DCA s Efforts to Support Choice in Supportive Housing

DCA’s Efforts to Support Choice in Supportive Housing Options Don Watt Director, Office of Program and Public Affairs November 20, 2013

Over 189, 500 units on the site 24, 700 (13%) do not require a criminal background check Of which, 1, 586 units are available for rent 23, 121 units (12%) do not require credit check Of which, 1, 522 units are available for rent NEW: 120 properties on the site with project-based rental assistance Of which, 75 properties have units available for rent

Draft Qualified Allocation Plan 2014 Supportive Housing developments can participate in the competitive round Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan Threshold Criteria Marketing Plan must include outreach efforts to each service provider, homeless shelter or disability advocacy organization in the county in which the project is located. ▪ Establish and maintain relationships between management agent and community service providers ▪ Requires marketing to underserved populations 2 -4 months before occupancy

Draft Qualified Allocation Plan 2014 Integrated Supportive Housing/Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Points awarded to applications that agree to accept Section 811 PRA for up to 15% of the units ▪ 15% of the total units at property must be 1 bedroom

GHVP – HCV Partnership DCA’s HCV has a preference to house individuals who are eligible under the Settlement Agreement. First in the Nation. Partnership offers HCV as a substitute for GHVP assistance, enabling individuals to move to federal program and, thus, freeing up more flexible GHVP vouchers for those most in need. 82 HHs have transitioned, with 26 in process.

Shelter Plus Care to HCV - Proposal Similarly, DCA is proposing to create a similar tool which would allow individuals eligible under the Settlement Agreement and currently on the sponsor-based S+C assistance who can and desire to live in a more independent setting, to move to DCA’s HCV program. Opens S+C assistance to those who are homeless and most in need.

Maximizing S+C Production In 2011, HUD renewal funding in GA was more than $26 M. While HUD cannot tell us specifics, we know that 4% of these funds were not used – that’s 150 vouchers in GA. Based on Co. C rules, existing projects can overserve.

Maximizing S+C Production DCA currently has 1, 676 units in production, increasing by 15 units per month as projects move to maximum utilization. Rate of increase is sustainable for at least the next 8 months, increasing our total units in production to at least 1, 800.

S+C: Proposed Integration Policy In late September, DCA proposed a new policy and made it available for public comment that seeks to encourage the integration of S+C vouchers Sponsors must have a written policy of how it will maximize client choice in the placement of Shelter Plus Care units, how it will seek to place units in as diverse an area as possible, how it will consider requests from clients to move to other areas served by the Sponsor, and how it will assist with requests to move outside of the Sponsor’s service area. The policy must be approved by DCA’s S+C Coordinator.

S+C: Proposed Integration Policy S+C vouchers may not be used to support 50% or more of any single complex’s units. This applies to complexes of 20 units or more. If any existing Shelter Plus Care program does not meet the above condition, the Sponsor will be obliged to follow an attrition procedure, where they will move the units once the current household has left the occupancy agreement. DCA would not expect any client to move units unless they had expressed this option as their choice.

S+C: Proposed Integration Policy To this end, DCA will consider individual agency circumstances and provide a waiver based on the following circumstances: The S+C voucher is a Project Rental Assistance voucher, and thus unable to be moved to other locations.

S+C: Proposed Integration Policy The S+C voucher is being used to support a program that was designed as congregate permanent supportive housing and was supported by DCA, either through direct financing, or in partnership with another entity, at the time of planning and implementation.

S+C: Proposed Integration Policy There are unique factors within the community that make it impossible to scatter the vouchers in more than one location. A Sponsor would need to provide due diligence to show their efforts in finding alternate units. Mitigating factors to consider include rents, transportation, affordability, and community based services. Any client consultation will also be considered.

S+C: Proposed Integration Policy Comments were accepted until November 15 th. Final policy expected to be effective early in 2014.

Georgia’s SAMSHA Policy Academy to End Chronic Homelessness Don Watt Director, Office of Program and Public Affairs November 20, 2013

Overview Georgia was one of 4 states selected to participate in a Policy Academy to End Chronic Homelessness sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA). Also participating: California Louisiana Washington Goal was to create a set of goals and an action plan of steps designed to end chronic homelessness

Overview Participation: Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities Department of Community Health Department of Corrections Department of Human Services Department of Juvenile Justice Governor’s Office of Disability Services Ombudsman State Board of Pardons and Paroles Brother Charlie Rescue Center The Carter Center City of Atlanta Cobb Douglas CSB Hope Atlanta River Edge CSB Urban Residential Development Corporation US Department of Health and Human Services US Department of Housing and Urban Development US Department of Veterans Affairs

Draft Recommendations Maximize the Use of Existing Resources Shelter Plus Care HUD Housing Choice Voucher VASH State funded Georgia Housing Voucher Program

Draft Recommendations Seek to Broaden Interagency Council on Homelessness Representation GAHRA Statewide Community Action Association GA Family Connection Partnership GA Police and Sheriff’s Association Georgia Municipal Association of County Commissioners Georgia

Draft Recommendations Data Integration Examine further opportunities to share data between agencies Create some reports that will inform the work to end chronic homelessness Examine successes in other states - Washington SAMSHA wants to help, possibly with funding

Draft Recommendations Institutional Discharge Planning Develop a statewide discharge planning document that consists of agency policies and practices to, to the maximum extent possible, eliminate the discharge of institutionalized individuals to unstable or unknown housing destinations ▪ Build on the work of the various Offender Re-Entry Discussions

Draft Recommendations Community-based Housing and Services Create regional housing and service inventory analysis ▪ Determine gaps ▪ Evaluate the effectiveness of “housing first” approaches in Georgia Create Regional Housing Specialists ▪ Coordinate collaboration regionally between housing providers (private, PHAs), service providers, parole and corrections, governments, Co. Cs, etc… ▪ Seek funding where needed to expand the full array of housing

Next Steps Final Policy Academy December 11 & 12 Finalize Action Plan Recommendations Develop Action Plan Implementation Schedule Incorporate into the work of the Interagency Council on Homelessness to carry implementation forward