Working With Your Public Housing Authority

The Lancaster County Pennsylvania Experience

Our Community

• County of 450,000• City of Lancaster: 60,000 person

situated in the middle of Lancaster County

• Very diversified population (from very rural Mennonite/Amish communities to a large concentration of Latino’s in the city)

Lancaster County, PA:Two Housing Authorities

• Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities– 861 Tenant Based Section 8 Vouchers

• As of January 2006, 714 households on waiting list for voucher

• Lancaster City Housing Authority– 806 Tenant Based Section 8 Vouchers

• As of January 2006, 508 households on waiting list

– 566 units of Public Housing• 969 on waiting list

Local PHA Partnerships

• Both PHA’s historically have jointly worked together with the social service community– Joint contract between both authorities

and Tabor Community Services since 2000 to provide Family Self Sufficiency Program

– Joint contract with Tabor Community Services since 2003 to provide the Section 8 Homeownership Voucher Program

– These successful relationships were used to build on for larger homeless network

Partnering with the Lancaster Interagency Council on

Homelessness• Homeless Preference with both

PHA’s• Shelter Plus Care: Lancaster City

Housing Authority • Project Based Section 8 for

Supportive Housing Projects

Partnering with the Lancaster ICHHomeless Preference

• Authorities can establish local preferences as part of their administrative plan

• ICH identified key persons for a joint discussion– Both PHA Executive Directors– Section 8 Program Coordinators– Continuum of Care Chair– Tabor Community Services Staff (already

established a trust relationship)

Homeless Preference• State your case:

– How will it help the community– How you will work together

• Be realistic about what is doable– What is the current overall availability

• Be aware of their concerns and issues and prepared with viable solutions– Who will take what responsibility

• Build on existing partnerships/programs– Gives credibility and trust that it can work

• Invite them to be part of the larger organization (ICH)– Staff are aware of the larger homeless system

A Successful Preference since June 2001

• 20% of all available voucher from both authorities given to homeless persons

• Referrals must come from pre-approved organizations

• Referring organization accepts responsibility to verify homeless eligibility and keep referral information current

• Required one year of follow-up services from referring organization

Initial concerns that were addressed

• Concern: how is this fair to those who are on a waiting list?– Solution: Cap of 20%

• Concern: will this be unmanageable– Solution: Set clear guidelines and eligibility

• Concern: who do we go to with problems?– Solution: Establish who is the point person

• Concern: will this mean more work when we are overworked already?– Solution: Referring agencies are responsible to

screen for eligibility• Concern: what if this doesn’t work?

– Solution: Regular evaluation/ Good Communication

Partnering with the Lancaster ICHShelter Plus Care

• 20 Slots available through the City• Administered by the PHA • Referrals must come from pre-approved

agencies who qualify for eligibility• Referring Agency is responsible to ensure

provision of supportive services• Continuum of Care Subcommittee of ICH assists

in monitoring the supportive services• Meet regularly with PHA to ensure ongoing

communication and program continuation

Partnering with the Lancaster ICHProject Based Section 8

• Local continuum has 4 Permanent SHP projects

• Both PHA’s are providing Project Based Section 8 for the SHP Units– 22 County SRO units covered– 16 City units (8 SRO, 5 2BR, 3 1BR) under

development

Lessons Learned

• Start with reasonable partnerships• Build on existing relationships• Focus on the success of the first partnership to

build trust, then continue to build programs/partnerships

• Service Partners need to take primary responsibility to continue projects

• Good communication is key• Regular review and evaluation on a pre-planned

schedule

Final Thoughts

• Find the win/wins

• Look for common goals

• Build good relationships

• Communicate, communicate, communicate

Happy Partnering!!

• Kay Moshier McDivitt• Director of Housing

Counseling• Tabor Community

Services, Inc.• 308 East King Street, PO

Box 1676• Lancaster, PA 17608-

1676• kmmcdivitt@tabornet.org• 717-397-5182, ext 120