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Help! I Don’t Speak Housing!

Mattie Lord, UMOM New Day Centers

Jeremy Rosen, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty

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What does the research say?

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Samuels, Shinn, & Buckner• 23 years of research; 2 primary waves• Continuum of risk – gap closing (M-V!)• Few longitudinal studies• Symptoms for children peak at 4 months in shelter;

then they adapt.• Performance drops while in shelter.• After 1 year, effects of homelessness fade.• MH & academic achievement improves. • Subsidized housing reduces repeat episodes of

homelessness.

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Culhane• Homeless families are more similar to poor

families than to homeless individuals.• Homeless families moved an average of 5

times during an 18 month study.• Rental subsidies improve residential

stability.• 80% housing retention vs. 18%• Housing is an essential part of the remedy

for homelessness.

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• The single greatest intervention for the children and youth is to move the family into permanent housing.

Conclusion

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Shelter

Housing

We have to help families move from temporary situations to permanent housing.

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What does HEARTH say?

• Reduce length of homelessness– 20 days (ultimate goal); 10% reduction

• Reduce the rate of return to homelessness to 5% or less

• Reduce the overall # of people experiencing homelessness

• Reduce the # of people experiencing homelessness for the first time; (prevention)

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Continuum of Care

• HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) system is designed to address the critical problem of homelessness through a coordinated community-based process of identifying needs and building a system to address those needs.

• A regional or local planning body that applies for, distributes, & coordinates HUD homeless assistance funds in a geographic area.

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Continuum of Care - Funding• Competitive programs funded:

– Supportive Housing Program (SHP)– Shelter + Care– Single Resident Occupancy

• Formula-based programs funded:– Emergency Solutions Grant

• Funded only through renewals:– Transitional Housing– Support services

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Continuum of Care - Involvement• Continuum of Care plans must describe how they will collaborate

with LEAs to identify families, and how families and youth will be informed of their eligibility for McKinney-Vento education services. Sec. 427(a)(1)(B)(iii)

• Agencies must certify that programs that provide housing or services to families will designate a staff person to ensure that children are enrolled in school and connected to appropriate services in the community, including early childhood programs such as Head Start, part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and McKinney-Vento education services. Sec. 304(b)(4)(D).

• Collaborative applicants for HUD Continuum of Care funding must take the educational needs of children into account when families are placed in emergency or transitional shelter and will, to the maximum extent practicable, place families with children as close to possible to their school of origin so as not to disrupt children’s education. Sec. 304(b)(7).

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Continuum of Care

PreventionResources

PermanentSupportive

Housing

TransitionalHousing

RapidReHousing

Emergency Shelter

Assessment

PermanentSupportive

Housing

EmergencyShelter

TransitionalHousing

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Housing Opportunities

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Emergency Shelter

• Shorter term• Length of stay up

to 120 days• No fees• Case management• Support services• Typically single site

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Transitional Housing

• For families needing a longer-term intervention than ES

• Length of stay up to 2 years• Program fees up to 30% of income• Case management• Intensive support services• Some single site, some scattered site• HUD outcomes: 65% exit to permanent

housing, 20% employed at exit

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Housing First• A philosophy• End the homelessness by

moving them into housing first.

• Work on other issues that may jeopardize the stable housing while they are in housing.

• Support them in the housing.

• Services are voluntary.

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Bridge Housing• Provides temporary

housing until a housing option is available

• Emergency shelter may serve as the “bridge” until a HUD VASH voucher is assigned.

• A family might be moved from the streets to a hotel room until there is room in an ES.

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HPRP• Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing

Program (HPRP)• Introduced as part of the ARRA• Formula-based to local & state governments• $ to keep families in their current housing and

prevent eviction• $ to move homeless families back into housing• Up to 18 months of assistance• Transitioning to Emergency Solutions Grant

(ESG)

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HUD Rapid Re-Housing• HUD

Demonstration grants to non-profit agencies

• Assistance with move in costs

• Temporary rent subsidies

• Basic case management

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Affordable Housing

• Housing that a family is able to afford without exceeding 30% of their income

• No time limit• No programs or

support services• Lease = Landlord

Tenant Act applies

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Permanent Supportive Housing• Typically funded by Typically funded by

HUD McKinney-Vento HUD McKinney-Vento as SHP or S+Cas SHP or S+C

• Housing subsidiesHousing subsidies• Program fees up to Program fees up to

30% of income30% of income• Must have a Must have a

documented disabilitydocumented disability• Includes case

management and ongoing support services

• No time limit

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Tax Credit Housing

• An option for low income families• Makes market rate housing “affordable” for

families at 30-60% AMI• Rental rates are reduced due to local or

state tax credits• Typically mixed income properties• Must recertify annually; otherwise no time

limit• Lease = Landlord Tenant Act applies

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Section 8 (subsidized) Housing• HUD program with Public Housing Authorities or private

owners• Rent = 30% of income• Sex offenders & people with certain drug offenses are

ineligible• Other eligibility criteria determined by local PHAs• No time limit• Lease = Landlord Tenant Act applies• Project-Based

– Subsidy remains with the unit• Housing Choice Voucher

– Subsidy remains with the family– Family can select unit (based on FMR and inspection)

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HUD VASH (subsidized) Housing• Collaboration with HUD, VA, and PHAs• Section 8 voucher• Available to families with veteran status• Referrals are made by the local VA• Must accept ongoing VA case management• Rent = 30% of income• Sex offenders and people with certain drug

offenses are ineligible• Other eligibility criteria determined by local PHAs

or local VAMCs• No time limit• Lease = Landlord Tenant Act applies

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Public Housing

• HUD program - housing owned by Public Housing Authorities (city or county)

• Rent = 30% of income• Sex offenders and people with certain drug

offenses are ineligible• Other eligibility criteria determined by local PHAs • No time limit • Lease with PHA = Landlord Tenant Act applies

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How can I find permanent housing opportunities?

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www.hud.gov

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http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/pha/

contacts

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