ECS FAST Housing ECS FAST Housing

The Keys to SuccessThe Keys to Success

Episcopal Community Services Episcopal Community Services (ECS)(ECS)225 South 3rd Street225 South 3rd StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19106Philadelphia, PA 19106

National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual ConferenceNational Alliance to End Homelessness Annual Conference

Services to Stabilize Housing, July 18, 2006, 3:45 PM – 5:15 PMServices to Stabilize Housing, July 18, 2006, 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM

The PartnershipsThe Partnerships

Office of EmergencyOffice of EmergencyShelter and ServicesShelter and Services

(OESS)(OESS)-Oversees ProgramOversees Program

-Referral SourceReferral Source

Episcopal Community ServicesEpiscopal Community Services(ECS)(ECS)

Service ProviderService Provider- Case Management- Case Management

Columbus Property ManagementColumbus Property Management1260 Housing Development1260 Housing Development

CorporationCorporation(1260 HDC)(1260 HDC)

- Property Management- Property Management

Department of Department of HumanHuman

Services (DHS)Services (DHS)- refer families in need of- refer families in need ofhousing for reunificationhousing for reunification

- funding case management - funding case management services for familiesservices for families

CommunityCommunityBehavioral Behavioral

Health (CBH)Health (CBH)Chronically HomelessChronically Homeless

UnitUnit

How the families were How the families were chosen for FAST chosen for FAST

HousingHousingMust meet city definition Must meet city definition

of “chronically homeless family” ~ 12 consecutive of “chronically homeless family” ~ 12 consecutive months or two episodes of homelessnessmonths or two episodes of homelessness

in the last five years while currently in the last five years while currently living in emergency shelterliving in emergency shelter

Mental health diagnosis Mental health diagnosis within the familywithin the family

Large family Large family ~ must qualify for a~ must qualify for a

3-4 bedroom unit3-4 bedroom unit

Child welfare involvementChild welfare involvement(children in placement, (children in placement,

receiving in-home services)receiving in-home services)

Not qualified, accepted, or wanted in any other Not qualified, accepted, or wanted in any other housing program – housing program –

family too large, “not ready”, drug involved, family too large, “not ready”, drug involved, not enough clean time etc.not enough clean time etc.

How the Process How the Process Worked: Worked:

From Shelter to From Shelter to HousingHousing

Housing Application from Office of Emergency Shelter and Services (OESS)Housing Application from Office of Emergency Shelter and Services (OESS)

Joint Interview with Service and Housing Provider Joint Interview with Service and Housing Provider

(ECS and 1260 Housing Development Corporation)(ECS and 1260 Housing Development Corporation)

Placed in scattered site housing within 30 daysPlaced in scattered site housing within 30 days

““I am not the expert I am not the expert on your life…”on your life…”

The family is the expert The family is the expert on their own life.on their own life.

They already know what They already know what it is that they need. it is that they need.

We don’t need to tell them.We don’t need to tell them.

We are to facilitate We are to facilitate

their learning their learning

and growth.and growth.

The past is the past. The past is the past.

Learn from it and move on. Learn from it and move on.

Don’t dwell on it.Don’t dwell on it.

Our job is to enhance and build on Our job is to enhance and build on the strengths they already have the strengths they already have

~ not give them new ones.~ not give them new ones.

Solution Based Solution Based ServicesServices

The Miracle Question:The Miracle Question: Suppose that you go to bed and when you wake up a Suppose that you go to bed and when you wake up a

miracle has happened. Only you don’t know that it miracle has happened. Only you don’t know that it happened because you were asleep. What difference will happened because you were asleep. What difference will you notice tomorrow morning that will tell you that the you notice tomorrow morning that will tell you that the miracle has happened? What else will you notice? miracle has happened? What else will you notice?

Where do you see yourself next year at this time?Where do you see yourself next year at this time?What would you like to see changed in your life?What would you like to see changed in your life?What will be different in your life when your problems What will be different in your life when your problems are solved?are solved?What is your expectations of your problem?What is your expectations of your problem? ““We strive to be expert at exploring the clients’ frames We strive to be expert at exploring the clients’ frames

of reference and identifying those perceptions that of reference and identifying those perceptions that clients can use to create more satisfying lives.” – (p. 19)clients can use to create more satisfying lives.” – (p. 19)

De Jong, Peter and Berg, Insoo Kim. (2002). Interviewing for De Jong, Peter and Berg, Insoo Kim. (2002). Interviewing for Solutions. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.Solutions. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Rich InterventionsRich InterventionsFamily Based ServicesFamily Based Services

