Homelessness Prevention: A Case Study from Montgomery ...
Transcript of Homelessness Prevention: A Case Study from Montgomery ...
Today’s Panelists
Emma HertzMontgomery County Department of Housing
and Community Development
Barbara PoppeBarbara Poppe & Associates
Russell JohnsonHealthSpark Foundation
HealthSpark– Whoweare
Private,independentfoundationformedin2002Oneofnearly50hospitalconversionfoundationsinPennsylvaniaAssets:$42million AverageAnnualGiving: $1.8millionGeographicFocus:MontgomeryCounty,PennsylvaniaMission:
HealthSparkFoundationinvestsinsystemschangeopportunitiesinMontgomeryCounty,Pennsylvaniatoenhanceconsumeraccessandleveragepublicandprivateresourcespromotingqualityoutcomes.
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HealthSpark– Howwedoourwork?
Convene Community“Crowdsourcingevents”;focusgroups;taskforces;learningcircles,etc.
Advocate Throughourmembershiporganizations
Partner Activelyseekfundingpartnerships
Investinresearchandcapacitybuildingopportunities
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MontgomeryCounty,Pennsylvania
OneoffoursuburbancountiessurroundingCityofPhiladelphiaSecondwealthiestcountyinPennsylvania• Medianhouseholdincome:$83,254• Medianpropertyvalue:$299,700• 72.5%ofhousingunitsareowneroccupied• Averagemonthlyrentalis$1,211fora2BRapartment;and$1,003fora1BRapartment.
• Populationof875,000people• Povertyrate:6.6%• Ranked#1byCountyHealthRankingsforHealthFactors;#4forHealthOutcomes
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HowHealthSparkgotinvolvedinHomelessness
CommunityNeedsassessmenthighlightedthehousing/homelesssystemdifficulttoaccessandnavigateRespondedtoafaith-basedshelterproviderwhoaskedforsupporttofigureouthowtoimproveaccessandoutcomesTherequestalignedwithourmission– improveaccess&promotequalityoutcomesThatwas2007!
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ExamplesofHealthSparkInvestments
SituationalAnalysisofExistingPrograms/ServicesNationalscanofpromisingorbestpracticesSitevisittoAlamedaCounty– HousingResourceCentermodelPilotstolearnaboutcoordinatedentry,strengths-basedengagementandotherevidence-basedservicemodelsCommunity/systemcapacitybuildinggrantsBuildingavisionforapublic/privatepartnershipCreatedafundercollaborativeofpooledfundsSupporteddevelopmentofafive-yearstrategicplan
….AllledtothelaunchofYourWayHomeMontgomeryCountyin2014
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WhatisYourWayHome?
• Thecounty’sunifiedandcoordinatedhousingcrisisresponsesystemforfamiliesandindividualsexperiencinghomelessnessoratimminentriskofhomelessness.
• Embracesa“housingfirst”approach– firsthelpingpeoplefindormaintainpermanenthousingwithstabilityandthenconnectingthemwithcommunity,health,human,andfinancialservicestheyneedtopreventfutureexperiencesofhomelessness.
• Coordinatedentryprioritizesrapidre-housinganddiversionservicesbasedonvulnerabilityandneed.
• Unifieddatasystem• Dedicatedcountystaffmanagesthesystem
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WhyIsYWHImportanttoHealthSpark?
It’sasystemschangeinitiative–alignedwithourinterestsincapacitybuilding
YWHisapublic/privatepartnershipformallylaunchedin2014tomaketheexperienceofhomelessnessbrief,rareandnon-recurring.
YWHvaluesareHousingFirst,progressiveengagement,strength-basedpracticesandequity.
Amajorshiftinpracticethatevolvedwasprioritizationtoservethemostvulnerablefirst– theformersystemoperatedonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.
