Permanent supportive

housing for families and 10-

year plans

NAEH conference, February 2008

Portland, Oregon in the 4th year of a 10-year plan:

Home Again: A 10-year plan to end

homelessness in Portland and

Multnomah County

3

Portland’s Homeless Demographics

Annual (2005-06)

Approximately 19,200 served

10,936 adults w/out children (4% less than 04-05)

7,865 persons in families (5% more than 04-05)

384 homeless youth (12% less than 04-05)

Point in time (Jan 2007)

1,438 unduplicated “street count” (70 in families)

2,321 persons in shelter/TH (863 in families). Another 697 rent assistance; 602 in families) 48.5% persons in families with children

4

2007 One-Night Shelter Count

Family types

Shelter

Motel

Rent asst.

Trans Hsg

Total

1 parent female

25 1 114 206 346

1 parent male

3 0 14 15 35

1 parent unk

2 0 0 3 5

2-parent 5 3 51 28 87

Total families

35 4 179 252 470

5

Portland accomplishments 1997-

2002

447547

427

920

1480

1016

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

EmergencyShelter

TransitionalHousing

PermanentHousing

Num

ber

of B

eds

1997 2002

More than doubled shelter & housing capacity

Focus on transitional and permanent housing

Increased local funding for homeless services

6

Portland 10YP planning

Despite increases, homelessness increased

In response to national movement and new research, effort to develop plans to end homelessness began in 2000

Efforts to end chronic homelessness spurred by new research released in 2002

Received nearly $10 million in 3 federal grants, mostly for chronic homelessness

7

Research Drives System Change

Homelessness has become an institution in communities

We have invested millions of dollars, but we have not ended homelessness

Our current system is managing the homeless problem, but not ending it

To end homelessness, we need to do business differently

8

10-year plan: 3 principles

Focus on the most chronically homeless populations

Streamline access to existing services to prevent and reduce other homelessness

Concentrate resources on programs that offer measurable results

9

New programs, shifted resources

• Women’s Emergency Housing: Shifted use of $164k/year from a women’s night shelter to a new 4 agency housing collaborative

• Key Not a Card: City general funds ($2.4 M) to move people from the street housing

• Services Coord. Team expanded to SE and NE -- law enforcement & services for homeless chronic street crime offenders

10

One of the most successful tools to end and prevent homelessness:

Short and long-term rent assistance

Great outcomes – vast majority of households who receive it retain their housing after their rent subsidy ends.

11

Outcomes after 3 years Jan 2005-Dec 2007

• 1,286 chronically homeless persons housed

• 1,681 homeless families with children housed, including 376 high-resource families

• 710 units of permanent supportive housing opened; 298 more in development

12

Family System Inventory Overview

Shelter capacity for families limited – 158 year-round beds

Local rent assistance $ for ~500 families/yr, both for prevention and for rapid re-housing

New project for chronically homeless families – 20 families per year

Bridges to Housing – family PSH – 75 units opened (20 more in March)

13

Transitional Housing Inventory

341 units (1,029) beds for homeless families, mostly HUD CoC-funded

Mix of facility-based and scattered-site apartments

Scattered-site apartments used as transition-in-place units; family takes over lease once transitional funding ends

14

PSH Inventory

200 units ( 576 beds) for homeless families

Another 71 units (253 beds) under development

Mix of facility based, small site, S+C and scattered site apartments

15

Family research• No measurable difference – in % with

mental illness or addictions – between poor, housed families and those who are homeless.

• Families with mental illnesses and/or addictions are found in every neighborhood.

• There is no “the homeless.” Families who experience homelessness are diverse.

16

Therefore, withspectrum of low-income families need spectrum of housing types

17

Evaluate types of homeless families & housing gaps in your communityDo you need:

•Rapid re-housing programs?

•Short & long-term rent assistance? (for both eviction prevention and moving into housing – 1st/last & security deposit)

18

If you have transitional hsg, is it being directed appropriately?•TH not simply a form of affordable hsg

•Facility-based transitional housing, for families with limited-term special needs?

•Scattered-site transitional housing, so that families can “transition in place”?

19

Evaluate PSH needs•Scattered-site PSH?

•Facility-based PSH? (like Canon Barcus House, SF)

•Hybrid PSH/TH? (like Bridges to Housing linkage to mainstream services, transition-in-place housing, 2+ yrs intensive service, employment)

20

Portland: types of housing for homeless families •Historic focus on transitional housing vs. emergency shelter.

•10-year plan increased focus on PSH for families

•10YP commitment to create 600 units of housing for homeless families

21

Portland: estimate of homeless families housing needs

Low service need: Situationally homeless families; best served with rapid re-housing, short-term rent assistance, emergency aid. Many may not seek services.

Moderate service needs: Homeless families with significant chance of success with short-term support. Served by HUD COC funds for transitional housing + short-term services.

High need: Bridges to Housing program for families with significant barriers to success. Perm affordable hsg + intensive services + mainstream services + child care over 3-5 yrs

Ongoing high need: Heads of household permanently unable to work. Ongoing chronic issues. PSH, ongoing hsg and coord supp srvcs

22

Bridges to Housing EvaluationRegional Research Institute, Portland State University3 components:• Longitudinal outcome study • Process study on implementation• Impact & effectiveness in

improving outcomes

23

B2H findings to date

52 families:• 81% single female parents • Young children: 82% 12 years &

younger • Most families have 1-2 children• 89% at least one special need/disability

24

High Resource User Screening Tool

Created by B2H service providers:• Families that are homeless for long

time, not necessarily high resource users

• Tool determines B2H eligibility • Range of scores 10-22, average 14• Two largest family providers use to

determine eligibility for a range of housing programs

25

B2H Housing HistoryHomelessness history Average

#Min # Max #

# family episodes in past 2 years

2 1 10+

Longest cont episode 10 mos 1 mo 20+ mos

# disruptions to living situation past 2 yrs

4 1 10+

# changes childcare/ ed in last 2 yrs

2 0 10+

26

B2H family stability & child wellbeing

B2H families used costly community services at a high rate. In 6 mos prior to intake:• 45% HoH used ER• 47% of families, children used ER• 24% of families, child placed in foster care• 10% had family member arrested•50%, child with behavior & other concerns

27

Implementing the B2H model• Housing first – central intake vs. from agency• Identifying appropriate families • Intensive case mgmt. – 1:15 case load• Strengths-based assessment & service planning• Case mgmt and early progress of families• Evaluation requirements

28

Systems issues affecting B2H• Access to housing & collaboration with housing partners•Service access and flexible resources•TANF regulations

29

Final thoughts for 10YPs

• If beginning 10YP – consider “Ending family homelessness” as priority, although federal support for chronic homeless focus

• Evaluate family needs and develop PSH accordingly

• Report your outcomes widely• Set PSH goals at outset, with

annual benchmarks

30

Thank youCopies of 10 year plan and updates for Portland available online at: www.portlandonline.com/bhcd

Bridges to Housing: www.bridgestohousing.com

Sally Erickson, City of Portland, Bureau of Housing & Community Development

serickson@ci.portland.or.us 503-823-0883