4.4 Creating a Homelessness Prevention System
(Tuesday July 13th, 1:00-2:30pm)
Bridget Kurtt DeJong HomeBase
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Yolo County- Before HPRPGeography
◦Agricultural◦Near Sacramento◦3-4 Towns
Continuum of Care◦Variety of homeless housing◦Insulated from mainstream systems◦Coordination at an interpersonal
level
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CoordinationYolo writing Ten Year Plan in 2009Prevention section of Plan written
while HPRP designedKey problems throughout the
system identified and addressed by HPRP design, not just prevention
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Key IssuesCredit and eviction history barrier
to low-income housingImpact of economy- increased
homelessnessLack of
communication/coordination with community-at-large
Lack of integration among services/funding streams
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Coordination PartnersPrevention planning involved
wide range of people, not usually involved in CoC◦Housing developers◦PHA◦Law enforcement◦Faith based◦Schools◦Mainstream providers
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Existing ResourcesPrevention assistance provided
by volunteer-only organization:◦Did not participate in CoC ◦Narrowly Tailored◦Limited resources- type/amount of
assistance, families eligible Service Need:
◦Additional, flexible prevention and diversion resources available to wider group of people
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Systemic NeedsProcess demonstrated systemic
need for:◦One referral place per community◦Flexible funding◦Mainstream involvement◦Stronger communication, esp. with
FBOs and governments◦Systemic coordination
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Strategic DesignResulting HPRP system
◦Expanded one-stop Housing Resource Centers in each town (plus rural outreach)
◦Best use of limited resources- Stone Soup◦Led by mainstream provider with
mainstream partners◦Institutionalized coordination- providers
AND community◦Skeletal system of entire Plan◦Buy-in of County leaders in Plan
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Targeting ResourcesReferrals from whole county
come through one coordinated, integrated system, but in each community◦Use HMIS for coordination
Focus on prevention (2/3), families (2/3), certain areas of the county are demonstrating greater need
Short-term solutions instead of long-term problems 9
CoordinationAll partnering agencies meet
weekly to share resources, challenges
Outreach to and trainings for groups about resources available and Housing Resource Centers◦Landlords◦Faith-Based◦Courts◦CBOs
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Addressing GapsMaintaining prevention services
availability and necessary interim housing after HPRP
Administrative difficulties◦Documentation, Cash Flow, Continuing
Client InvolvementImpact of lack of other types of services
◦County budget cuts mean long waits for County services
◦Little to no health-related and mental health services are available
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Yolo County- AfterCounty-wide system and
frameworkIncrease in amount and quality of
structural partnerships, including with landlords
Springboard for Ten Year Plan implementation
Best use of limited resources
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HomeBase/The Center for Common Concerns
870 Market Street, Suite 1228San Francisco, California
415.788.7961www.homebaseccc.org
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