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YWHisaHealthSparkSystemandProvider-levelCapacityBuildingInvestment
BeforeYWHlaunched,providersdidnotuseanyevidence-basedcasemanagementtoolsThecommunitydidnothavealotofdataorusedatatopredictormodelhowservicetothemostvulnerablemightwork(ornot)PilotprojectstotestnewconceptsBuildthelocalfieldoflearningaboutemergingindustrytrendsHostsitevisitsSupportconferenceattendanceandtrainingopportunitiesSupportthelaunchofaunifiedandcoordinatedentrysystem
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WhyAPreventionStudy
Providers,consumersandotherscomplainedthesystemwasnotresponsivetoeveryone’sneeds/issues.Theyasked,“Where’stheinvestmentinprevention?”HMISdatasuggestedusingpublicfundstopaybackrenttoavoidevictiondidnotprevententryintothesystemsothispracticewasended.Ourpublic/privatepartnershiphadnoclearpathforwardYWHstartedtoexplorehowothercommunitiesweredevelopingevictionpreventionpracticesandsimilar‘upstreamsolutions’.HealthSparkreturnedtoaprovenlocalstrategytostudytheopportunitiesthroughanationalscanof“bestpractices”
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YWH– PreventionStudy
HealthSpark&YWHstaffdevelopedanRFPtoinform:• Policy&practice• IdentifypotentialsourcesoffundingtosupportpreventionworkPartneredwithFTEHtoidentify8expertsReceivedfourproposals;threedeclined;onedidnotrespondAsanindependentcontractingentity,thecountyavoidedaneedtofollownormalprocurementprotocols
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YWH– PreventionStudyMechanics
CoreteamoflocalstakeholdersservedasaprojectsteeringcommitteeHealthSparkcontributed‘othersystemperspectives’includingfoodsecurity,education,jobtraining,andhealthtothediscussionsLotscommunicationstobuild“goodwill”amongYWHproviders,fundersandotherstakeholdersHealthSparkhostedaninformaleveningwiththeconsultantandotherYWHphilanthropicpartnerstonurtureinvestmentdiscussionstosupportapilotpreventionproject
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EvictionandHomelessnessPreventionBestandPromisingPractices- 2017
NATIONALSCANANDEMERGINGVISION
March2018
poppeassociates.com
Barbara Poppe and associatesThe collective for impact
ATimelyTopic Race,Gender,andChildren
Almosthalfofthecity’sevictionstookplaceinpredominantlyblackinner-cityneighborhoods,whereonerenter-occupiedhouseholdin14wasevictedannually.
Inblackneighborhoods,womenweremorethantwiceaslikelytobeevictedasmen.
Neighborhoodswithagreaterproportionofchildrenhavemoreevictions,evenaftercontrollingfortheirpovertyrate,racialcomposition,percentageoffemale- headedhouseholds,andanumberofotherfactors.
Ifatenantliveswithchildren,herorhisoddsofreceivinganevictionjudgmentalmosttriple,evenaftertakingintoaccounthowmuchisowedtothelandlord,householdincome,andseveralotherkeyfactors.
Consequences ofEviction
Evictionalmostalwaysleadstoincreasedresidentialinstabilityandhomelessness,aswellastoadownwardmove:arelocationtoadisadvantagedneighborhoodand/ortosubstandardhousing
Familieslosemanyoftheirpossessions– includingbedsandfurniture-- afterbeingevicted
TargetingResources– byriskcategory
Greatestriskofhomelessnessà diversion +ongoinghousingsupports
Atimmimentriskofevictionà legalandsocialservices+housingsupports
Housinginstability– multipleriskfactorsàprevention+housingsupports
Housinginsecureà housingsupports
Universeofhouseholdswhoareatriskofhomelessnessare:§ payingmorethan½incomeforhousing§ vulnerabletofinancialcrisis§ livinginsharedhousing
Homelessness
Courtsystem•Eviction•Jail•Prison
Childwelfaresystem
•Ageoutoffostercare•Atriskfamilies
Healthcare system
•ER•Treatment•Hospital•Detox
TargetingResources– bysegmentinginflowfromsystems
Key Terms:Homelessness Prevention: is a range of types of assistance that is aimed at helping households avoid eviction or homelessness.
