drug court housing matters: how to build a drug court housing case management program

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Drug Court Housing Matters: How to Build a Drug Court Housing Case Management ProgramShannon Thomas, King County Drug Diversion Court Housing Case Manager, 2009-present

Allison Howard, King County Drug Diversion Court Housing Case Manager, 2009-present

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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Getting Started: Questions to AskWhat are the housing barriers your participants face?What are the housing resources in your community?What type of in-office housing services will you provide?What type of housing will you provide?Who are you going to house?What will compliance in housing look like?What will your clean & sober/recovery model be?How will you make referrals and placements?What will case management in housing look like?How will you pay for your housing?How will you participate in public policy/community advocacy?

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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What are the housing barriers your participants face?

• Evictions• Criminal background • Lack of/poor residential history• Bad credit• Unemployed• Minimal benefits• Poverty • Family crisis• Domestic violence• Chronic homelessness• Chemical dependency• Mental health

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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What are the housing resources in your community?• Outreach/tour as many housing programs

as you can (shelters, transitional and permanent housing)

• Educate housing programs on Drug Court and establish a rapport

• Advocate for Drug Court referrals

• Establish a referral protocol for Drug Court participants

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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What type of in-office housing services will you provide?• Eviction prevention• Utilities assistance• Landlord education• Applications for housing waitlists• Housing search• Locating move-in costs• Locating furniture/household items• Assessing housing needs• Connecting to community services and resources• Longer term planning• Crisis assistance

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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What type of housing will you provide?• Transitional single studio apartments

• Transitional family multi-room apartments

• Single room in a group home

• Permanent housing vouchers (private market)

• Permanent supportive housingKing County Adult Drug Diversion Court

October 2014

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Who are you going to house? • Single Adults

• Gender specific housing

• Young Adults (18-26)

• Families with minor children

• Couples

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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What will compliance in housing look like?• Clean and sober/recovery model• Signed contract/program rules• Curfew• Guest policy• House chores• House meetings• Working with a case manager• Compliance with court and treatment obligations• Rental fees

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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What will your clean & sober/recovery model look like?

• Drug use puts housing at risk• Relapse Prevention Plan• Exits and evictions• Disclosure and reporting• On-site UAs• Recovery-oriented staff

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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How will you make referrals and placements?• Develop referral process with partnering agencies• Create and maintain a waitlist• Develop a priority system for waitlist • Assess the housing needs of every new

participant• Take instruction from Court as directed• Provide regular presentation of housing services

to new Drug Court participants

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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What will case management in housing look like?

• Require regular participation in on-site case management

• Set goals and make plans to achieve goals• Address challenges, issues in the building with

property and other residents• Next-step housing application and search• Financial planning and saving for next-step housing• Connecting client needs to community resources• Coordination/communication with Court Staff• Assistance with Employment/Education/Job Training

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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How will you pay for your housing?

• Grants• Public monies/levies (i.e. 1/10 of 1%)• Government programs• Budget prioritization (making a case for

housing)• Resident fees• Funding as part of Recovery Support Services

(as supported by National DC research)

King County Adult Drug Diversion CourtOctober 2014

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How will you participate in public policy/community advocacy?• Reach out to local homeless/housing coalitions to

join their efforts (i.e. King County Committee to End Homelessness)

• Attend community forums, information sessions and organizational meetings focused on housing/homelessness

• Meet with legislators, attend Homelessness Advocacy Day in Olympia

• Educate and inform these entities on the unique housing needs of Drug Court participants

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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Housing case management forms• Housing Self-Assessment

• Landlord Letter

• Housing Program Questionnaire

• Relapse Prevention Plan

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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Housing case management timeline: 2009-2014

2009: Housing Voucher Program (single adults, transitional) The Morrison (vulnerable single adults, permanent) IMPACT (COD single adults, transitional)

*Expansion of Services*

2014: Transitional Housing Program (single adults, transitional) Transitional Housing Program (families, transitional) Shelter Plus Care Vouchers (families, permanent) Williams Building (single adults, permanent) YMCA Young Adults In Transition (age 18-24, transitional)

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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Single Adult Transitional Housing

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

Hudson House

Bruksos House

Chamberlain House

Dalton House Birchtree Apts

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Single Adult Permanent Housing

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

Morrison Apts.

Williams Apts.

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Gender Specific Transitional: Female

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

Katherine’s House and Rita’s House

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Young Adult Transitional Housing

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

YMCA Young Adults in Transition

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Family Transitional Housing

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

The Snider Apts.

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Current & future projects• Continued involvement in shaping King County’s

Coordinated Entry Model for Family Housing

• Expansion of YMCA Young Adult Housing contract

• Support “Ban the Box” efforts around housing

• Expand network of “felony friendly” landlords

• Explore faith-based communities as potential housing resources

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014

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Questions?Contact Information:

Allison Howard: Housing Case Managerallison.howard@kingcounty.gov206-477-0794

Shannon Thomas: Housing Case Managershannon.thomas@kingcounty.gov206-477-0839

King County Adult Drug Diversion Court October 2014