Effective Strategies for Outreach to the Street and Abandoned Buildings

Angela Patterson, Deputy DirectorKaty Quigley, Outreach

July 15, 2011

UNITY of Greater New Orleans

• UNITY of Greater New Orleans is a nonprofit organization leading a coalition of 60 organizations providing housing and services for the homeless. Our mission is to coordinate community partnerships to prevent, reduce and end homelessness in the New Orleans area.

• In addition to raising and distributing funds to support our member organizations’ work, UNITY conducts homeless outreach on the streets and in abandoned buildings, rehabs apartment buildings, helps the public locate affordable housing, and advocates for public policy to prevent and reduce homelessness.

Housing and Services Provided by the CoC

Supportive Services

Permanent Supportive

Housing

Transitional Housing

Emergency Shelters

Homeless Prevention/

Rapid Rehousing

Safe Haven for Women

Outreach

Crisis Line/Information Referral

Case Management

Employment Assistance

Medical Care

Mental Health Services

Day Program

Substance Abuse Treatment

HIV/AIDS Services

Domestic Violence Services

Legal Services

Youth Drop-In Center

Day Care for Children

Transportation

Housing Search

Supportive Services:

Homelessness TodayComprehensive Estimate of Homelessness Feb. 2011

• Homelessness remains a huge problem in New Orleans, 5 ½ years after Katrina.

• 9,165 persons meeting the HUD definition of homelessness (including people facing imminent eviction or discharge from institutions) in Orleans and Jefferson Parish on any given night. An additional 1,603 persons residing in Permanent Supportive Housing.

• 6,687 Core Homeless Persons – persons residing in places not meant for human habitation, emergency shelters and transitional housing.

• 70% increase in homelessness since Hurricane Katrina.

Homelessness in New Orleans: Large-Scale Homeless Camps

• Between Nov. 2007 and July 2008, 452 people housed from two large squalid homeless camps in the heart of downtown New Orleans – a national record.

• 975 different individuals documented who lived in one or both of these camps.

• 64% said they came from an abandoned building

• In 2011, homelessness no longer concentrated in downtown as it was before Katrina – now it is spread across the city, with Central City the largest “hot spot.”

Homelessness in New Orleans: Abandoned Buildings

• Random sample survey Feb. 2011: Estimated 4,767 homeless persons residing in abandoned buildings on any given night.

• 38,382 abandoned residential and commercial buildings.

• 75% are Katrina survivors.

Abandoned Building Outreach

We are the only outreach team in the nation to send its outreach workers, armed only with flashlights, into abandoned buildings in the middle of the

night to find and rescue severely disabled homeless people.

Where People Sleep When They Have Nowhere Else to Live

Homelessness in New Orleans: Five Factors Causing Post-K Homelessness

1. Devastation of Rental Stock2. Escalating Rents3. Physical and Mental Health

Trauma4. Loss of Healthcare

Infrastructure5. Loss of Extended Family and

Neighborhood Supports

By the Numbers

$674 SSI monthly check for a disabled person in Louisiana. There is no state supplement to SSI in Louisiana.

$850 2011 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for 1 bedroom apartment in New Orleans. Pre – Katrina, FMR for a 1 bedroom apartment was $578.

47% Percentage that rents have increased since Hurricane Katrina.

66% Percentage of persons who are rent-burdened in New Orleans. Highest percentage in the country.

2011 Point in Time Count DataCore Homeless

Emergency Shelter

Transitional Housing

Streets Abandoned Buildings

459 375597

4679

116363

10 88

Individuals Persons in Families

2011 Point in Time Count DataHomeless Veterans

Emer

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Tran

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Stre

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Aban

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50 45 90

330

515

UNITY’s Abandoned Building Outreach Strategies

• Who: Strength in Diversity

• What: Systematic and Responsive Outreach

• Where: Geographic and Structural Challenges

• Why: Targeting the must Vulnerable

• When: Unique Times for Unique Circumstances

• Safety: Things to Keep in Mind

Who: Strength in Diversity

• Eight trained and committed Outreach Workers with many skill sets.

• Four are tasked with primary responsibility to work with men and women who are living within some of the 38,000 abandoned buildings in New Orleans.

• All have experienced homelessness for a period of time post-Katrina.

What: Systematic and Responsive Outreach

• Primary Mission• Vulnerability

Index• Systematic

Searches• Responsive

Searches

What: Geographical and Structural Challenges

The types of abandoned structures where we have found people:• Residences• Factories• Churches• Hospitals• Schools• Hotels• Retail Establishments• Private and Government Offices• Abandoned Amusement Parks

and Bowling Alleys

Homeless Within Their Own Homes: The Reyes Brothers

Why: Targeting the Most Vulnerable

• 87% of persons living in abandoned buildings have some Mental Health or Physical Disability

When: Unique Times for Unique Circumstances

Daytime Abandoned Buildings Outreach• Search buildings• Structural Challenges• Safety Concerns• Global Neighborhood Issues• Leaving Indicators

Night Time Abandoned Buildings Outreach

• HMIS• Vulnerability Index• Releases of Information• PSH/HPRP/SRO/VASH applications as

appropriate• Identity Documentation

Safety: Things to Keep in Mind

• Team Approach• Right Equipment• Day/Night Contacts• Leaving Identifying

Information• Use of Identifying

Clothing

Remaining Need for Resources

• Additional Outreach funding• More PSH housing • More Rapid Rehousing• Safe Haven/Low Shelter threshold options• SRO’s• Wet Beds• Hotel Vouchers for immediate Safety

Contact Information

Angela PattersonDeputy Directorapatterson@unitygno.org

Katy QuigleyAbandoned Buildings Outreachkquigley@unitygno.org

www.unitygno.orgwww.unityhousinglink.orgwww.facebook.com/UNITYGNO