1. Staying in HousingH.O.M.E. ConferenceSeptember 16, 2010 1 Christy Respress, MSW Pathways to Housing DC

3. Supportive housing is high quality subsidized housing that fits well into neighborhoods

4. Supportive housing units offer features that foster independence and dignity (i.e., kitchen & bath in each unit)

5. Supportive housing tenants sign and abide by lease agreements, pay rent, and enjoy the same pride in their homes as their neighbors

8. Leverages community based services to meet tenant’s needs.

9. Emphasis on long-term services planning to achieve personal life goals.

10. Develops independent living skills and greater levels of self-sufficiency in gradual steps over time.

12. Tasks Educate people about available housing options and expectations of each Identify skills and supports needed to maintain chosen housing options Establish housing stability as a service goal Assist people to secure an income

13. Tasks Prepare for the expectations of each housing opportunity Plan for and assist in maintaining housing (paying rent, apartment maintenance and upkeep, complying with the lease, and accessing aftercare services and supports)

14. What services do tenants need to help them remain in housing? Pre-tenancy & Move-in assistance Employment Money Management Activities of Daily Living Access to Benefits Providing education about medications and medication management support Assisting tenants to develop skills needed to live in the community

15. Services cont’d…. Eviction Prevention Crisis Intervention Planning Legal Issues Credit Issues Supporting tenants’ recovery from substance abuse Assisting with socialization and recreational activities

16. Goal Based Assessment And Service Delivery Getting & Keeping People Housed

18. Introduce yourself and how you can be helpful

19. Repeated, predictable, non-intrusive patterns of interaction

20. Responding to felt needs

21. Respecting boundaries

22. Allowing people as much control as possible over interactions

23. Be patient and persistent

25. What Are People Asking For A Safe Affordable Place To Live Community Services Appropriate To Their Needs Choice Money Enough To Live On A Role In The Community And In Their Families A Chance For Their Children And Themselves To Get Ahead

26. Education: Clarify What You Can Offer Housing Models and Expectations of Each Expectations of tenancy Rent payment Quiet enjoyment Maintaining apartment Financial Realities Application process and timelines

27. Building Motivation for Change 15 Assessment Stages of change Intervention Motivational Interviewing Negotiation Harm Reduction Strategies

29. Breaks down the process that people typically move through to change a problem behavior

31. Contemplation

32. Preparation

33. Action / Relapse

35. Sees cycling through the stages several times as normal, not as failure

36. Interventions match where person is

37. Resistance is seen in terms of not understanding where someone is

39. Helps to resolve ambivalence and get a person moving along the path to change

40. Client is treated as an ally

42. Working with someone in Precontemplation Stage Ask them about their life goals and point out that having good health may help them reach those goals (ex. Need to take care of your feet if you want a job where you may be standing all day) Provide them information about other people living with that challenge (ex. Diabetes, high blood pressure, overweight) Provide education on health related topics Instill hope and listen

43. 22 Contemplation…thinking about change The stage where the person examines their patterns of behavior and the potential for change in a risk-reward analysis. Ex: “I know that I shouldn’t smoke cigarettes, but I’ve tried to stop before and I always start smoking again. I don’t think I can do it”. Tasks: Analysis of the pros and cons of the current behavior and the costs and benefits of change. Goal: A considered evaluation that leads to a decision to change.

44. Working with someone in Contemplation Stage The worker can say “yes, I know it’s hard to quit smoking. What difficult things have you accomplished in the past?”. What do you think is getting in the way of stopping smoking now? How would your health change if you quit smoking? Ask, “Given everything else in your life, how important is it to you that you stop smoking on a scale of 1 to 10?”.

46. Providing user friendly services including low barriers for participation, informal atmospheres, flexible hours and locations.

48. Tenant Selection Know Fair Housing Laws Pre Application PSH Eligibility Credit Check? Criminal Background Check? Reasonable Accommodation? Family Size

49. Reasonable Accommodation If you have a disability that interferes with your ability to access or use housing your landlord may not: Refuse to let you make reasonable modifications to your dwelling or common use areas, at your expense, if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing. (Where reasonable, the landlord may permit changes only if you agree to restore the property to its original condition when you move.) Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.

50. Eviction Prevention Reasons: Lease Based Timeframe Process Communication Appeal Prevention

52. Painting

53. Plumbing

54. Electrical

55. Cable ?

56. Appliances ?

57. Timeframe for Repairs

59. Quiet Enjoyment Tenants have the right to enjoy their homes The right not to be disturbed without cause Notice of Repairs Notice of Inspections Reasonable protections from noise Reasonable protection from criminal activities Safe Tenant can not interfere with others rights and can not be interfered with

60. Rent Payment Rent is due on the 1st (?) of the month Notice of non-payment is sent on? Communication Structure Available resources to pay back rent Payment Plan is possible but not assumed Eviction Process in Court Timeframe

61. Building Amenities What is included (pool, lawns, driveways, common areas, security) Rules for Use Policy on Guests Tenants can not be excluded from Building amenities Rules may apply

62. Appeals People have the right to contact a lawyer People can appeal to the courts, HUD (fair housing), government People have a right to a lease which spells out all the rights and obligations of tenancy People have a right to all tenant selection decisions in writing as well as eviction notification.

63. Maximizing Housing Retention Working with Landlords and Managing Agents

64. Working with Landlords Engagement Pro-active outreach Introduce yourself and how you can be helpful Be persistent and reachable Know fair housing law Responding to needs Recognize that they own the property Be patient and persistent

65. Working with Landlords Assessment of what is needed Eligibility Standards Rent payment Maintaining apartment Allowing quiet enjoyment Keeping apartments filled Assistance with problem tenants

66. Working with Landlords Provide Education What services do you have available Knowledge of tenancy expectations Positive experiences with other projects Make a plan Try starting slowly Re-evaluate

67. Defining Expectations How often will you talk? How will you know when there is a problem? What are the expectations for common problems? What is the communication process to tenants / service provider How can you negotiate this without seeming too much of a social worker?

68. Common Issues Rent Delays Frequent Visitors / People Moving In Suspected Criminal Activity Problems with Neighbors Frequent Repair Requests Hoarding / Problems Maintaining Apartment 911 calls

69. Strategies Educate tenants on their rights and responsibilities Ensure all tenants understand the lease Be familiar with the eviction protocol Check in with the landlord regularly Visit tenants in their apartment as much as possible Ensure resources are available when needed Establish a communication structure Ensure all roles are clear: Tenant; Landlord; and Service Provider

70. Final Thoughts Maintaining housing is a primary goal. Many people may not make it in their first apartment. Use this as an opportunity for learning. Get creative in your interventions!

71. Contact Information Christy Respress Pathways to Housing DC crespress@pathwaysdc.org www.pathwaystohousing.org 202-529-2972, xt. 120