Opening the Back Door

to Leave Homelessness

GAP:	Homeless persons are experiencing extended length of stays in emergency shelter due to lack of safe and affordable housing or are obtaining inappropriate housing that increases their potential to re-enter homelessness.
GOAL:	Increase appropriate housing opportunities and services necessary to move clients out of shelters in a timely manner and help them establish long-term housing.
OUTCOME:	Any resident who ultimately loses housing will be able to re-establish appropriate housing within 14 days.

STRATEGY 1:

Develop a "Housing First" Program for Those in Emergency Shelter that Includes Rent Subsidy and Transitional Case Management for Up to 250 Households

STRATEGY 2:

Develop an Active Mentoring Program Through Local Churches to Tie Formerly Homeless Persons into the Community

STRATEGY 1:

Develop a "Housing First" Program for Those in Emergency Shelter that Includes Rent Subsidy and Transitional Case Management for Up to 250 Households.

Those of us who own our homes or who are established in a rental property don’t often think about the security that stable housing provides. We come home to the same place every night, our clothing and other possessions are secure, we have an address where we can receive correspondence, and our children can settle into the routines of school and neighborhood friendships.

A 2002 report by the Bi-Partisan Millennial Housing Commission echoes the importance of housing, especially for children. The report states that "decent, affordable, and stable housing promotes family stability and creates a positive environment for raising children." For those who lack stable housing, frequent moves disrupt not only children’s lives, but the lives of anyone attempting to secure and maintain employment, obtain medical care, utilize social services, or pursue an education.

A "Housing First" approach recognizes that if a move to permanent housing is accompanied by supportive services, individuals and families experience a more rapid and successful stabilization in their lives. (The National Alliance to End Homelessness)

Homelessness states that a "Housing First" approach is based on two central concepts. The first is that re-housing, not emergency housing should be the central goal of any effort that addresses the needs of the homeless. The second is that a combination of housing assistance and ongoing case management services can effectively reduce time spent in emergency or temporary housing.

(http://www.endhomelessness.org/section/tools/housingfirst)

A "Housing First" model does not presume that transitional housing is unnecessary. It seeks, rather, to "shift the paradigm of service provision to homeless people" by recognizing that stable housing itself is key to building the structures that enable individuals and families to build a solid foundation for success. The continuation of services that have been traditionally extended only to the currently homeless would result in shorter stays in transitional or emergency housing.

Local program guidelines and procedures will be established, and program sponsor(s) and potential landlord participation will be identified. Program sponsors will then offer training to emergency shelters on program eligibility and the referral process.

What is "Housing First"?

Delivering for Families and Children: Community-wide Housing First

Frequently Asked Questions about Housing First for Individuals and Families

Housing First for Individuals and Families

STRATEGY 2:

Develop an Active Mentoring Program Through Local Churches to Tie Formerly Homeless Persons Into the Community.

We recognize and applaud the immense contributions made by local communities of faith to providing services to Evansville’s homeless population.

Their supportive environment and ties to the greater community make area churches ideal partners in ending homelessness by actively mentoring formerly homeless individuals and families.

Churches can be an effective bridge into the community for the formerly homeless. The one-on-one encouragement and support church members can offer during the transition into permanent housing can make a significant difference in achieving a successful transition.

Churches can further assist in a transition to independence by using their links to community businesses and employers to help formerly homeless individuals secure work.

We propose to begin by investigating model programs. Once that research is complete, appropriate program sponsorship and community support for this effort will be established.

STRATEGY 3:

Develop an Assessment Center That Is Open 24 Hours a Day, Seven Days a Week.

Under our current system, anyone needing shelter must contact up to eight different facilities to locate a bed. The point-of-entry for the homeless person then becomes that individual shelter. The individual shelters and programs determine client assessment, referrals and services, and the consistency of information made available. The level of service provided differs from shelter to shelter.

One outcome of the successful implementation of the ten-year plan will be a reduced need for emergency shelters. At this point we will seek to establish a first-entry Assessment Center. The center will ultimately become the point-of-entry for those experiencing a loss of housing. The Center will provide temporary housing, diagnostic assessment and referral to permanent housing and any needed treatment services within 24 hours.

Because homeless individuals with disabilities and those experiencing the effects of substance use face unique challenges, the center would further bridge these clients into the support or case management services necessary to support them until they are able to function as productively and independently as possible. This service will provide stability, appropriate housing, assistance with basic human needs, and establish a support and advocacy system.

Click on the "BUILD" image below to access the next component of the plan: Build