Diversion: is a type of targeted homelessness prevention assistance aimed at helping households stay safely in current housing or, if that is not possible, move to other housing without requiring a shelter stay first. Priority is given to households who are most likely to be admitted to shelters or be unsheltered if not for this assistance.
Mythoughts:anemergingpremise
Ifyouhaveahighfunctioningcrisisresponsesystem(effectiveatdiversion,targeting/matchinginterventions,withmostlysuccessfulexitstostablehousing)thathasdemonstratedresults(lowunshelteredanddecliningannualPITcount)
Lookupsteamanddetermineopportunity(ies)forprevention(homelessnessand/oreviction)§ Whataregreatestneeds?§ Whatpopulationsaremostlikelytobecomehomeless?§ Whichpopulationsaremostcostlyiftheydobecomehomeless?§ Whereisthereenergyandinterestforvulnerablepopulations?§ Whatimpactsmightcreatepoliticalwill?§ Arethereanyfinancialresourcesorpartnershipsthatmightcoalesce?§ Howwillwemeasureimpact?
Housingstabilityistheprimarygoalofhomelessnessprevention.
Upstreampreventionstrategies
§Affordablehousingcampaign– preserveandcreatenewaffordablerentalhousingforextremelylowincomehouseholds
§Broad-basedemergencyfinancialassistanceandservices
§Court-basedevictionprevention
§Publichousingevictionprevention
§Universalscreenerwithtargetedpreventionservices
§Targethighcostandvulnerablepeople§ Frequentusersofjail,hospitals,detox,etc.§ Supportyouthtransitioningfromfostercare§ Supportelderlyhouseholdstostayinhomeviahomemodificationandhome-basedservices
§Targetvulnerablechildrenandfamilies§ Publicandassistedhousingevictionpreventionservices§ Schoolbasedsupports§ Trainfamilyandchildproviderstoprovidehousingstabilizationservice
Community-wide
Highly-targeted
YourWayHome,MontgomeryCounty,PACONTEXTUALINFORMATION
§ YourWayHomeisfunctioningwell– reducingoverallhomelessness,excellentdiversionoutcomes,strongcross-sectorcollaboration
§ PopulationwhoexperienceshomelessnessisdisproportionatelyBlackorAfricanAmerican andareusually familieswithchildren.
§ Twozipcodesrepresentover60%ofevictions
§ 683childrenwerehomelessundertheEducationdefinitionandservedbyMontgomeryCountyschools.
CONCEPTS
1) Service-connectedhouseholdstoleverageunifiedMontgomeryCountyhumanservices
a) Broadbasedscreenforriskofhomelessnessb) Targeted,e.g.youthtransitionfromfoster
care,frailelderly,etc.
2) Courtandlegalservicesmodels:evictioncourt,housingcourt,legalaid–geographicallytargeted
3) Programsforfamiliesthatareidentifiedbyschools-- geographicallytargeted
Phase1:LocalContext
Phase2:NationalScan
Phase3:FocusIdeas
FeedbackfromKey
Stakeholders
Phase4:TestIdeas LaunchPilots
Programsforfamiliesthatareidentifiedbyschools
Keys:◦ Partnershipwithschoolstohelpchildrensucceedacademically
◦ Comprehensiveapproach
◦ Two-Generationservices(2-Gen)
Challenge:inadequateincomeandlackofaffordablerentalhousingComponents:
SelectionCriteria:
Ø FocusonMcKinney-Ventoeligiblestudents(homelessperEDdefinition)
Ø Lowbarriereligibility(i.e.incomenotrequired)
Ø Stronghousingstabilityoutcomes
Communitiesselected:
• GreaterCincinnati,OH/KY
• GreaterPhoenix,AZ
§ Casemanagement
§ Schoolservices
§ Housingrelocation
§ Emergencyfinancialassistance
§ Employment,incomeandbenefits
§ Moneymanagement
§ Referralsforlegalrepresentation
Service-connectedhouseholds–screenforriskofhomelessness
•U.S.DepartmentofVeteransAffairs (VA)developeda“universalscreener”toidentifyVeteranshousinginstabilityamongthosewhoaccessedVAhealthcare.VeteranswhowereassessedashousingunstablewerereferredtospecializedVAhomelesspreventionservices.
