HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/25/2015 - UPDATE ON HOMELESSNESS ACTION ITEMSDATE:
STAFF:
August 25, 2015
Beth Sowder, Director of Social Sustainability
Vanessa Fenley, Director of Homeward 2020
WORK SESSION ITEM
City Council
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Update on Homelessness Action Items.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to focus primarily on local action items to address homelessness in Fort Collins and
provide a larger context with a brief overview of national, state, and regional trends of homelessness issues and
practices.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
1. Does Council have any specific questions about the local action items?
2. Does Council have any specific questions about national, state, and regional trends of homelessness issues?
3. Is there anything else that Council would like staff and Homeward 2020 to consider as we move forward?
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Homelessness is occurring all over the country (and the world) in communities of all sizes A t the federal, state,
and local level, various programs and campaigns have been tried in an effort to reduce both homelessness and
the negative impacts of homelessness on the community. This item will provide a brief overview of national,
state, and regional trends, and it will focus primarily on actions that are already occurring or that are in the
planning stages here in Fort Collins. The goal of this suite of actions is to make homelessness rare, short-lived,
and non-recurring.
The City of Fort Collins is fortunate to have many great service providers who are collaborating on solutions to
end homelessness. Other communities have been looked at such as Houston and Salt Lake City who have
experienced great success in reducing their homeless population. There are also National best practices which
have been studied and researched by visiting and talking to key players involved. Multi-agency teams have
attended national conferences hosted by the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Housing First, and the National
Alliance to End Homelessness. The solutions and strategies bringing success to other communities are the
concepts being focused on implementing in Fort Collins.
The agencies work together and know the homeless population in Fort Collins. Once a month, an interagency
team with over 25 different service providers meets to discuss the most frequent utilizers of emergency services.
The issues of mental health and addiction which plague that subsection of homeless are severe and the
necessary services to treat such as detox are in short supply or nonexistent.
National Trends
Nationally, there is currently a push at the federal level to end veteran homelessness in 2015 and chronic
homelessness in 2017. Additionally, there is an emphasis on better data collection and increased understanding
of what works for youth and families experiencing homelessness. The primary system for data collection is the
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and this system in conjunction with coordinated entry among
service providers are prioritized in the Continuum of Care applications.
August 25, 2015 Page 2
Best practices that are emphasized by federal funders include those that provide access to permanent or long-
term housing for individuals experiencing homeless, specifically through a housing first approach:
Permanent supportive housing (to provide time-unlimited housing and supportive services for those who
are disabled and/or chronically homeless)
Rapid re-housing (to quickly re-house an individual or family to either end their homeless episode or
provide a bridge to accessing a more permanent subsidy)
Supportive services (to provide the support needed for people to retain housing)
Prevention and shelter diversion (to prevent people from falling into homelessness and to more efficiently
utilize limited shelter beds)
Coordinated entry (to more efficiently and effectively utilize limited housing resources)
Outreach (to meet people where they are at currently, providing access to the housing and service
system for some of the most vulnerable individuals)
National Data for Chronically Homeless
Coordinated entry (also known as coordinated assessment or coordinated intake), paves the way for more
efficient homeless assistance systems by:
Helping people move through the system faster by reducing the amount of time people spend moving
from program to program before finding the right match;
Reducing new entries into homelessness by consistently offering prevention and diversion resources
upfront, reducing the number of people entering the system unnecessarily; and
Improving data collection and quality and providing accurate information on what kind of assistance
people need.
See Attachment 2 for coordinated entry system graphic.
State Trends in Colorado
In Colorado, the “supportive housing toolkit” was developed to increase capacity of local communities to develop
supportive housing with a focus specifically on vulnerable homeless populations.
August 25, 2015 Page 3
There is a push to encourage communities to participate in the Mayor’s Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness,
as well as convening Coming Home Colorado, an effort to increase housing placements for veterans and
ultimately end veteran homelessness in Colorado.
