Build the Infrastructure

STRATEGY 1:

Develop 500 units of Supportive Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing.

The Task Force to End Homelessness proposes the development of a project that addresses the needs of both the currently homeless and individuals with extremely low incomes. These 500 units would be divided equally between the two groups and would provide homeless individuals with easily accessible permanent housing. In order to effectively address the needs identified in our research, the program must eventually specialize in serving a variety of sub-populations that includes, among others, veterans, ex-offenders, mentally ill, elderly, chemically dependent individuals, and those in need of convalescent care not eligible under any other support service.

The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) explains that Supportive Housing works in breaking the cycle of homelessness for several reasons. It provides permanent housing, which in itself can provide the stability individuals and families need to build a personal infrastructure that supports work, education, and ongoing development. Supportive Housing recognizes the vital nature of permanent housing and speeds the transition from emergency housing to permanent housing by ensuring that people receive the support services they need even after they are housed.

Furthermore, it is cost-effective. CSH cites a study by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research that tracked the cost of nearly 5,000 mentally ill people in New York City. The study followed individuals through two years of homelessness and for two years after they were housed.

The researchers concluded that the cost of developing, operating, and providing services in supportive housing is nearly completely offset by the savings in public benefits in health services, shelter use, and incarceration. Even with the higher-than-average cost of housing in New York City, the average cost per housing unit was only $995 per year more than the cost of leaving an individual homeless. (http://www.csh.org)

We will seek to locate a sponsor for this proven program and locate developers willing to build supportive housing. The Task Force is further committed to assisting in site selection.

STRATEGY 2:

Develop a Program to Move 1000 Currently Low-Income Renters into

Homeownership Through Assessment, Training and Down-Payment Assistance.

In order to create vacancies for new tenants in existing subsidized housing, the Task Force to End Homelessness proposes the development of a program that identifies low-income renters who have developed a level of self-sufficiency that will enable them to move into home ownership. We propose to develop and implement an affordable housing plan in partnership with the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County to fund the rehabilitation of existing homes and the construction of new homes.

We will expand outreach efforts to locate, encourage and assess potential homeowners and expand existing homeownership training programs that effectively prepare individuals and families for the responsibilities that accompany homeownership. We will further seek to identify funding opportunities that will build upon existing down-payment assistance programs.

STRATEGY 3:

Develop Incentives to Encourage Housing Development for the Extremely Low-Income (30% AMI).

Landlords justifiably seek a financial return on their investment in housing. In order to encourage landlords to take the step of converting or building units for rental by extremely low-income individuals and families, we will promote the use of tax abatements for such development. We will further encourage area financial institutions to provide these projects with low interest loans.

STRATEGY 4:

Develop 1500 Additional Units of Rent-Subsidized Housing by Facilitating the Full Utilization of Existing Units and Construction of New Units Where Needed.

In order to end homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County, there must exist a sufficient stock of housing that is affordable for those with extremely low incomes. The 2000 Census indicated that 10,899 households in Vanderburgh County reported annual incomes of $14,999 or below. Based on local fair market rental rates and the 30% rule, this population will need some type of subsidy for rent to be affordable. An inventory of existing subsidized units, public housing, Section 8, and project based Section 8 indicate about 3,929 units are currently available.

According to the Evansville Housing Authority, approximately ten new applications are filed each day for Section 8 subsidized housing. There are currently just over 1900 vouchers available in our community, and the waiting list consistently contains the names of 1700 individuals and families. Clearly, there is a need for additional subsidized units.

Subsidies are recognized as an effective tool to reduce and prevent homelessness. A California research group analyzed two national data sets that confirmed the relationship between income inequality and an increase in homeless rates from 1986-1996. To further test their hypothesis, the researchers conducted four simulations in the largest metropolitan areas in California.

They found that:

"An effective universal voucher program would reduce homelessness by about one-fourth. They further found that a program to target subsidies to those landlords who provide housing in the lowest quartile of the housing quality distribution would largely be passed through to tenants, and that it would have important benefits in reducing homelessness." (Kathryn P. Nelson, Preventing Homelessness: Meeting the Challenge, Urban Institute transcript 2/05/2002)

To meet this goal, The Task Force to End Homelessness has established a ten-year goal of the development of 1500 additional rent subsidized units. This goal can be met in part through work with landlords to expand the stock of subsidized housing by earmarking currently vacant units for the program. In addition to the use of existing housing, construction of new units would be encouraged to reach the target number of 1500.

STRATEGY 5:

Develop Specialized Transitional Housing for Youth (18-23) and Victims of Domestic Violence.

Transitional Housing is traditionally designed to accommodate a smaller number of clients with increased support services and more privacy than an emergency shelter provides. The length of stay can extend up to two years. Support services include case management and skill development activities. As the name implies, clients best suited for transitional housing are those in some type of transition. Traditionally, it was used to transition homeless individuals and families into permanent housing. However, we now know that some sub-populations of the homeless can be better served through Housing First and Supportive Housing models. The Task Force to End Homelessness has identified two sub-populations that we believe can benefit from transitional housing.

"Scott," a participant in one of the focus groups for formerly homeless persons, stated, "Homelessness has changed from the hobo riding the rails or the county home. It’s young people. I am not sure that a homeless shelter is a good place for them. It’s like getting a degree in delinquency."

Young men and women often need specialized assistance in identifying their barriers to housing. As well, they often do not feel comfortable in shelters whose average population is much older. To successfully bridge homeless youth (ages 18 to 23) into permanent housing, specialized transitional housing will be developed where they are empowered to identify and address their educational, vocational, and social needs.

Domestic violence victims, who often have children, have unique transitional housing needs. The Evansville-Vanderburgh Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force has proposed that a successful transitional housing program will offer programs that help victims treat the issues raised by domestic violence. This type of support and training can empower domestic violence victims to build a life away from the abuser and to avoid potentially abusive relationships in the future. They further recommend that transitional housing for domestic violence victims include programs for the children who have been impacted by this type of violence.

(Evansville-Vanderburgh Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse Task Force, memo, 8/20/03)