Housing First: The First 30 Days

Presenters: Aaron Criswell-Director of Supportive Services-

Step Up on Second Arely Vasquez-Regional Manager-Barker

Management Inc.

Step Up on Second: Mission and Vision

Vision

Step Up envisions that all individuals, families, and communities affected by mental illness will have the opportunity to experience recovery and a sense of belonging, and that permanent supportive housing will be available to everyone who needs it.

Mission Step Up delivers compassionate support to people experiencing serious mental illness to

help them recover, stabilize, and integrate into the community. Through dynamic partnerships, we provide positive social and learning environments, vocational training, permanent supportive housing opportunities, and recovery services to empower individuals to cultivate lives of hope and dignity. We exercise innovative leadership and advocacy to increase public understanding, support and acceptance of all people living with mental illness.

Toward achievement of our mission, Step Up delivers: Comprehensive support services and programs leading to self-sufficiency, harm-reduction

and recovery for individuals with mental illness. Meaningful opportunities for members and their families to achieve self-determined goals,

experience community, and support advocacy to reduce discrimination. Exemplary permanent supportive housing, associated services, and infrastructure that are

member-focused, outcomes-based, economically and environmentally sustainable, aligned with the Housing First model, and developed through longstanding, trusted partnerships.

Service Model

All permanent supportive housing projects have on-site services called Life Skills Coordinators

Life Skills staff provide supportive services on-site and coordinate with mental health provider to assist the tenant in increasing their independent living skills

Life Skills and provider staff work to problem-solve when tenant is behaving in ways that violate the lease

Services and Property Management

Our Permanent supportive Housing projects have Resident Managers supervised through a 3rd party organization.

The relationship between services and Resident Management is critical.

Communication can be tricky: RM can tell services everything they observe. Services can receive this information but need to maintain a boundary around mental health information

How do we effectively move forward with these restrictions?

Pre Lease Up

Connection to on-site services

Planning for appointments/preparation

Stuff – What to keep/discard? How to minimize infestation/exposure?

View unit

Services and PM coordinate to identify dates and time-frames

Day 1

Move-in Services present at lease-signing New projects: make it an event. Have food,

strong staff support, keep it exciting. Be prepared for many hiccups in the process.

Orient to Building, unit, equipment. Does the tenant know how to control the thermostat? Laundry machines? Garbage disposal?

Review food and basic living requirements. Make sure the basics are covered.

Week 1

Daily contact in unit Review lease/house rules Assist in establishing utilities/cable/phone Services interfaces with PM to learn about

behaviors Orient to community resources

◦ Welcome packet that includes: Local emergency service information Grocery store Bank Services and groups Utilities for phone, cable, power, water, etc. Volunteer opportunities

Week 2

Complete Life Skills Assessment tool Should cover domains:

◦ Money Management ◦ Food Management ◦ Personal Appearance and Hygiene ◦ Health ◦ Housekeeping ◦ Housing ◦ Transportation ◦ Educational Planning ◦ Vocational Skills ◦ Emergency and Safety Skills ◦ Knowledge of Community Resources ◦ Interpersonal skills ◦ Legal Skills

Week 2 cont’d

Begin establishing Life Skills goals/complete goal sheet

Daily contact in unit or office

Orient to on-site group activities

Review tenant benefits and eligibility. Assist in application for maximum benefits

Week 3

Minimum of weekly contact. Services should see condition of the unit

Orient to Tenant Advisory Committee (TAC) TAC –

◦ Gives a voice to tenants so they may participate in the process…not just recipients

◦ Coordinate events & activities, provide feedback on tenant satisfaction and provide input on policy/rules

◦ Elected representatives with offices: President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary

Week 3 cont’d

Problem identification and solutions ◦ (Soft Points for support)

◦ Lease/house rules violations

Housekeeping

Volume

Increased substance use/abuse

Decreased engagement with treatment

Guests/overnight guests/homeless shelter syndrome

Pets/No pets policies – ADA law and compliance

Desire for privacy – Door & Lock

Money management

Week 4

Continue weekly contact and review of housekeeping

Preparation for rent and bill payment ◦ Money management ◦ Transition to new responsibilities ◦ Avoid late/non-payment of rent – the most time-

sensitive housing issue!

Review initial behaviors and issues Receive information from PM Solidify/complete goal sheet and treatment

plan moving forward Harm Reduction

Week 5 – Moving forward

Everything is perfect now…right?!

Milestones such as 30 days housing retention will be passed. Successful Permanent Supportive Housing involves ongoing services to support the individual tenants as they encounter challenges. Our goal should be to empower each tenant to navigate the housing process so they can retain their housing as long as they CHOOSE.

Property Management

List of typical tasks for a resident manager ◦ Collect rent from the residents in accordance with company guidelines ◦ Deposit the rents collected ◦ Provide each resident with a receipt ◦ Post rents ◦ Inform supervisor of any residents delinquent in their payment of rent or damages ◦ Serve non-payment of rent notices ◦ Inspect interior common areas of development ◦ Walk grounds in and around development ◦ Ensure all service requests submitted by the residents are accomplished in a timely

manner ◦ Address resident complaints ◦ Support the social services program operating within the development ◦ conduct unit inspections ◦ Ensure vacant units are being cleaned and prepared for new residents in timely manner ◦ Conduct annual recertification’s ◦ Attend meetings, schedule vendors

Property Management and Services working together

Patience, understanding and communication Mission and goal – Not to generate revenue

but to keep special populations housed Work together to communicate rules,

guidelines, lease Each tenant has unique needs. Find the best

approach for each tenant Positive and realistic attitude and

expectations for tenants Interventions with tenants are generated

through meetings where the goal of housing retention is the top priority.

Thank you

The work to keep our populations housed is challenging, never boring and critical to help people transcend the weight of homelessness and suffering. We are in the business of participating in changing lives and providing hope.