•LosAngelesCountyTheEconomicRoundtabledevelopedrecommendationsforscreeningandassessment,“tripwires”,andtimelyservicesthatincludeemploymentandpreventionassistancebasedonacomprehensiveevaluationofdataonhouseholdsreceivingpublicassistance.Thereviewincludeddataonhealth,mentalhealth,justicesystem,education,childwelfare,andlabormarketoutcomes.Therecommendationswerenot implemented.
•NewYorkCity– NYUSchoolofMedicineisconductingcross-systemcollaborationtodevelopahomelessnesspreventionscreeningtoolforemergencydepartmentpatients• Otherhealthscreeners:Children’sHealthWatch developedaHungerVital Signsscreener.
Courtandlegalservicesmodels:evictioncourt,housingcourt,legalaid
Keystosuccess:◦ Courtpartnershipwithservicesbasedincourthouse◦ Immediateintervention◦ Preventfuturerecurrence
Components:
Communitiesreviewed:•Baltimore,MD
•Cleveland,OH•Columbus,OH
•Bronx,NY•Portland,ME
•Washington,DC
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§Courtpromotesservicesandprocess
§Legalrepresentation§ LawyerfortheDay§ LegalAid
§Tenantinformationandeducation
§Mediation
§Emergencyfinancialassistance
§Incomeandbenefits
§Moneymanagement
§Addressinghousingconditions§ Coordinationwithcodeenforcement
§ Addresshomerepairs
§Processimprovements
¡ Your Way Home is the county’s public-private partnership to end homelessness, and the county’s unified homeless crisis response system
¡ Partnership structure§ Your Way Home Advisory Council§ Lead public agency- Montgomery County Office of Housing and Community Development§ Lead private agency- Montgomery County Foundation; holds the Your Way Home Initiative
Fund
¡ Impact§ Since 2014, Your Way Home has reduced homelessness by 37% (from 464 persons
counted during the Point in Time Count in 2013 to 292 persons counted in 2018)§ 80%+ success rate in diversion§ 2,000 people served in Your Way Home system annually
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ABOUT YOUR WAY HOME
Project concept: Provide free, l imited legal representation and social services to tenants facing eviction in a geographically-targeted area of the county.
Key partners: ¡ local Bar Association and Foundation¡ Legal Aid¡ Court administration¡ Social services partner
Project budget:$130,000 for 6 six month pilot project to serve 120 households
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COURT-BASED EVICTION PREVENTION PROJECT
Your Way Home Montgomery County 30
FROM IDEA TO IMPLEMENTATION
Learn & adapt
Project launch
Obtain funding
Identify & design project
components
Develop shared vision
Identify partners &
recruit champions
Legal representation¡Pro bono services provided
by volunteers¡Bar Association recruits,
trains, and organizes volunteers
¡Free CLE’s offered for lawyers who sign up for 1 shift
Social services¡Case manager provides
intake & assessment¡Housing Stability Plans &
Budgets¡Distributes financial
assistance if appropriate¡Follow-up for 30 days
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KEY COMPONENTS OF PROJECT
Your Way Home Montgomery County 32
“PEOPLE IN HIS POSITION OFTEN GET STEAMROLLED.THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE HEARD IN A JUST-FASHION –IT GIVES THEM A FAIR SHAKE.”
- VOLUNTEER LAWYER
• Tenant entered court with a $5,000 judgement against him and his family of six.
• Tenant was undocumented and spoke little English.
