Ending Family Homelessness

Lindsay Anderson, Opportunity Council July 23, 2013

Ending Family Homelessness Why EFH Started

Superintendent of Public Instruction - 27,390 homeless students in WA State during the 2011-12 school year. • 18,332 doubled-up with family or friends • 9,058 living in shelters, hotels, outside, in a car or place not

meant for human habitation

Governor Inslee directed the Dept. of Commerce & WA State Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) to create a plan to address homelessness among children.

Goal of reducing homelessness by 50% by 2015

Ending Family Homelessness How DSHS & Commerce Plan to Reduce Family Homelessness

Change the way outreach is done – link DSHS to Commerce contracted local housing providers

Screen families who access emergency shelters for TANF eligibility and connect them to TANF services

Fund rent assistance for TANF eligible families or Diversion Assistance

Begin rapid rehousing programs at a few initial sites to prepare for statewide implementation

Formalize the process for DSHS, school districts and health care providers to refer families for housing services

Advocate for maintenance of current funding for existing housing programs including Housing and Essential Needs

Ending Family Homelessness Opportunity Council and EFH

Continuum of Care Coordinator, local CSO, Employment Security, WorkFirst staff & local housing provider (O.C.) all working together

Families selected from Whatcom County’s Coordinated Entry Housing Interest Pool (wait-list). **Not all families are a good program fit

O.C. Rapid Re-housing (RRH) - transition homeless families receiving TANF into an open market rental (permanent housing) by offering: Time limited rental assistance; averaging 3 to 6 months Intensive Housing & Employment focused case management Employment Services Collaboration with local CSO – IRP

Program Participant Expectations Obtain an open market rental – strengths based Pay 30% of income towards rent amount Meet with a housing case manager weekly (1 hour per/wk in home) Actively participate in job searching and employment activities (40 hours per

week)

Ending Family Homelessness Program Information

1st EFH household leased up on 4/15/13

Working with a variety landlords (10 total) – property management companies, apartment complexes, private landlords

Currently working with 9 DSHS WorkFirst Staff

Rent amount ranges from $535 (1 BDRM) to $1450 (4 BDRM)

15 TANF households have bee enrolled in the EFH program

7 of the 15 TANF households have secured employment

2 TANF households have exited the program after securing employment

Ending Family Homelessness O.C. Housing Approach - “Vocationalized Services”

Participated in Building Changes Economic Opportunities Initiative

Integration of employment into housing case management services at entry and continuing throughout. Staff are trained to engage, prepare and connect families with employment opportunities and services.

Employment has been incorporated into intake, visit agendas and goal plans

Increasing income is an expectation

Offer on-site job readiness/training opportunities, classes and workshops.

Employment Case Manager

Ending Family Homelessness

Ending Family Homelessness

Vocational Component

1 on 1 Assistance - Employment Case Manager & Housing Case Manager help with assessment, resume and cover letter, initial career exploration and job search

Group Classes Soft Skills Professional / Workplace Communication Interviewing I & II – skills, practice, video

Additional Support Career Club Vocational Computer Lab

Ending Family Homelessness

Ending Family Homelessness

Ending Family Homelessness WorkFirst Employment

Programs

Community Jobs - Up to 6 month paid temporary employment combined with intensive case management and barrier removal Job Connection/Career Jump - Up to 3 month paid employment at a worksite, paired with targeted job hunting activities Career Development - Volunteer experience at a worksite that will support an education pathway for up to 12 months

Ending Family Homelessness Employment Navigator

• Employment Navigator is employed by Northwest Workforce Council

• Responsible for assembling cross system team including housing, DSHS/TANF worker and the client

• Goal - facilitate coordinated housing and employment plan and services

• Navigator works to support, enhance and customize services, as well as create a strong connection with workforce services for client

Ending Family Homelessness The Whatcom Asset Building Coalition (WABC)

WABC is a community collaboration supporting financial self-sufficiency through education and advocacy. Opportunity Council is the lead agency. Programs of WABC Bank On North Sound - government agencies, community organizations, & financial

institutions work together to offer free or low-cost accounts to help people save money and get ahead

On the Money - Series of free seminars on financial topics. Seminars are free, offered weekly

Free tax preparation services, promote awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit

FLARE – Financial Literacy and Renter Education Free 6-week course with classes designed to increase financial literacy and improve knowledge of the rental process. F.L.A.R.E is offered quarterly and open to the public. Financial Literacy Topics Include: Goal planning, saving, budgeting , credit restoration, the importance of banks/credit unions & understanding credit reports

Renter Education Topics Include: Understanding a lease, finding/securing a home, resolving past tenant Issues, Landlord/Tenant laws and how to be a successful renter

Ending Family Homelessness Maintaining RRH after EFH

Continued access to work & mainstream workforce services which can extend opportunities for wage increases, job retention and career advancement.

BFET – Basic Food Employment & Training - Provides access & services to food stamp recipients in WA State. Services include: job search and job search training, education and skills training and support services. Support services include: bus passes, gas vouchers, clothing and child care paid for by DSHS. *TANF families are not eligible for BFET

Community College/Technical College – sector training

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Employment Security – Career Scope/Job Search

Community Jobs – subsidized employment

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – work incentive

Ending Family Homelessness Housing Successes of EFH

Whatcom County has been able to respond effectively to homeless TANF families. Before EFH - 33 TANF households on coordinated housing wait-list, currently 4 families

Increased collaboration and coordination of client services with CSO

Increased awareness of housing services and WorkFirst requirements with CSO and housing agency - Partnerships

How Housing Successes in EFH Could be Improved

Additional funding to continue to serve homeless TANF households and meet the need of families entering the county’s coordinated system

More affordable housing for TANF households - low vacancy rate

Improvement in communication and coordination with CSO, as well as availability of CSO staff to have joint meetings with client/other providers

Increased access to childcare services for households

Ending Family Homelessness Employment Successes of EFH

Employment Navigator research project through WorkSource

The LPA continues to work together to offer the highest level of employment services to TANF clients - have begun to meet twice a monthly to discuss specific programs and how to best offer efficient comprehensive services to clients

O.C. was able to create a new Financial Stability Coordinator position to help families transitioning off of TANF with employment and retention services (BFET)

Both WorkSource and Opportunity Council now offer employment readiness classes that count towards WorkFirst participation requirements

How Employment Successes in EFH Could be Improved Increased incorporation of job search/work activities into the Individualized Responsibility

Plan (IRP)

Opportunity Council classes and Employment case management counted as eligible hours for Career Scope

New pilot – waiting on further data

Ending Family Homelessness

Contact Information

Lindsay Anderson

lindsay_anderson@oppco.org

(360) 734-5121 Ext. 269