Additionally, Medicaid Crosswalk is a program to assist agencies better understand how Medicaid coverage can
be used to serve people in permanent supportive housing for reimbursement of supportive services and case
management. Information and feedback from participation was also taken to state agencies, including Healthcare
Policy and Financing (HCPF), to assure the Medicaid system functioned in a way that allowed for these costs to
be reimbursed.
Regional Trends
The Continuum of Care program is designed by HUD to promote communitywide commitment of the goal of
ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to
quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused; promote
access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless; and optimize self-sufficiency among
individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Colorado has three Continuums of Care which include: 1. Denver metro area, 2. Colorado Springs, and 3. the
Balance of State (includes the remaining counties in Colorado). The Northern Front Range Continuum of Care
(NFRCC) is one of 11 planning regions within Colorado’s Balance of State which is comprised of Larimer and
Weld counties. The Balance of State Continuum of Care is moving towards coordinated entry by:
1. Northern Colorado (Larimer and Weld counties) will be a pilot site
2. Tapping into HUD-approved technical assistance to help with establishing processes for coordinated
entry
In addition to coordinated entry, the NFRCC is discussing opportunities to engage landlords in the following ways:
1. Utilizing a training provided by Brothers Redevelopment on effective landlord outreach (they were
effective in Denver with this training)
2. Examining other incentive programs used in other communities
Local Action Items
Strategies aligned with the 10 Year Plan to Make Homelessness Rare, Short-Lived, and Non-Recurring have
been implemented since the plan was launched in 2010. The Community Conversation provided an opportunity to
bolster efforts around select action items deemed critical by the community. The brief timeline below provides
information on major strategies implemented through 2014, action items for 2015, and anticipated strategies for
2016 and on.
2010 - 2014: Overview of Activities and Progress in the Community
Improved data collection efforts through administering a Registry Week, conducting regular Point-in-Time
Counts, and beginning to collect quarterly output data from service providers
Increased permanent supportive housing supply through acquiring additional VASH vouchers (for
veterans) and developing Redtail Ponds (efforts led by the Fort Collins Housing Authority)
Increased rapid re-housing supply by launching One Village One Family (a program of Homeless Gear)
Increased access to supportive services, specifically mental health services provided by SummitStone
Health Partners
Initiated a cold weather emergency shelter program
Implemented a volunteer-run street outreach program (a program of Homeless Gear)
Increased community awareness of homelessness and the solutions needed to make it rare, short-lived,
and non-recurring
August 25, 2015 Page 4
2015 Action Items
Priority action items for 2015 include the following items. More detailed information on each item is below.
Enhance data collection by improving the functioning and usage of a Homeless Management Information
System (HMIS)
Initiate planning for future permanent supportive housing
Develop strategies to specifically make veteran homelessness rare, short-lived, and non-recurring
Engage landlords to increase housing opportunities for people who are currently homeless
Implement a street outreach program
Enhance communication and engagement with the Fort Collins community around the issue of
homelessness, including a definition matrix (Attachment 1)
Activities and Strategies for 2016 and on
Complete development of additional permanent supportive housing; use data to regularly assess the
need for additional units
Develop additional rapid re-housing opportunities for those needing temporary assistance or assistance
until they are able to access a more permanent housing option
Implement a coordinated entry process
Expand access to and usage of HMIS, further improving the community’s ability to assess the current
status of homelessness and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented programs and strategies
Establish robust prevention and shelter diversion efforts
Additional Information on 2015 Action Items
As a result of the Community Conversations on Homelessness earlier this year, Homeward 2020 has taken the
lead, while continuing to work with the various partners, in coordinating, planning, and implementing several
action items here in Fort Collins.
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
National trends have demonstrated the need for having an integrated HMIS system which will provide more
accurate, timely assessment of the status of homelessness in Fort Collins, as compared to current measures like
the Point-in-Time count. The benefits of this system include:
more consistent evaluation of services at the program, agency, and community levels
help compare apples to apples when assessing how well people are being served
can be the technology used for coordinated entry
The next steps identified are:
1. Determine/identify community-level reports to pull.
2. Establish processes and agreements for sharing data.
3. Bring on additional non-HUD-funded agencies.
By the end of the year, this system will enable Homeward 2020 and the City to have the capability to share basic
client information (i.e., demographic and some intake), will provide access for two new agencies (the Murphy
Center and Homeless Gear), and will pull the first community-level reports on the effectiveness of a community-
wide system for making homelessness rare, short-lived, and non-recurring.