Family Activities Family Activities CommitteeCommittee

Volunteer Volunteer opportunitiesopportunities

for teensfor teensPeer Mentoring Peer Mentoring

ProgramProgram

Families participate Families participate in staff in staff

planning meetingsplanning meetings

Families possiblyFamilies possiblyparticipate participate

in interviews of in interviews of staff for FASTstaff for FAST

Long term engagement / ownershipLong term engagement / ownership

Program and services accountable to familiesProgram and services accountable to familiesAccountability for families Accountability for families among staff, partners and,among staff, partners and,

above all, each otherabove all, each other

These activities These activities achieve:achieve:

Use coaching Use coaching modelmodel

when workingwhen workingwith familieswith families

Monthly Monthly interest groupsinterest groupsdeveloped bydeveloped by

familiesfamilies

In-Home ServicesIn-Home Services

Weekly home visits by case manager, Weekly home visits by case manager, increase/decrease with need (program increase/decrease with need (program currently has three case managers for 28 currently has three case managers for 28 families)families) BudgetingBudgeting ParentingParenting HousekeepingHousekeeping NutritionNutrition Health (Mental / Physical)Health (Mental / Physical) Family planningFamily planning ANYTHING that can put the family at risk for ANYTHING that can put the family at risk for

reentering the shelter systemreentering the shelter system Service plans, monthly reviewsService plans, monthly reviews

Integration of ServicesIntegration of Services

Monthly MeetingsMonthly MeetingsMonthly interest groups (book club, cooking, Monthly interest groups (book club, cooking, knitting, computer classes, exercise/nutrition)knitting, computer classes, exercise/nutrition)“…“…a hoop I want to jump through” – ‘G’ Familya hoop I want to jump through” – ‘G’ FamilyUse all services within the same agency when Use all services within the same agency when possiblepossible Computer SkillsComputer Skills LiteracyLiteracy Life Skills enhancementLife Skills enhancement Child Welfare (In-home services)Child Welfare (In-home services) Parenting workshopsParenting workshops Teen ActivitiesTeen Activities

Research BasedResearch Based

National Center on Family Homelessness. National Center on Family Homelessness. 2006. 2006. Family Permanent Supportive HousingFamily Permanent Supportive Housing. . Newton Centre, MA.Newton Centre, MA. After the first year 92-97% of families remain in After the first year 92-97% of families remain in

housinghousing

National Alliance to End Homelessness. 2006. National Alliance to End Homelessness. 2006. Promising Strategies to End Family Promising Strategies to End Family HomelessnessHomelessness. Washington, DC.. Washington, DC. The annual cost of an emergency shelter bed is The annual cost of an emergency shelter bed is

approximately $8,067 more than the average annual approximately $8,067 more than the average annual cost of a Section 8 housing voucher.cost of a Section 8 housing voucher.

The cost of placing two children from a family The cost of placing two children from a family experiencing homelessness in foster care is about experiencing homelessness in foster care is about $34,000 per year. The cost of a housing voucher is $34,000 per year. The cost of a housing voucher is around $6,805.around $6,805.

Outcome FocusedOutcome Focused

The families WILL succeed; The families WILL succeed; what what needs to be done in order for that needs to be done in order for that to happento happenFamilies WILL maintain safe housing Families WILL maintain safe housing by paying monthly rent, utilities and by paying monthly rent, utilities and preventing property damage preventing property damage Families WILL have adequate food, Families WILL have adequate food, clothing and utilities in homeclothing and utilities in homeFamilies served do not have abuse/ Families served do not have abuse/ neglect report neglect report Families will Stay Together.Families will Stay Together.

Challenges to ServicesChallenges to Services

Preconceived ideas Preconceived ideas of service deliveryof service delivery

Families are overloaded Families are overloaded with serviceswith servicesUndiagnosed mental Undiagnosed mental

health conditionshealth conditions

Training and Training and recruiting staffrecruiting staff

Fighting the generations of Fighting the generations of homelessness:homelessness:

How do you get the How do you get the family to unpack?family to unpack?

Prevention versus crisis modePrevention versus crisis mode

Contact InformationContact Information

Shana Mitchell, MSW, LSWShana Mitchell, MSW, LSWFAST Housing SupervisorFAST Housing Supervisor

215-351-1428215-351-1428

shanam@ecs1870.orgshanam@ecs1870.org

Episcopal Community Services (ECS)Episcopal Community Services (ECS)

225 South 3225 South 3rdrd Street Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106Philadelphia, PA 19106