LEVERAGING RESOURCES CROSS SYSTEMS PARTNERSHIPS FOR RAPID RE

LEVERAGING RESOURCES: CROSS SYSTEMS PARTNERSHIPS FOR RAPID RE -HOUSING Washington Low Income Housing Alliance 24 th Annual Conference on Ending Homelessness Wednesday, May 21 st, 2014

ENDING FAMILY HOMELESS PROJECT Goal: The intent of the Ending Family Homelessness is to reduce homeless for households with children who are unsheltered or living in shelters and motels by 50 percent by 2015 Rapid re-housing targeted for TANF households with immediate needs Progressive engagement - matching resources to need through ongoing needs assessment Active coordination with DSHS and Work. Source

INRODUCTION Presentation in 5 Segments Roles in Partnership Project Partnership Integrating into agency’s service delivery What we have learned Case Studies Time for Clarifying Questions between segments and Q&A at the end of the presentation

HOW FAMILIES ACCESS HFCA All entry points provide: Rapid Re-housing provider Rural Outreach • Screening • Diversion HFCA- The Salvation Army • Assessment • Referral to rapid re- Phone Walk-In Email housing • RRH for all populations • SSVF DV provider VOA- youth provider families with hh under 18 • RRH for specific geographic areas • Referral to prevention • Housing placement waitlist

HOUSING PLACEMENT HFCA §Maintains Waitlist for Family Housing Programs §Using Assessment Tool places families into appropriate housing §Works with all providers in placement process Various scattered site rental assistance programs Interim Housing Programs PSH units for families 91 units 155 units

PANELIST: Marci Sweet, Rapid Re-housing and Vocational Program Coordinator St. Margaret’s Shelter Catholic Charities of Spokane. Lori Hunley, Spokane Work. First Supervisor Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Shannon Booth, Work. First Supervisor Work. Source Spokane

ROLES IN THE ENDING FAMILY HOMELESSNESS PROJECT

CATHOLIC CHARITIES St. Margaret’s Shelter We aim to embody an environment where families have the physical, emotional, and spiritual resources they need, to create beneficial changes in their lives in order to find and maintain stable housing in the larger community Services Provided – Housing Focus -Emergency Shelter -Transitional Housing -Permanent Supportive Housing -Rapid Re-Housing * Ending Family Homelessness Pilot Project

CATHOLIC CHARITIES Receive all EFH referrals via HFCA and e. JAS Conduct secondary screening over the phone -TANF eligible -Engaged in Work. First activities -Literally Homeless Complete eligibility paperwork Provide housing search resources and assistance Progressive engagement housing stabilization services and financial assistance Connect with DSHS case worker, and employment service provider assist in developing a joint case plan

DSHS Case managers complete Comprehensive Evaluation on TANF clients Develop Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP) for each TANF client Identify barriers for barrier resolution Social workers complete Pregnancy to Employment Assessment and Barrier Assessments on clients Case managers & Social workers refer clients to Salvation Army co-located staff or clients can go directly to Salvation Army

WORKSOURCE Assessment, employment preparation and job search activities Generally a 12 week Program Individualized coaching and mentoring services Barrier resolution Coach provides job referrals and job leads connecting parents with employers

PROJECT PARTNERSHIP

GOALS All partners have the same basic goal: “eliminate homelessness, and secure income” We had to learn that each partner agency has agency specific goals as well: DSHS – Provide benefits, and monitor Work. First compliancy ESD – Provide employment support services and secure employment St. Margaret’s – Find permanent affordable housing Once we had an understanding of each agency’s individual goals, it was easier to partner knowing the parameters we could all work within

LEARNING ABOUT THEPARTNERS Met with partners individually to learn about each of partner’s role Building collaboration Partners met on a monthly basis, rotating locations Educated staff about partner roles and services

PARTNER COORDINATION & COMMUNICATION Partners met on a monthly basis at different sites to learn more about each of partners service delivery Within the monthly meeting Case Staffing took place as well as on-going review of joint customers being served We all shared staff directories Providers received E-Jas

INTEGRATION

ST. MARGARET’S –INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE PARTNERS Educated our staff about the pilot program, including goals, outcomes, and model of service Amended our EFH Case Plans to include making verbal contact with DSHS case manger Amended our Case Plans to include copies of client’s IRP in each file

DSHS - INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE PARTNERS Co-location of Salvation Army housing provider in DSHS local CSO Having housing provider at DSHS, clients and staff have more knowledge of housing opportunities and communication with each other. Clients are being serviced quickly; first contact

WORKSOURCE - INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE PARTNERS Providers attend the Monthly Work. First Meeting Co-location of Housing Provider in DSHS

MOVING FORWARD

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARTNERS What are we learning about communication between Partners? It takes building rapport and connections Education about each agency culture Job descriptions and responsibilities Partner’s specialties Partner’s resources

HOW TO KEEP BUY-IN Continue to communicate with Housing agencies Keep staff informed with updated housing outcomes We all have same goal for our clients

TRUST IN EACHPARTNER’S EXPERTISE Each of know that we can pick up the phone or e-mail at anytime for partner expertise and or information that will help our mutual customer We all have a very collaborative attitude towards our goal to help the parent succeed

OUTCOMES & BENEFITS Outcomes based on May 2013 - April 2014 data.

CLIENT BENEFITS Barriers reduced All client providers communicating Wrap around services and support

CASE STUDY #1 Single father parenting twins On TANF 7 months, exited TANF with full-time employment CPS case closed and full-participation in all his required activities Found housing and was enrolled in the EFH program in November 2013, currently has received 7 months of subsidized rent, and was able to contribute over half his rent for May 2014 Worked with Career Path Services and secured full-time employment in April 2014 at a convenience store On track to exit the EFH program in July 2014

CASE STUDY #2 Single mother parenting four children On TANF 20 months, exited TANF with full-time employment Found housing and was enrolled in the EFH program in May 2013, was exited in April 2014. Received a total of 11 months of subsidized rent Worked with DSHS case worker, social worker, and housing case manager closely to tailor her IRP requirements regarding her specific mental health barriers Secured full-time employment in March 2014 as a receptionist at a local health care provider

CASE STUDY #3 Single mother parenting three children On TANF 4 months, exited TANF with employment Found housing in December 2013, and was exited in January 2014, stating she had secured full-time employment and was no longer in need of assistance Worked with ESD, and Work. Source and secured employment as an in-home health care provider

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?