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1
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
2
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
3
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)
4
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
5
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
6
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
7
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
8
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 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
12
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
13
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
14
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.
15
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’
16
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)
17
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
18
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
19
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
20
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
21
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.
22
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.
23
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
25
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
26
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