Solutions to Homelessness

1. Issue Explorer #3Solutions to Homelessness

3. Setting the Stage Housing First Planning and Data Collection Collaboration and Partnership

4. Housing First Housing is a right not a reward Housing is necessary for health and stability Evidence-based success

5. Planning and Data Collection Data drives policy and planning Identify frequent users of systems Identify appropriate services mix HMIS Not yet used enough but effective client tracker

6. Collaboration & Partnership Continuum of Care Community based organizer Funding Collaboration Collaboration across systems at local level Collaboration across Federal Gov’t agencies (HHS, HUD, VA, etc.) USICH Public private partnerships Washington State MOU

7. Prevention Most effective method for ending homelessness is to prevent it from happening Case management Rapid re-housing Discharge planning

8. Case management Budgeting assistance Job skills training Resolve issues that are barriers to housing stability Goal: keep families housed

9. Rapid re-housing Landlord mediation & outreach Legal assistance Rental assistance Individualized assistance to locate and secure new housing when required Goal: re-house families as quickly as possible when they experience a housing crisis

10. Discharge Planning Hospitals Jails and prisons Foster care Goal: ensure that individuals discharged from these systems have option for safe, stable housing

11. Interventions Increasing access to available benefits Permanent supportive housing Case management and stabilizing services Employment and job training

12. Increasing access to benefits Accessing disability benefits Legal aid programs Goal: ensure that individuals and families have access to income and resources they need, and to which they are entitled

13. Permanent Supportive Housing For hardest to serve: chronically homeless individuals and families Repeat users of homeless system Support services matched to needs of client Goal: provide stable housing and services for most vulnerable, with dramatic reduction in use of costly public systems (ER, jails, detox, etc.)

14. Support services Health care Mental health services Addiction services Education Employment Goal: preparing formerly homeless individuals and families for independent living in the community

15. Employment and Job Training Employment training programs for those with multiple barriers to employment Social enterprise that employs and trains homeless Programs to promote asset building Goal: preparing formerly homeless individuals and families for independent living in the community

16. Obstacles to Success Part of solving the problem is recognizing & overcoming major obstacles: Defining eligibility & targeting support services Legal issues NIMBYism Status quo Lack of resources

17. Summary Solutions to homelessness require: Adequate supply of affordable housing Preparation and planning Prevention strategies (for those at risk) Intervention strategies (for those currently homeless) Understanding obstacles to success Additional resources How to End Homelessness: The Ten Essentials Repairing Lives, Preparing Futures Ending Homelessness: A Guide for Northwest Grantmakers Ending Homelessness: The Philanthropic Role