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Outline of Presentation

Homeless Services in NYC: The Origins of the HomeBase Program

NYC’s HomeBase Program

HELP USA’s HomeBase Program: Preventing Homelessness in the South Bronx

City-wide Outcomes/ Lessons Learned: 2004 – 2007

The Future of the HomeBase Program

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HELP USA : Agency Overview

HELP USA is a non-profit organization founded by Andrew Cuomo in 1986

HELP is NYC-based; also has facilities/ programs in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Las Vegas and Houston

Developed and currently operates more than 2,300 units of transitional and permanent housing for homeless and at-risk populations

Serves more than 11,000 individuals and families each year Provides emergency and transitional housing and supportive

services for victims of domestic violence Operates employment and training programs that have

placed over 5,500 clients into unsubsidized employment

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Origins: NYC’s Homeless Services

New York State has a ‘Right to Shelter’ NYC has developed an extensive shelter system administered by

the Department of Homeless Services Multiple city agencies & non-profits offer transitional housing,

rental assistance, eviction prevention, aftercare

Series of studies conducted on homeless services in NYC Special Masters Panel: Family Homelessness Prevention (2003) NYC’s 5 year plan Uniting for Solutions Beyond Shelter (2004) Vera Institute: Understanding Family Homelessness in NYC

(2005)

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Origins: Recommendations

Affordable Housing and Rental Subsidies help prevent homelessness

Early Identification: Identify precipitating factors; high-risk populations Identify prior housing sources, conditions and precipitating

events that lead to family homelessness Incidents of Prior Homelessness, Areas of high receipt of public

assistance “Doubled up” households, Young head of household Families at risk may not be help-seeking: need for Outreach,

Community Education

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Origins: Recommendations Prevention Services must be Data-Driven,

Targeted NYC develops geo-coded agency tracking system Includes data matches with multiple city agencies Geographic Analysis

Patterns of shelter entry, poverty, public assistance

Prevention services must be community-based, provide a range of interventions in a variety of settings Cross-agency coordination is essential; need exists to tie together a

range of services provided through a variety of sources Program design must be flexible and timely Legal (anti-eviction) services must be included Short-term financial assistance is key

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HomeBase: The Pilot Program

Services Begin: Fall 2004 $12 million dollar

commitment per year Programs operated by 6

community-based not-for-profit organizations

Funding 40% federal (TANF) and 60% city funds

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HomeBase Program Model

Eligibility: Clients must be at imminent risk of entering shelter and…

Reside in a designated community district within NYC May currently be living in an institutional setting or supportive

living environment and will be returning to one of these community districts

Their household income may not exceed 200% of the federal poverty line

Must have a documented threat to their housing stability

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HomeBase Program Model

Ongoing Program Evaluation Client outcomes Community impact measure Process measures

Data Will Inform Program Implementation Data sharing: daily, weekly, monthly program and

entrant data Collaborative program development (public- private

partnership between DHS and non-profit organizations

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HomeBase Monthly CD Map

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HomeBase Daily ReportDEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES

HOMELESS FAMILY EMERGENCY SHELTER SYSTEM 4/11/2006

INTAKE CENTER ARRIVALS

Referral Date : 04/10/2006

Referral Source: All Intake Centers

Sorted By: Prevention Community Districts: (111,201,206,303,304,412)

Fam Org Intake Actual Arrv

Head of Household Name Case # Soc Sec # Birth Date Comp CD Center Date/Time

Last Name X First Name X 905055600Z XXX-XX-XXXX 5/14/1978 1/1 111 PATH 4/10/2006 17:03

Last Name X First Name X 6331657001 XXX-XX-XXXX 12/5/1976 1/1 111 PATH 4/10/2006 20:16

Last Name X First Name X 2662322001 XXX-XX-XXXX 1/22/1965 2/0 111 AFIC 4/10/2006 12:24

Last Name X First Name X 905054600Z XXX-XX-XXXX 7/30/1956 1/1 111 PATH 4/10/2006 14:26

Last Name X First Name X 905031600Z XXX-XX-XXXX 9/10/1980 2/1 111 PATH 4/10/2006 20:50

Last Name X First Name X 499315001 XXX-XX-XXXX 1/26/1982 1/1 201 PATH 4/10/2006 15:39

Last Name X First Name X 9834592001 XXX-XX-XXXX 7/15/1982 3/1 201 PreApp 4/10/2006 22:04

Last Name X First Name X 904509600Z XXX-XX-XXXX 1/22/1982 2/0 201 PATH 4/10/2006 12:42

Last Name X First Name X 904105400Z XXX-XX-XXXX 8/28/1984 1/1 201 PATH 4/10/2006 18:43

Last Name X First Name X 7185373001 XXX-XX-XXXX 4/11/1982 1/1 201 PATH 4/10/2006 16:00

Last Name X First Name X 4103040002 XXX-XX-XXXX 8/29/1983 1/1 206 PATH 4/10/2006 19:33

Last Name X First Name X 593651001 XXX-XX-XXXX 12/5/1974 1/0 206 PreApp 4/11/2006 2:13

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HomeBase Shelter Profile

37

213

131

40

0

40

80

120

160

200

240

Under

21y

rs

21yr

s to

29y

rs

30yr

s to

44y

rs

45yr

s an

d ov

er

Age of Head of Household

22

185

107

61

30

112 2 1

020406080

100120140160180200

Nu

mb

er

of

Fam

ilie

s

Family Size

Family Size (Number of Individuals)

