HEADING HOME:Kitsap Homeless Housing Plan

2008 Update

Kitsap RegionalCoordinating Council

Context

• National movement to address homelessness, specifically chronic homelessness

• WA State legislation:

–2060: Affordable Housing for All

–2163: Homeless Housing Assistance Act

Homeless Housing Assistance Act

• Grant Program

• Homeless Housing Plan

• Homeless Management Information System

Homeless Housing Assistance Act

• Grant Program– Approve funding priorities– Appoint Application Review Committee– Make grant awards

• Homeless Management Information System– Oversee program implementation and progress

• Homeless Housing Plan– Approve plan to send to CTED

KRCC Role

Kitsap’s Homeless Housing Plan

• 1st draft approved by KRCC Board in December 2005

• 2nd Draft approved in July 2006

• Both written by Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition Committees

• 1st Plan Update in 2008 ~ not required by CTED, but needed to address evolving situation

• Drafted by Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition Committee

• Approved by KCCC for recommendation to KRCC

• KRCC Board approval for submitting to CTED

Updating the Plan

• KCCC convened Plan Update Committee• Reviewed 2006 Plan• Gathered Input

– Homeless• Point In Time Count Survey of Homeless Focus Groups

– Kitsap Stakeholders• Kitsap Homelessness Summit Kitsap Continuum of Care

Coalition

– Sub-Population Work Groups• Youth Re-Entry from Institution

– Other Counties• Guest speakers Successful programs Other Counties’ plans

Summit on Homelessness Planned Kitsap Sun, 9/6/08

Updating the Plan

• Survey of Existing Homeless Housing• Clarified uses of plan:

– Blueprint for Implementation– Tool for Advocacy– Reference for Funders

• Culled & crunched data• Developed plan principles, objectives &

strategies• Approval from Kitsap Continuum of Care

Coalition

Format of plan:• Concise• Accessible• On-going value as reference tool

Homelessness in Kitsap

2008 Homeless Point In Time Count results:• 707 homeless people counted• Less than half are served by current facilities:

~ 85 in Emergency Shelters and ~ 200 in Transitional Housing

• 260 are “temporarily couch-surfing” with friends or family

• 150 living unsheltered on the streets, in the woods, or in their vehicles

Advocates: For the Hundreds of Kitsap Homeless, Too Few Beds Kitsap Sun, 9/11/08

Homelessness in Kitsap

Homeless Survey, Focus Group results:• 1 in 5 are children under 18 • 2/3 of counted were homeless for < 1 month• 100+ are chronically homeless• Top reasons for homelessness:

– Poor credit– Alcohol/drug abuse– Job loss

• Poor physical & mental health are common

Poulsbo Sees Rise in Homeless Numbers

Kitsap Sun, 1/6/09

Key Action Areas

1. Increase the efficiency of the housing system through data collection, planning and advocacy

2. Prevent homelessness3. Increase all types of low-income

housing with services4. Provide supportive services for all

homeless populations5. Focus on under-served homeless

populations

Key Strategies

1. Increase the efficiency of the housing system through data collection, planning and advocacy

• Leadership Task Force on Homelessness • Quarterly Indicators of Homelessness• Homeless Management Information System• Strategic Analysis of Funding Sources• Coordinated Waitlist / Coordinated Intake System• Community Outreach & Education Committee

2. Prevent homelessness• Gap Assistance: mortgage assistance, utilities

assistance, transportation assistance, food assistance

• Eviction Prevention

Key Strategies

3. Increase all types of low-income housing with services

• Innovative solutions to emergency shelter• Maintain existing funding sources• Develop new funding sources• Evaluate and remove unnecessary regulatory

barriers4. Provide supportive services for all homeless

populations• Expand wide range of supportive services to meet

needs of all homeless populations

Parking Spaces Set Aside for Kitsap’s Homeless At Night Kitsap Sun, 1/10/09

5. Focus on under-served homeless populations• Youth shelter, outreach & services• Re-Entry planning, housing & services• Chronic homeless housing & services

Key Strategies

These are a sample of the Strategies outlined in the Kitsap Homeless Housing Plan.

Implementation Steps

• Form Leadership Task Force on Homelessness– Lead community-wide implementation of Plan– Set annual Plan priorities

• Homeless Management Information System • Community Outreach and Education

Committee effort• Strategic Analysis of Funding Sources• Explore innovative solutions

Recommended Reading

• Breakfast at Sally’s by Richard Lemieux

KRCC Executive Board

Comments & Questions?

Requested Board Action: Approve Kitsap Homeless Housing Plan 2008 Update.