August 25, 2015 Page 5
Potential Benefits of HMIS
Permanent Supportive Housing
Permanent Supportive Housing is a model that aligns with the federal priority of ending chronic homelessness.
The Fort Collins Housing Authority (FCHA) opened Redtail Ponds, Fort Collins’ first permanent supportive
housing, in March of this year. It provides 40 units to chronic and veteran homeless individuals, and 20 low-
income/affordable units. While this project is a huge success for Fort Collins, the need exists for more permanent
supportive housing.
The FCHA is taking the lead to examine the next permanent supportive housing project. The project stems from
conversations started in the Supportive Housing Toolkit the state convened. They are looking at a comparably-
sized project to Redtail Ponds.
Some of the positive outcomes at Redtail Ponds included:
Residents giving back by volunteering at Homeless Gear
At least two residents have recently obtained employment
Residents supporting each other
Residents receiving medical care and able to have surgeries that were put off due to not have a place to
recover
No one has returned to homelessness
Over 25 residents have signed up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-
ED) nutrition program
Partner agencies providing services on-site include SummitStone Health Partners, Veterans
Administration, Catholic Charities, Dedicated Navigators, SNAP-ED, Heart Center Counseling
Veterans Homelessness
As mentioned above, the Mayor’s Challenge to End Homelessness is a program pushed out at the National and
State level. It is intended to be a way to solidify partnerships and secure commitments to end Veteran
homelessness from mayors across the country. Specifically, the call to action is for mayors to make a
commitment to end Veteran homelessness in their cities in 2015.
August 25, 2015 Page 6
In July, Mayor Troxell agreed to participate in the challenge, and staff is working with Homeward 2020 and the
Veterans Administration to examine where the greatest assistance is needed. The Point In Time count identified
32 veterans; the VA uses the multiplier 1.89 to estimate annual veteran population who’s homeless which would
be about 60 veterans in Fort Collins over the course of a year. Redtail Ponds have housed about 17 and another
was housed with rapid re-housing through the Volunteers of America (VOA). An additional 8 VASH (Veterans
Administration Supportive Housing) vouchers have been leased up since January.
Landlord Outreach
Landlord outreach will begin in an effort to gain more units available to people experiencing homelessness. Local
providers will participate in landlord training given by Brothers Redevelopment and hosted by the Northern Front
Range Continuum of Care. Brothers Redevelopment were successful in providing training in the Denver area to
local landlords which resulted in 200 units available for people experiencing homelessness.
Information will also be presented to the Northern Colorado Rental Housing Association including:
1. Current programs looking for partnerships with landlords include One Village One Family (Homeless
Gear), Supportive Services for Veteran Families (VOA), and SummitStone Health Partners.
2. Building on Neighbor to Neighbor’s tenant training - looking for landlords to partner in refining the training
curriculum or presenting occasionally.
Street Outreach Program
Staff is submitting a mid-cycle budget offer in order to pilot a Street Outreach Program in Fort Collins. This
collaborative program would be based off the best practice model used in Burlington, VT. It would provide an
outreach team available 7 days per week to provide a range of services for persons in and around the downtown
business areas focusing on assisting people with psychiatric disabilities, individuals dealing with substance
abuse, homelessness, and other unmet social service needs including assessment, support, and active referrals
to needed services. Specific data/outcomes seen in Burlington and expected in Fort Collins include:
A safe downtown for everybody
Decrease in calls for service to Police
Decrease in call frequency for high-use individuals
Increased access to travelers and harder-to-reach segment of homeless population
More effective services for people experiencing homelessness; increased access (among homeless
population) to mental health supports, other resources and, in the long term, housing
“Cost avoidance” benefits (less Police calls for services, emergency room visits, and jail visits)
Positive impact on other systems like court and corrections
Greater coordination and efficiency
Supports reducing anxiety of merchants, increasing communication, connecting people with services,
building relationships, and monitoring status of services (how many shelter beds available, etc.)
