Making Rapid Re-Housing Work for Youth Bill Motsavage, Executive Vice President

Transcription

1 Making Rapid Re-Housing Work for Youth Bill Motsavage, Executive Vice President

2 Agenda Brief history Philosophy and approach Continuum of housing options Model and case flow Client education What makes it work Funding tips Challenges

3 Valley Youth House Operates in eleven eastern PA counties Divisions: Prevention, Behavioral Health, Residential, Independent Living IL houses over 400 Transition Age Youth (TAY) and babies annually Non-residential IL provider for seven counties including Philadelphia: approximately 2,200 youth served annually (often a feeder for RRH) Populations: homeless, near homeless, and youth ageing out of FC Previously managed three HPRP grants, Kids for Cash settlement RRHtype program, and two other ESG RRH grants Currently two RRH projects: Philadelphia (LGBTQ specific) and Montgomery County PA

4 History and Why We Did It? HUD SHP Models HPRP ESG and Other RRH Models

5 Continuum of Housing Options Most Restrictive Least Restrictive Traditional Approaches Small Group Living Multi unit building RRH REAL WORLD Approach and Philosophical Keys Low Freedom/Responsibility High Book Learning Experiential Limited/Artificial Behavioral Opportunities Realistic External Control Internal Unacceptable Mistakes Opportunities Agency Driven Decisions and Planning Youth Driven Artificial Consequences Natural

6 Model and Case Flow Referral: multiple sources including County Housing Resource Centers (centralized intake) Screening assessment: screen in Conditional acceptance (reduce barriers = philosophical change) 30 day initial plan (includes co-pay plan, housing, education, employment-living wage, life skills, permanency, documentation, medical, mental health, etc.) Client contract Apartment search - Individualized Landlord negotiation and lease execution

7 Model and Case Flow Move in assistance and furnishing ISP Ongoing intensive case management: 8 to 1 or less ratio Typical assistance of 12 months with flexibility Discharged based on client readiness for independence

8 Client Education Apartment hunting Credit and credit scores Roommate searches Security deposits Renters rights Apartment maintenance and repair Landlord relations Being a good neighbor Saying no when you need to (no taking in strays) Reading a lease/ending a lease Financial management Everything else!

9 What Makes It Work? Philosophy Relationship based Understanding of adolescent development Flexible thinking shades of gray Sufficient case management (ratio of 8 to 1 or less) Random check ins (midnight madness) Independent living skills education and opportunities to practice (hard and soft skills). Includes LL and community relations (how to be a good neighbor) Other supportive services: food, transportation, start up furnishings, etc. Who you hire and why

10 What Makes It Work? Access to quality clinical services Help youth connect with permanency resources Lightest touch Track and report outcomes to funders Know they will mess up: make it difficult to get thrown out Utilize incentives and external natural behavioral pressure/expectations Transition in place approach with flexibility Avoid drift Alumni opportunities and support With/watch/confirm approach

11 Funding Tips Show up (again and again) to your Continuum of Care (CoC) and know HUD time frames Encourage and support youth self-advocacy Build community awareness of an often low-visibility issue Seek allies and partners: demonstrate cost effectiveness and outcomes Diversify funding - you will need it

12 Funding Tips Be aware of funding trends Be opportunistic Private $ to fill gaps are a necessity Foundations, corporate donations (BBB example), adopt an apartment

13 Challenges Inflexible co-pay requirements in some jurisdictions limits savings or paying off debt Lack of appropriate shelter options during conditional acceptance and housing search Funding supportive services, case management, and admin costs Complicated grant requirements Lots of meeting/admin time

14 Challenges Affordable housing (Philly suburbs) Working with initial glitches regarding centralized intake Small grants = split positions = challenging to manage and track Spend down challenges in first grant cycle (we had no youth on day one) More needy client base (but outcomes not substantially different)

15 Outcomes: 2014 n = youth and 5 babies housed 29 youth exited program o Housing at exit: o 96.5% in stable housing at exit (own apartment, shared apartment, college dorm, etc) o Employment at exit: o 75% employed o Education at exit: o 83% graduated HS/earned GED, 3% enrolled, 14% dropped out