HUD And USICH: Core Principles Of Housing First And Rapid Re-Housing .

HUD and USICH: Core Principles of HousingFirst and Rapid Re-Housing WebinarJuly 22, 2014

Goals for Today’s DiscussionTo provide an overview of the HousingFirst approach and its effectiveness inending homelessnessTo provide an overview of a Rapid Rehousing model2

Presenters Ann Oliva– U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentCommunity Planning and Development Office of SpecialNeeds Assistance Program (HUD CPD/SNAPS) Richard Cho– U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) Lindsay Knotts– U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)3

Today’s Webinar Webinar will last 90 minutes Approximately 30 minutes have been reserved at the endof the webinar for Q&A Audience members who would like to pose a questioncan do so at any time through the “Question” functionfound in the “GoToWebinar” toolbar. Call audience members are muted due to the highnumber of participants Call will be recorded and posted to the USICH website4

Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan toPrevent and End HomelessnessNo oneshouldexperiencehomelessnessand no oneshould bewithout asafe, stableplace to callhome.The Plan set forth four bold andambitious goals.51. Finish the job of ending chronichomelessness by 2015.2. Prevent and end homelessnessamong Veterans by 2015.3. Prevent and end homelessnessfor families, youth andchildren by 2020.4. Set a path to ending all typesof homelessness.

Opening Doors: Five ThemesIncreaseleadership,collaborationand civicengagement6Increaseaccess tostable ehealth andstabilityRetool thehomelesscrisisresponsesystem

HUD’s Policy PrioritiesI. Strategic Resource AllocationII. Ending chronic homelessnessIII. Ending family homelessnessIV. Removing barriers to CoC resourcesV. Maximizing the use of mainstream resourcesVI. Building partnershipsVII.Other priority populations7

HUD’s Policy Priorities: ScoringCriteria Housing Firstapproach Rapid Re-housing8

Housing First: Definition Housing First is anapproach to quickly andsuccessfully connectindividuals and familiesexperiencing homelessnessto permanent housingwithout preconditions andbarriers to entry, such assobriety, treatment orservice participationrequirements.Supportive services are offered to maximize housing stability and preventreturns to homelessness as opposed to addressing predetermined treatmentgoals prior to permanent housing entry.9

Housing First: BackgroundTHE PAST Began as reaction against view that peopleexperiencing homelessness must “earn” theirway to permanent affordable and supportivehousing: Provide people experiencing homelessness withhousing without treatment pre-requisite Focus on reducing barriers to entryTHEPRESENT10 Evolved into a distinct approach for deliveringpermanent supportive housing Services informed by harm reduction andmotivational interviewing Project-level policies and procedures thatprevent lease violations and evictions

Housing First: ImportanceHousing First yields: Higher housing retention rates Lower returns to homelessness Significantly reduces the use of crisis services andinstitutions11

Housing First: Key Principles Safe and affordable housing All people can achieve housing stability in permanenthousing; supports may look different Everyone is “housing ready” Improved quality of life, health, mental health, andemployment can be achieved through housing Right to determination, dignity and respect Configuration of housing and services based onparticipants needs and preferences12

Housing First: Permanent SupportiveHousing Proven to be most effective for peopleexperiencing chronic homelessness Housing First permanent supportive housingmodels result in: Long-term housing stability Improved physical and behavioral health outcomes Reduced use of crisis services Current PSH providers can move to Housing Firstmodel by: Reviewing current policies and procedures Learn and adopt Housing First services approaches andpractices13

Housing First: Core Components Few to no programmatic prerequisites topermanent housing entry Low barrier admission policies Rapid and streamlined entry into housing Supportive services are voluntary Tenants have full rights, responsibilities, and legalprotections Practices and policies to prevent lease violationsand evictions Applicable in a variety of housing models14

Housing First Checklist USICH developed a tool to helppolicymakers, administrators, andcommunities assess if apermanent housing program isusing Housing First Includes both “core” and“additional advanced” elements15 Examines Housing First atcommunity-level as well

Housing First Checklist: ProjectLevel ElementsCore Elements: Tenant selection promotes acceptance regardless of sobriety, use ofsubstances, treatment completion, and participation in services. Applicants not rejected based on credit history, rental history, minorcriminal convictions, or other so-called indicators of “housingreadiness.” Accepts referrals directly from shelters, street outreach, drop-incenters, and other parts of crisis response system. Services emphasize engagement over therapeutic goals. Servicesplans highly tenant-driven without preset goals. Participation inservices not a condition of tenancy. Use of alcohol or drugs in and of itself not considered a reason foreviction.16