Staff and partners are planning to use the best practices learned from the Burlington, VT model and modify them
to meet the specific needs of Fort Collins.
Downtown Response/Merchant Training
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) worked closely with several service providers (including Homeward
2020), businesses, and the City (Police and Social Sustainability) to learn about the behaviors that were
problematic downtown. In response, an educational workshop was developed to better understand how
businesses may respond to disruptive behaviors that tend to intensify during the busy summer season. There
have been three workshops offered to date, and they have been open to anyone. They focus on concerns
businesses have shared with the DDA, Downtown Business Association, Police, and Social Sustainability.
August 25, 2015 Page 7
Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
Quarterly Gatherings
o In an effort to continue the community conversation on homelessness and respond to the input
that more communication is needed, Homeward 2020 is convening quarterly gatherings for the
Community Conversation. The quarterly gatherings began in July, and the next one is scheduled
for October 8, 6:30-8:00 p.m., at the Old Town Library.
o Partnering with Fort Collins Reads to highlight youth homelessness (a theme of Close Your Eyes,
Hold Hands).
o Welcoming feedback from the community regarding future topics of these meetings and ways to
improve the gathering.
The Coloradoan and the United Way are partnering to host a poverty simulation in mid-September, which
can then recruit people to participate in Make a Difference Day. Homeward 2020 are also working with
the Coloradoan and local and state officials to present an advocacy-focused event specifically for people
experiencing homelessness and people living in poverty.
Homeward 2020 is updating the Ten Year Plan to accurately reflect current information. A draft will be
ready in September.
Homeward 2020 is updating their website to serve as a community resource for understanding
homelessness in Fort Collins and finding opportunities to get engaged.
City of Fort Collins and Homeward 2020 Homelessness Initiatives Agreement is currently being finalized
and are working together to put the agreement into action.
In conclusion, it is important to understand that homelessness is a complex issue and it takes all partners working
together as a community to ensure that homelessness is rare, short-lived, and non-recurring. The strategies
outlined are based on best practices and align in a way that has been proven in other communities to reduce
homelessness.
The faces of homelessness are as varied as the number of individuals experiencing homelessness. There is no
one solution which is effective in all cases. All solutions take thoughtful planning and resources. Other
communities experiencing success have used a combination of:
1. Best practice solutions
2. Targeted resources to solutions that achieved the best results
3. A commitment of local funds
While there is still a lot of work to be done, it is important to acknowledge the successes seen in the past six
months or so since the Community Conversation on Homelessness. Over 40 people are off the streets and living
in their own apartment now, thanks to Redtail Ponds. Five families are no longer homeless because of One
Village One Family, which is one of Homeless Gear’s programs. The focus on long-term, evidence-based
solutions are providing successes, and the need to continue to work together to do more still exists.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Typology of Homelessness (PDF)
2. Coordinated Entry System Graphic (PDF)
3. Powerpoint presentation (PDF)
What can we do to talk more effectively about homelessness?
Use People-First, Respectful Language
• Use language that recognizes the person first, followed by a description of a
characteristic or experience
• For example, use “people experiencing homelessness” rather than “homeless
people” or “the homeless”
• Terms commonly viewed as being inappropriate, demeaning, or derogatory to use
when describing people experiencing homelessness include “bum,” “hobo,” or
“vagrant”
• The term “transient” may also cause confusion as some equate “homeless” and
“transient,” while others reserve the term “transient” for individuals who travel and do
not consider Fort Collins to be their home
Use Common Definitions
A common typology for defining different experiences of homelessness is needed for several of
the following reasons:
• Breaks the population into manageable, identifiable groups to better identify the specific
housing assistance needs of each
• Ensures when homelessness is discussed in the community, there is a consistent
understanding of what exactly that experience looks like
• Reduces the use of inappropriate or outdated terms
Our Fort Collins typology uses two overlapping frameworks. The first framework describes the
length of time homeless, including those at risk of becoming homeless. For this framework,
the word “homeless” describes situations where people are staying in shelters or on the streets.