Primary Tenant Reason for Homelessness

1%

33%

52%

1%

13%

Lockout

DV

Eviction

Crime Situation

Unlivable Conditions

Secondary Tenant Reason for Homelessness

13%

26%

38%

5%

0%

10%

8%

Domestic Violence

Eviction

Crime situation

Unlivable Conditions

Discord

Overcrowding

Financial Strain

MONTHLY PROFILE OF ELIGIBLE FAMILY SHELTER ENTRANTS

CD 303: Jan - Sep, 2006

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HomeBase: Outreach Presentations to Local Groups, Community Leaders and

Elected Officials City-wide media campaign by DHS ‘Branding’ of HomeBase through common logo, graphics & advertising Triage services available by dialing ‘311’

Community Outreach Fliers & brochures

Mass Mailings - by zip code; aftercare clients are next

HomeBase Mobile Unit Used by diversion workers to pick up clients at conditional shelters Used by outreach workers to canvas target areas Served as advertising tool for the program Used to deliver family items and household supplies

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HomeBase : Intake & Assessment

Intake Case Manager and Supervisor determine applicant’s eligibility/ need for services Assess risk of homelessness; verify housing crisis by

calling landlord, primary tenant, etc. Intake Case Manager conducts an Intake Interview

with eligible clients Intake Case Manager provides resources that may

be able to assist applicants who are found ineligible for the program

Eligible clients are assigned a permanent Case Manager

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HomeBase : Services

Case management Legal services (anti-eviction) Money management and household budgeting

seminars Day care, education (GED, ESL, job training)

referrals and in-house job placement Service referrals: mental health & substance

abuse, immigration services, etc.

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HomeBase : Services

‘Broker’ of relationships with welfare offices, housing court, other non-profit agencies

Cross-agency service coordination Flexibility & timeliness of service delivery

Client advocacy with Landlords, NYC agencies Full time Advocacy Case Manager

Short term financial assistance (for those who qualify)

HomeBase is the ‘funder of last resort’

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HomeBase : Services

Short-Term Financial Assistance Most Financial Assistance is limited to one time per

family so as not to promote long-term reliance upon HomeBase

Rent arrears, deposit/brokers fees, furniture, moving expenses, household repairs

Short term rent contributions Work expenses/training

HomeBase typically leverages financial assistance from many other funding sources (financial broker)

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Established collaboration with HELP USA’s Fair Housing Justice Center

Housing Discrimination Violates the civil rights of your clients Restricts housing choice and life opportunities Contributes to homelessness (rights in housing court)

Disseminate Information about Housing Rights

Presentations and Brochures Rental Search Logs

Examples of Illegal Housing Discrimination Sexual harassment, Disability discrimination, Family status discrimination

HomeBase : Services

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HomeBase : Housing & Relocation

HomeBase provides housing relocation assistance to clients whose current living arrangements are no longer viable.

Clients on this track: Meet regularly with the Housing Specialist Apply for all possible subsidized housing

opportunities Work closely with the Subsidy Coordinator for

assistance with the Section 8 process

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HomeBase: Diversion

Many shelter applicants are in need of immediate housing assistance, but do not require an actual shelter stay.

HELP USA piloted diversion program at PATH (family intake center) to identify these families and offer them HomeBase services.

HELP HomeBase staff screened interested applicants and triaged appropriate clients to all of the HomeBase providers

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HomeBase : Diversion

HomeBase diverts families & individuals who are: Able to return to a safe doubled-up situation Can be restored to their own housing apartments/homes Have no housing options but have other resources (employment, existing

housing subsidy, etc.)

Who makes a good diversion candidate?Client has income or the ability to obtain employment Demonstrate eligibility for housing subsidies

Positive & motivated attitude Family does not wish to enter the shelter system; is motivated to pursue

other options

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HomeBase : After Care

HomeBase families in pilot program receive After Care services for 1 year in an effort to stabilize housing & reduce shelter recidivism

Case Managers keep clients engaged to be a support to the family, as well as to ensure that they maintain their employment and housing

In new city-wide program, HomeBase will be the after care provider for all clients leaving the shelter system, working with DHS to ensure that self sufficiency plans stay in place.

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HomeBase Outcomes In 2005, HomeBase neighborhoods saw a 12 % decline in shelter

entry compared to 2004, while the rest of the city experienced only a 7% decline. (5% differential)

In 2006, the HomeBase community districts saw a 9% increase in shelter entrants compared to 2004, while the rest of the city saw a 20% increase in entrants compared to 2004. (11% differential)

In 2007, the HomeBase community districts saw a 4.5% decrease in shelter entrants compared to 2004, while the rest of the city has seen a 16% increase compared to 2004. (20.5% differential)

Of the over 8,400 families and single adults that have been served by the HomeBase program through 2006, only 7% of all clients have entered the shelter system within 18 months. Ninety-three percent of this at-risk population has remained housed.

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HomeBase: Lessons Learned

Targeting Target populations were indeed non-service seekers Need to refocus on shelter history and front door (diversion)

Service strategies Housing relocation needed; landlord relationships important Coordinated, accessible employment services are essential Aftercare services must be part of HomeBase Spirit of public/ private collaboration must be maintained

Performance-based Contracting Dollars to be allocated according to shelter demand

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HomeBase Scope of Services

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City-Wide Expansion

Total funding will grow to 20 million dollars in FY 2009, and 22 million dollars in FY 2010.

Increases in funding will come from reinvestment of shelter savings.

DHS is also seeking additional funding from other government and private sources.

Performance-based contracting Nearly 50% of budget Paid per diversion that does not enter shelter for 1 year

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The Future of HomeBase

Currently securing outside evaluation Targeting of services Client outcomes and impact Cost-benefit analysis

Implementation of Aftercare Services Housing stabilization Employment Day care and Education

“Brief” Services Model “Open House” service model, short consultation: Seamless transition to full services if necessary