System Wide Housing First: The Columbus Experience

Barbara PoppeCommunity Shelter Boardwww.csb.org

Presented at The National Conference on Ending Family HomelessnessFebruary 9, 2007Washington, DC

Sponsored by the National Alliance to End Homelessness

Overview

Principles & FrameworkImpactInitiatives

Front Door Shelter Family Housing Collaborative Tier II Shelter

Created in 1986

Non-profit intermediary

Funder

Planner

Coordinator

“It is unacceptable for anyone in our community to go without food or shelter for even one night."

Mel Schottenstein, CSB Founder

Guiding Principles

Housing is basic human need – must be affordable and safe.

Families are better off in “home-like” settings.

Basic needs met first – recovery, parenting, education follow

Guiding Principles (cont.)

Families can set own goals, manage their homes, and take charge of their lives.

Services should be focused on families and individual members of the family.

Healthy families create health communities and healthy communities support healthy families.

Housing 1st Philosophy (vs. Housing 2nd)

Housing 1st Housing placement with services available

Housing 2nd Mandatory treatment/rehab with housing upon completion

System Framework

Prevention & diversion

Minimize shelter stay/move to appropriate housing quickly

Measures results and manage for outcomes

Franklin County Family System

First contact between

YWCA Family Center and

family:

Triage Referral Assessment Services Guidance

Permanent housing, usually with Transition assistance (CSB)

Referral to direct housing:Family Housing Collaborative

(Salvation Army, CSB)

Diversion: Helping families stay in the housing they’re in, with support from community

programs, social service agencies, family and friends, and other community agencies.

Welc

om

e to

the F

am

ily

Cen

ter

Referral to Tier II shelter(Homeless Families Foundation, Volunteers of

America)

Referral to transitional housing (Amethyst)

Referral to permanent supportive housing

(2 years - permanent)(Community Housing Network, Amethyst,

Volunteers of America)

Perm

an

en

t hou

sin

g

Treatment programs for severe issues

(ADAMH agencies)

System Design Characteristics

Extensive housing partnershipsAccess to short-term rental

assistanceHighly collaborative

Regular system meetings MOA’s among agencies Shared resources

System Design Characteristics (cont.)

High accountability & transparency Shared HMIS Daily bedlistQuarterly indicatorsAnnual program evaluations

Impact: Family homelessness declined

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1995 1997 1999 2003 2005

Data from 2001-2002 is unavailable.

Impact: Increased housing outcomes

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2003 2004 2005

Data from 2001-2002 is unavailable.

Front Door Shelter

Single point of entry Supply expands to meet demand Triage before intake Housing First designCoordinated with all housing

resources

YWCA Family Center

YWCA Family Center

Supportive services Case management Resource center Life skills

Child & youth programming

Collaborative partnerships

Front Door Shelter Results

Reduces homelessness

50-60% of contacts don’t need to come to shelter

43% Decline in family homelessness since 1997

Successful in re-housing within short time

65% families sheltered move to next step housing

Average length of stay = 20 days

Achieves long-term success

Recidivism < 1%

Family Housing Collaborative

Direct housing Quick placement in permanent housing home-based case management transitional rent subsidy

Service Provider, Front Door Shelter, and Fiscal agent

FHC Target Population

Front Door Shelter clients desire an independent, stable apartment; have or will have, within 30 days, income and

community-based supports sufficient to be independent;

are appropriate for permanent housing; and are unable to obtain or maintain an

apartment due to barriers primarily related to income, employment, debt and/or previous evictions.

FHC Results

Quick re-housing Assessment and referral time shortened as the project

progressed – typically <10 days.

Successful housing outcomes 77-90% successful in securing permanent housing

Breaks the cycle of homelessness < 1% do not have subsequent shelter stay

Cost effective $1,065 FHC vs. $6,410 - Tier II shelter (per hh served)

Tier II Shelter

Referrals from Front Door ShelterHousing FirstNo sobriety/treatment requirements

for admissionFurnished apartments

Tier II Shelter

Individualized case management

Extensive children and youth programming

Collaborative partnerships

Tier II Shelter Results

Serves hardest-to-serve families

About one-half are actively using at time of admission

Multiple barriers to housing (credit, legal, etc.)

Successful in re-housing

87% families sheltered move to permanent housing

Average length of stay = 71 days

Achieves long-term success

Recidivism < 1%

Family System Successes

Seamless system for families Single point of accessClear admission practicesContinuity of services

Family System Successes

Shared values & shared goals100% commitment to housing outcomes

as primary purpose100% commitment to increasing

community resources for familiesResponsive & nimble to changesGenerally high trust among agencies and

CSB

Family System Successes

Problem solve well both outside and within the shelter system

Partnership with Columbus Public Schools has significantly reduced school mobility

New demonstration program provides wrap around services for children with severe needs

Challenges

Lack of affordable housingServices for actively using familiesDeclining household incomesFamilies with multiple episodes and/or

long-term homelessnessVery young mothers with limited skillsMobility of kids in schools

What’s Next?

New longer-term direct housing pilotHousing First supportive housing for

families Comprehensive system evaluation

and strategic plan

Wish List

More affordable housing and more transitional supports for families exiting shelters

More community prevention resources

Better paying jobs, quality education, and better community supports for families

System Wide Housing First: The Columbus Experience

Barbara PoppeCommunity Shelter Boardwww.csb.org

Presented at The National Conference on Ending Family HomelessnessFebruary 9, 2007

Oakland, CaliforniaSponsored by the National Alliance to End Homelessness