Housing First Checklist: ProjectLevel ElementsAdditional Elements Found in Advanced Models: Applicants prioritized based on duration/chronicity ofhomelessness, vulnerability, or high utilization of crisis services. Tenants given flexibility in rent payments; given specialarrangements for arrears such as payment plans or financialmanagement (e.g. rep payee). Case managers trained in motivational interviewing and clientcentered counseling. Harm reduction-informed services engages tenants in nonjudgmental communication regarding drug/alcohol use andoffers education on avoidance of risky behaviors. Building/apartment includes physical features that accommodatedisabilities, reduce harm, and promote health.17

Housing First Checklist: CommunityLevel Elements Crisis response system recognize roles in housing advocacy andrapid connection to permanent housing. Strong referral linkages between crisis response system andpermanent housing. Unified, streamlined, and user-friendly process for applying forrapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing and/or otherhousing interventions. Coordinated assessment system for matching people to themost appropriate housing and services.18

Housing First Checklist: CommunityLevel Elements Community-level data-driven approach to prioritize highestneed cases for housing assistance (lengths of homelessness,vulnerability, or high utilization of crisis services). Policymakers, funders, and providers collaboratively plan anddirect resources to increase affordable and supportive housingand ensure a range of options and models. Policies and regulations aligned with the Housing Firstapproach. Every effort made to transfer a tenant from one housingsituation to another, if a tenancy is in jeopardy. Wheneverpossible eviction back into homelessness is avoided.19

Rapid Re-Housing: Definition Housing First intervention which— Rapidly connects families and individualsexperiencing homelessness to permanenthousing Provides a tailored package of assistance Resolves immediate challenges and barriers tohousing Links to community resources 20Rapid re-housing is an important component of acommunities’ response to homelessness.A fundamental goal of rapid re-housing is toreduce the amount of time a person is homeless.

Rapid Re-Housing: Background Rapid re-housing models were implementedacross the country through the HomelessnessPrevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) Rapid re-housing programs were found to be ahighly successful and cost-effective interventionfor most homeless families21

Rapid Re-Housing: What We Know Homelessness is often the direct result of a financialcrisis or other crisis Most families experiencing homelessness are notsignificantly different from other poor families. Prolonged exposure to homelessness has a significantnegative effect on adults and children Short-term assistance has shown tremendous promisein resolving the immediate crisis of homelessness An operating principle is that households should notreceive assistance above the level of need Most households experiencing homelessness will be ableto exit homelessness with shorter-term and lessintensive assistance.22

Rapid Re-Housing: Target Populations Rapid re-housing can be an appropriateintervention for many different householdsexperiencing homelessness. Experience has shown that it is more cost-effectiveto target rapid re-housing assistance to familieswho are currently staying on the streets and inemergency shelter.23

Rapid Re-housing in a Crisis Response SystemTargetedPrevention& DiversionFamily retains housing or gains new housing, bypassing shelter.CommunityBasedPermanentHousingFamily exits shelter on own.(includes marketrate & subsidized)CoordinatedAssessment forFamilies with aHousing CrisisTemporaryShelterCrisisStabilization&Housing SearchSupportFamily doesnot findhousing withinshort period (e.g., 7-10 days).CommunityBased Services& SupportsRapidRe-Housing&Links to ServicesTransitionalHousing withServicesFamily for whomRRH and/or TH isunsuccessful andhas high needs.Families with highest needsPermanentSupportiveHousing

Rapid Re-Housing: Effectiveness Research suggests that rapid re-housing is morecost-effective than transitional housing Initial research indicates that people assisted byrapid re-housing experience higher rates ofpermanent housing placement and lower rates ofreturn to homelessness Rapid re-housing is not designed tocomprehensively address a recipient’s overallservice needs or poverty25

Rapid Re-Housing: Core Components A Tailored Package of Assistance: Housing Identification Rent and Move-In Assistance Case Management and Services Case management: Connects households to resources that help them improve theirsafety and well-being and achieve their long-term goals Client-directed, voluntary services, respectful of individuals’ rightto self-determination Unless basic, program-related case management is required,participation should not be required Connection to community-based services that already exist26

Rapid Re-Housing: Practice Considerations Primary focus on helping household obtainpermanent housing as quickly as possible Accessible to households experiencinghomelessness Assistance is guided by assessment of housingbarriers, strengths, and preferences Flexibility and adaptability of assistance27

Rapid Re-Housing: Questions to Consider What resources can we draw on to fund rapid re-housinginterventions? What is the focus of the services/case managementcomponent and how might it be different than in otherprograms? How will we ensure that there is a clear and efficientprocess for ensuring access to rapid-re-housing for thosehouseholds who need it? How can providers ensure adequate access to housing andcommunity-based services for rapid re-housingparticipants?28