The Cottages

At Hickory Crossing

Dallas’ Premier Model of Permanent Supportive Housing

A Status Report

January 2011

Metrocare Services: Behavioral health services, fiscal agent Central Dallas CDC: Housing development CitySquare: Case management, public relations lead UT Southwestern: Program evaluation Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance: Intake & referral Dallas County Criminal Justice: Liaison to courts

Supporting Partners Funding leadership:

W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation Meadows Foundation

Project management: Corporation for Supportive Housing

Partners

Project Objective

The Cottages at Hickory Crossing:A model permanent supportive housing community

Goal: Develop and implement Texas’ premier model of permanent supportive housing, providing:

On-site access to most services

…including high-quality healthcare and social services Integration of services

…a team approach to housing, healthcare and social services Improved behavioral health and physical health outcomes

…and quality of life of individuals served by the program Cost savings to taxpayers

…through reduced expenditures on public safety, behavioral health and healthcare Ongoing research and evaluation

…of program and clinical outcomes to guide future programs

Project Concept Target Population:

Chronically homeless who are involved in the criminal justice system, mentally ill, and/or have substance abuse issues

Three-year Pilot: 50 units of permanent supportive housing with continued operation

thereafter

Evidence-Based Service Design: Housing-first, integrated clinical and social services

Rigorous Evaluation: Including housing stability, public costs, and behavioral health

outcomes

Project Location and Site

Unit Design

bcWorkshop has developed a model for sustainable urban living,

balancing living space with open space.

Tenant Selection Tenants will be referred by:

MDHA via The Bridge The Dallas County criminal justice system

Selection criteria include: Chronically Homeless Severe and persistent mental illness

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder Usually complicated by substance use history

High cost to the public due to use of: County jail Homeless shelters Emergency rooms

Pilot Project

W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation funded a transitional housing program that offered: Immediate relief for overcrowding at The Bridge An opportunity to pilot clinical approaches to this challenging

population

Program Characteristics: Duration: February 2009 to November 2010 Total enrollments: 142 Clients (“Phase 1” only = 97 clients):

Male - 73% African American - 69%; Hispanic – 5% Bipolar – 46%; depression – 42%; schizophrenia – 12%

Pilot Project Outcomes

Housing Outcomes: Total permanent placements: 78 (55%) Unsuccessful admissions: 47 (33%)

60% of these were in program’s first six months

Left without being placed: 17 (12%)

Functional Outcomes: Mental health symptoms decreased for all diagnoses ER visits: down 67% at 120 days Hospital days: down 67% at 90 days Jail days: down 80% at 120 days

Pilot Project Outcomes

Financial Outcomes: Cost per client served: $ 9,400 Cost per successful placement: $17,000 Comparison of average monthly program costs:

Pilot project: $ 1,400 Jail: $ 1,950 Hospital: $ 12,000

Community feedback: From CitySquare staff: “a marked difference between how well former

COE residents are doing in permanent housing compared to the residents from shelters.”