• Pro-bono lawyer learned the tenant was forced to move out due to uninhabitable living conditions. Upon further review, the lawyer realized the lease was invalid – there was no case against this tenant.
• Judge dismissed the judgement against the tenant and his family and saved them from paying $5,000 and a black mark on their record.
OUR IMPACT
Whatistheroleofphilanthropyinpreventionwork?REFLECTIONS
Barbara Poppe and associatesThe collective for impact
Beacatalystforprevention
Catalyticphilanthropistsshould,“gatherknowledgeabouttheproblemtheyaretacklingandusethisknowledgetoinformtheirownactionsandmotivatetheactionsofothers.Makingknowledgeactionablerequiresmorethanjustgatheringandreportingdata.Theinformationmustalsocarryemotionalappealtocapturepeople’sattentionandpracticalrecommendationsthatcaninspirethemtoaction.”
Kramer,2009,https://ssir.org/articles/entry/catalytic_philanthropy
Convening◦ Mobilizekeycommunityleaderswhowillbenecessaryforsuccess.◦ PreventionrequirespartnershipsbeyondtheexistentCoCpartnersandphilanthropycanopenthedoortonewpartnerships.
◦ Offertoconvenecross-sectorkeyleadersonbehalfoftheCoCtoparticipate.◦ Engagepublicsectorleaders,especiallythosethattheCoChasnotbeenabletocultivateandengage.
◦ Hostcommunityconversationsandforumstoexplorefindingsandgatherinput.Engagepublicleadersintheseevents.Offerpracticalwaysthatallcanparticipate.
◦ Conveneotherfunderstoengagethecommunitydialogueabouttheneedforhomelessnesspreventionandsolutions.Thesecanbebothinformal,socialgatheringstomorehighlystructuredeventswithformalpresentations.
◦ Createafunderscollaborative.
Advocacy◦ Encouragepublic-sectorparticipationinadministrativedatamatchingtousedatafrommultiplesystemsofcaretoidentifywherepeoplewhobecomehomelesscomefrom,whatservicestheyuse,whattypesofhouseholdstheyare.
◦ Researchpromisingbestpracticesandevidenced-basedtoolsandsharethisinformationwiththeCoCandpolicymakers.
◦ Investinandencourageotherphilanthropicpartnerstoinvestinhousingstabilizationsupports,rentalassistance,andlegalservicesandsupportthecostsofthepilotevaluation.
◦ Offerpublictestimonyabouttheneedsandsolutions.◦ Philanthropycanholdthelineontheneedtoberesponsiblefor“results”notjust“feel-good”work.Preventionrequiresadatadisciplinedapproachtobeensureeffectivenessandefficiency.
Partnership◦ CommitseniorstafftimetoworkwiththeCoCleadershipandtoparticipateintheprojectplanningandimplementationphases.Beanactiveandsupportivepartnerandthoughtleader.
◦ WorkwiththeCoCtounderstandhowwellthehomelesscrisisresponsesystemiscurrentlyfunctioningonkeyperformancemeasures.Reviewcurrentdiversionassistancepracticestobesurethatitiswidelyavailableforthosewhoatgreatestriskofimminenthomelessness.
◦ Identifylocal,regionalandnationalexpertswhoseworkmayhelpinformtheCoCofopportunities.
Funding◦ Allocategeneraloperatingsupport,service/programandcapacity-buildinggrantstoorganizationsworkingtodeepenimpactaround“upstream”prevention.
◦ Supportanexternalsystemreview.◦ Investinandrequireanoutcomedrivenevaluationforpilotproject(s).◦ Issuematchinggrantchallenges.◦ InvestinandsupportHMISandcommunitydatareviewsandthedisseminationoffindingstodeterminegreatestneedsandpotentialforimpact.
Upcoming Opportunities to Learn & Engage
Book Talk: Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law
April 41pm EST/ 10am PST
For more information: Stephanie Chan– [email protected]