PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
National Conference on Ending Family
Homelessness
Seattle, Washington, February 7, 2008
Emergency Assistance: Preventing
Homelessness
SafeHome Philadelphia created by the
Philadelphia Committee to END
Homelessness
SafeHome Philadelphia
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
SafeHome Philadelphia
SafeHome
Philadelphia applies the“Housing First” model to prevent homelessness.
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
BackgroundSafeHome Philadelphia is a work-in-progress
created to build evidence of the efficacy of “Housing First” for all Philadelphians in housing crises -- to convert public investment from temporary to permanent housing.
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Eligibility
Core Value is that Housing is A Human Right
1) Families only in this first phase because they have safety net
2) Housing Crisis w/ Homelessness as a Likely Outcome
3) Ability to pay forward rent
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
FundingPrivately funded through
blood, sweat & tears & some fun
(46 kindergarteners & businessmen in boxes)
which provides flexibility to build evidence
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Program ComponentsHousingVoluntary Partnership:Home Based Supports
&Community LinksEvaluation Process
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Telephone Screen
Housing or Partner Advocate:
Description of situationBallpark information
income
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Site Visit
As soon as possible, Housing Advocate visits current housing to
confirm crisis and family’s immediate options
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Family Interviews with Advocates
Explore strengths-based partnership to obtain
housing and increase resources to build stability
Assemble needed documentation
Determine next steps
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Staff Case review
Carefully review documentation to identify hidden bombs
Identify/resolve unaddressed or undocumented matters
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Voluntary Partnership Agreement
dreams & aspirationsnon-binding action
plan anddescription of what
SafeHome offers
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Housing determine rent ceiling “ school locations “ neighborhoodCHOICE not placementnegotiate lease terms with
landlordlease reviewed & signedtenant rights &
responsibilities
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Voluntary Home-Based Support
making a house a home: furnishings help
social visits : take out for meal or takeout
relaxation techniques trainingdifferentiate advocates from
past “institutional” experiences
provide transportation to get groceries
build trust: encourage initiative
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
CHALLENGESSticking to core belief:
Housing is a Human RightHonest, we are not the copsHow many phone numbers
can you have before your brain blows up?
The realities of their lives: work, children, loves vs. our good intentions
Stop trying to herd cats
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
COSTCity of Philadelphia spends
$35,000 a year for a family in shelter
SafeHome Philadelphia makes a one time investment of $4,000 to house a family
(one half is direct housing assistance; the other half is staff support)
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
EVALUATION
Stability: rent payments & tenancy over time
Change in children’s health and educationChange in adult’s well being
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
Summary: 61 Families40% have previous shelter experience75-80% have employment income4+ is average family size50% have graduated high school95% are native PhiladelphiansAverage rent: $598Average income: $1616Housing crises were unsafe conditions,
overcrowding, violence, “illegal” resident in subsidized housing: only 2 of 61 families had eviction notices
In second cohort, 91% are stable; in first cohort, no one became homeless, but incarceration and relapse and one eviction occurred: 79% remain housed
All families but those on some form of cash assistance have increased income
All families had the choice of at least 2 new homes – over 160 decent, affordable,,safe private housing was found
PCEHSafeHome Philadelphia02/04/08
SafeHome Philadelphiathe mission-achieving creation of the
Philadelphia Committee to END Homelessness
Phyllis Ryan [email protected]
215-232-2303
![From Analysis And Design to Software Architectures … · Figure 10.7 UML relationships for SafeHome security function archetype s (adapted from [BOS00]) Controller Node communicates](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/5bb9622409d3f27c3d8bcf84/from-analysis-and-design-to-software-architectures-figure-107-uml-relationships.jpg)
