014 Presented by:  • Diana T. Myers, Diana T. Myers & Associates, Inc. • Jennifer Johnson, Franklin/Fulton County MH/ID/EI • Ben Laudermilch, Cumberland/Perry Housing and Redevelopment Authority

2. Purpose of the Session • To provide a brief overview of: • the Housing First model; • the experience of operating a Housing First program; • the pros/cons of housing first to consider when deciding to implement this approach.

3. What is Housing First? The Housing First Approach is to move homeless individuals into permanent affordable housing as quickly as possible and to support them with relevant services in order to achieve long-term stability.

4. “Housing is the Cure for Homelessness. It’s that simple.” Dr. Sam Tsemberis Pathways to Housing

5. Presumption: Once housing stability is achieved, clients are better prepared to address mental health, substance abuse and other issues.

6. What are the Key Principles of Housing First? • Housing is NOT the Next Step after Jumping through Many Hoops

7. What are the Key Principles of Housing First? • Housing is a Basic Human Right • Housing is Not Contingent Upon Compliance with Services • The Focus is on Accessing Housing as Quickly as Possible • Housing is Not Time Limited; it is Permanent and Affordable

8. What are the Key Principles of Housing First? • A Variety of Services are Delivered to Promote Housing and Income Stability, and to Promote Self-Sufficiency and Well-Being • Services are Provided Only as Long as Needed Following Housing Placement • Services Can be Minimal or Intensive Depending on the Individual

9. Housing First Evidence Based Practice Model • Pathways to Housing, New York, New York • Target Population • Sheltered and Unsheltered Homeless Families and Individuals who were Difficult to House or Had Difficulty Maintaining Housing • Chronically Homeless Individuals (with Disabilities, Generally Serious Mental Illness and Often Co-occurring Disorders)

10. Pathways to Housing New York, New York • Strong Outreach and Engagement • ACT teams meet homeless where they are (jails, hospitals, street), when ready, move them directly to permanent homes • Services Community-Based & Client-Driven • Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), PACT, CTT Team Approach for Chronic/Hard to Serve • Wraparound Case Management, Services Customized to Individual, Delivered by a Team of Practitioners and Available 24-7. • Permanent Housing Options ‘Available • Section 8 vouchers, S+C

11. Other Housing First Models • 2008 McKinney Rapid Rehousing for Families Demonstration Program • Expanded Housing First Concept to Families with Children • Households with Dependent Children Residing on the Streets or in Shelter • Households with Moderate Barriers • Centralized Intake • Supportive Services including Housing Placement Example: Beyond Shelter in Los Angeles

12. Other Housing First Models • Franklin/Fulton County MH/ID/EI • Hybrid Model • Cumberland and Perry Housing and Redevelopment Authority • Pilot Program

13. 2014 HUD Policy • HUD set a goal for 75% of the permanent supportive housing (PSH) programs in each Continuum of Care to use a “Housing First Approach:” Goal: To ensure people in greatest need of PSH are not screened out from participation

14. Key Elements of New Housing First Approach • No barriers to entry (sobriety, income, rental, credit or criminal histories) • Simple application process to house eligible households as quickly as possible (even those with greatest barriers) • Project participation requirements do not include service participation, sobriety or medication compliance

15. What are Key Components? • Drug Tolerance Policy • Providing Housing that Clients Like • Diverse Funding Streams for Housing and Services • Strategies to Overcome Loneliness and Isolation • Staffing that Provides Responsive Service Delivery

16. What are Possible Pitfalls? • Inconsistent Outreach and Engagement • Absence of Qualified/Committed Staff/Service Providers • Inflexible Rules and Policies • Lack of Housing Options • Insufficient Support/Integration into the Community • Lack of R-e-s-p-e-c-t