Coordinated Engagement for Young

Adults

Hannah Fisk, NWYSEmily Harris-Shears & Erin Maguire, CCSWW

Washington State Conference on Ending HomelessnessMay 21, 2014

Hannah Fisk, MSW

“NWYS collaborates with at-risk, runaway and homeless youth to foster self-reliance.”

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

AND/OR

• An additional entry option for youth• Two Housing Interest Pools (HIP and YIP)• Removing off the waitlist

– Weekly notifications– Additional attempts to contact– Approval from youth serving agency

• Brain development/ Cognitive functioning• Relationship focused– Continuum of care between programs

• Empowerment based- options• Positive Youth Development focused

Coordinated entry, intake, and assessment for all ages

Referral and enrollment to partner programs

Women Care

Shelter

Opportunity CouncilHousing

Lydia Place

Catholic Community

Services

Northwest Youth

Services

Targeted Homeless Prevention

Sun House Emergency

Shelter

City Gate Re-Entry Housing

Shelter Plus Care Program

Bridge of Hope

House

YWCA

I-Street House

VeteransAffairs

SupportiveHousing

Additional entry, intake,

and assessment for 13-24 year olds

• In April 302 non-youth households were on the HIP – 96 youth household were on the HIP

• 47 additional youth are on the YIP only– Reasons for any difference in numbers include:

• Prefer not to be on the HIP• Not literally homeless

• Example of movement from HIP to Housing– HIP to Permanent Housing Program

• 55% went from HIP to the Permanent Housing Program• 16% went from the YIP to the Permanent Housing Program

• One Housing Interest Pool list with two entry points– No shared data entry program– Couch surfing– Lack of relationship

• Increased Communication– More difficult for the agencies– Easier for the youth

• Lot’s of Advocating

• Shared access to single Housing Interest Pool• Continued training on how this system came

into place for new staff• Prioritization of youth

Implementing A Coordinated Engagement System For

Young Adults

Youth Housing Connection

WLIHA Conference on Ending

HomelessnessMay 2014

Community Sign In

•Youth and young adults (YYA) ages 13 to 25 complete Community Sign In the first time they arrive at any drop in center, meal program, or young adult shelter in the homeless YYA continuum.

•Launched in December 2013•1,217 YYA have responded to Community Sign-In•67% identify as currently experiencing homelessness

Community Sign In

1.Divert YYA from homeless services when possible through family reunification 2.Promote consistent data collection on YYA homelessness3.Obtain a more comprehensive number of YYA who are using our continuum by aligning data collection at every drop in center, meal program and young adult shelter in the continuum of care.

Youth Housing Connection

• One single access point for young adults (17.5-25) in King County who are currently experiencing literal homelessness or within 14 days of losing their housing and in need of connection to housing resources

• Youth Housing Connection launched July 8, 2013

Where do young people come from?

Demographics

Assessment Process

• Meet young adults where they are already accessing services and support

• Assessments are offered at nine youth serving drop-in centers, shelters and meal site programs each week

• Capacity to provide 200 assessments/month • Over 800 assessments completed

Assessment Tool

• One hour assessment • Capturing relevant information related to

young adult’s experiences in housing• Directly corresponds to eligibility criteria of

community housing providers • Measures a young adult’s current risk while

remaining homeless through the vulnerability score

Housing Inventory

• Partner with 25 housing programs made up of seven youth serving agencies

• 300+ units/beds• Range of services:

– Chemical Dependency– LGBTQA Youth – Exiting Foster Care– Domestic Violence – Mental Health– Culturally Tailored Services for African American and Native American young adults

• 191 referrals made since launch • 90 young adults in housing

Program Staffing

• Two Housing Specialists: Completes housing assessments with young adults

• YHC Lead: Makes housing referrals and facilitates mobility requests

• Program Manager• Program Director

Vulnerability Scale

1. Length of current experience of homelessness 2. Interest in Chemical Dependency Support Services3. Safety 4. Interest in Mental Health Support Services5. Number of experiences of homelessness 6. Interest in programs that require YA to have a

disability 7. Community Supports 8. Length of time on the YHC Placement Roster (Point

added for 6 months or longer)9. Receiving SS/Disability Benefits

Vulnerability Scale

Vulnerability Score

# of Young Adults

% of Young Adults

Zero 2 0%

One44 7%

Two131 20%

Three196 30%

Four172 26%

Five 74 11%

Six 39 6%Seven 6 0%

Total 664 100%

Vulnerability Scale

• Supports young adults moving through the continuum of housing resources as their needs change

• Young adults with approved mobility requests receive priority for open resources

Mobility Requests

Youth & Young Adult Voice

Focus GroupsMarketingAssessment QuestionsResponse Timeline

Mockingbird Society – Youth Advocates Ending Homelessness

Ongoing User FeedbackSystem Implications

Provider Voice

• Feedback Forums• Continual Training• Individual Stakeholder Check In’s• Task Force → YHC Work Group– Monthly meetings of housing and service

providers– YHC successes and challenges– 12 month work plan

Next Steps

• Family Reunification Pilot

Contact Information

Hannah Fisk, Northwest Youth ServicesHannahF@nwys.org

Emily Harris-Shears, Catholic Community Services of King CountyEmilyHS@ccsww.org

Erin Maguire, Catholic Community Services of King CountyErinMa@ccsww.org