San Diego “Crosswalk” Process for Permanent

Supportive Housing

Tricia Tasto LevienSenior Program Manager

Corporation for Supportive HousingMarch 9, 2011www.csh.org

San Diego County MHSA Housing Program Background

$33 million dollars ($22 capital/$11 operating) Full Service Partnerships

– Community Research Foundation– Mental Health Systems, Inc.– Heritage Clinic– Providence Community Services

Target Populations – Adults– Older Adults– Adults (justice system)– Transition Age Youth

San Diego County MHSA Housing Program Background

Goals: Develop 241 units of housing; Lease 115 units of housing

Current Status: 190 units in development pipeline; 421 clients are in leased housing being subsidized by local County MHSA dollars.

One development is currently leased-up - Townspeople, Inc. 34th Street Apartments.

Two other developments will open by end of 2011 – Squier Properties/REOM’s Cedar Gateway and Father Joe’s Villages’ 15th and Commercial.

San Diego “Crosswalk” Committees

The County of San Diego Mental Health Services Administration recognized the need for a high level of coordination between all involved parties in order to ensure effective MHSA housing program implementation.

The Crosswalk Committees have been meeting regularly since fall 2010 to plan and discuss issues related to successful lease-up and operations of MHSA permanent supportive housing developments.

San Diego “Crosswalk” Committees

The “Crosswalk” Committees, much like a pedestrian crosswalk, were originally formed with the intention of assisting developers and service providers as they transition clients from their current living situations to permanent supportive housing.

Over time, the Committees have expanded to focus on all aspects of preparing for lease-up.

The Committees meet on a monthly basis and include representation from developer; service provider; property management; and County and their technical housing consultant the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

San Diego “Crosswalk Committees”

There are currently three Crosswalk Committees underway

Name Developer MHSA Units

Total Units

Target Population

Expected Opening

34th Street Townspeople 5 34 Homeless Adults with HIV/AIDS

December 2010

Cedar Gateway

Squier Properties/ROEM

23 65 Adults/Older Adults

October 2011

15th and Commercial

Father Joe’s Villages

25 65 Adults/Older Adults

December 2011

San Diego Crosswalk Meeting Topics

Meeting topics include, but are not limited to, the following areas: – Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) – Tenant Selection and Screening– Planning for Services– Community Building– Marketing and Communications– Capitalized Operating Subsidy Process– Community Art– Grand Opening– Retail Space (for those w/ retail)– Community Outreach – Client/Tenant Input

As we identify other topic areas, we add it to the list of topic areas.

San Diego Crosswalk Meeting Topics

The meetings are approximately 1 ½ hours in length. Each month’s meeting focuses on one or two main topic areas.

Topic areas are discussed in order of importance related to timelines. – MOA – 120 days prior to lease-up– Supportive Services Budget – 120 days prior to

lease-up– Marketing – 90 days prior to lease-up

At the end of each meeting, we discuss follow-up and topic(s) for next month’s meeting.

San Diego Crosswalk Committee Meetings – Work Plan Matrix

A work plan matrix has been designed that includes topic areas, meeting dates, and important timelines.

Matrix also includes a section on follow-up items and a “parking lot” section.

The parking lot section is used as a way to note questions or discussions that are important but are tabled for discussion at a later date.

San Diego Crosswalk Committee Meetings – Work Plan Matrix

KeyTask/ Meeting Focus Area

1/11 2/11 3/11

Memorandum of Agreement

All parties to review MOA; Provide feedback

Incorporate feedback. Finalize MOA

Send to County Counsel; execute MOA

Tenant Selection and Screening

PM to share draft tenant screening process

FSPs to bring information on clients criminal histories

Finalize tenant screening process

Planning for Services

Review draft supportive services budget

Marketing and Communications

Review draft marketing flyer

Follow-up Items

Parking Lot

Crosswalk Committee Meeting Binders

Contact List Meeting Agendas Meeting Notes Memorandum of Agreement Work Plan Planning Matrix Tenant Certification and Referral Process Tenant Screening and Selection Tenant Screening Matrix

Tenant Screening Matrix

Client Criminal Rental Notes Preliminary Screening

#1 Felony drug charge in 1999. Client’s guilty plea was changed to a dismissal in 2002

Resides at ABC apartments since 2008 Pays rent on time.

Would like to return to the downtown area

Yes, b/c it was dismissed

#2 Two felony drug convictions (1992 & 1993); two misdemeanor convictions (2005 & 2006)

Resides at DEF apartment since 2010.

Clean and sober for 5+ years. Volunteers for Narcotics Anonymous.

Would need a reasonable accommodation for one of the misdemeanor convictions.

#3 Federal conviction of drug trafficking in 1996

Resides at GEH SRO since 2007

Drug and alcohol free for last five years. Held job for last 9 months.

No, due to drug trafficking conviction

Crosswalk Meeting Benefits

Create atmosphere of collaboration early-on. Develop policies and procedures together Manage workload over time. Prioritize tasks in order of importance. Anticipate potential issues earlier in the process Establish tasks and delineate responsibilities.

Share workload amongst all parties (Developer, FSPs, PM, County, etc.).

Establish common “vision” for development (esp. important for mixed-tenancy developments).

Lessons Learned

You can never begin planning early enough. Focus on meeting topic. As other items arise,

table for future discussion. Prioritize what needs to happen first in order to

meet established timeframes. Important to have management input and

approval at the beginning. Take meeting notes and summarize follow-up for

everyone. Establish deadlines and accountability to meet

those deadlines.

San Diego MHSA Housing Program

For more information, http://www.sandiego.networkofcare.org/mh/CountyContent/San-Diego/Housing.cfm.

San Diego County Mental Health Services Administration, Kevine Ky, Administrative Analyst to Dr. Piedad Garcia, (619) 563-2703, Kevine.Ky@sdcounty.ca.gov.

CSH San Diego – Tricia Tasto Levien, (619) 232-1982, tricia.levien@csh.org.