Typically, the longer someone has been homeless, the more intensive are their housing needs.
The second framework describes other critical characteristics, like family status or veteran
status. These are important to understand as the needs of individuals versus families, youth
versus adults, etc. will differ.
The visual on the following page depicts our Fort Collins typology, layering the length of time
homeless, and other identifying characteristics. The appropriate housing solutions based on
these factors are also included. While the resources outlined depict those services and housing
needed to help someone with those characteristics move out homelessness, those may not be
the only services needed. For example, emergency shelter is needed to provide a temporary
stay while housing is being located. In addition, some people may not seek or readily accept
services that can aid them in moving out of homelessness. In those cases, communities often
rely on outreach staff to develop relationships with those individuals to understand their service
needs and continuously work to connect them with other resources, as well as to help mitigate
any issues that arise from individuals staying and living in public spaces.
ATTACHMENT 1
FIVE KEY DEFINITIONS
EPISODICALLY
HOMELESS
Cycles infrequently in and
out of homelessness
Nationally, 10% of literal
homelessness
PRECARIOUSLY /
TEMPORARILY HOUSED
Involuntarily doubled up
Couch surfing
Staying at motels
AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS
Rents/owns own home with
unsustainable housing
costs
TRANSITIONALLY
HOMELESS
Homeless for a short time
(e.g., a few weeks), and
usually only once
Nationally, 80% of literal
homelessness
CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS
Homeless for a year or
more or cycles frequently in
and out of homelessness
Has a disabling condition
Nationally, 10% of literal
homelessness
Who?
Most Often: Individual
adults, including veterans
Sometimes: Families
Rarely: Youth;
Unaccompanied children
Who?
Most Often: Individual
adults, including veterans;
Families; Youth
Sometimes/Rarely:
Unaccompanied children
Primary Housing Solution
Rapid Re-Housing
Permanent Supportive
Housing if barriers to
housing are severe
Who?
Most Often: Individual
adults, including veterans;
Families; Youth;
Unaccompanied children
Primary Housing Solution
Rapid Re-Housing
Some situations resolved
with no financial assistance
Who?
Most Often: Individual
Coordinated Entry System (CES) Graphic
ATTACHMENT 2
Homelessness Action Items
Vanessa Fenley & Beth Sowder
ATTACHMENT 3
Direction Sought
1. Does Council have questions about local action
items?
2. Does Council have questions about national, state,
and regional trends?
3. Is there anything missing that Council would like
staff and Homeward 2020 to consider?
2
Presentation Agenda
• National Trends
• State Trends
• Regional Trends
• Local Action Items
§ 2010 – 2014: Overview of Activities & Progress
§ 2015 Action Items
§ 2016 & beyond Activities & Strategies
• Successes and Conclusion
3
Background
4
• Homelessness occurring in communities of all sizes
• Various programs and campaigns
• Coordination among service providers
• Mental health and addiction services needed
• Goal – to make homelessness rare, short-lived, and
non-recurring
National Trends
Nationally:
• Push to end veteran homelessness in 2015
• Push to end chronic homelessness in 2017
• Emphasis on better data collection
• Homeless Management Information System
• Coordinated Entry among service providers
5
National Best Practices
Housing First approach to long-term housing:
• Permanent Supportive Housing (Redtail Ponds)
• Rapid Re-housing (Services for Veteran Families)
• Supportive Services (SummitStone Health Partners)
• Prevention and shelter diversion
• Coordinated Entry
• Outreach (proposed Street Outreach Program)
6
Housing First Example
Housing First approach:
• Provide housing quick
• Then provide services as needed
• Benefit of being consistent with needs
ØNew Orleans has reached functional zero for chronic
homelessness
7
National Data – Chronic Homeless
8
Coordinated Entry System
A Simpler, More Effective Way
9
Colorado Trends
• Supportive Housing Toolkit
• Mayor’s Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness
• Coming Home Colorado
• Medicaid Crosswalk
10
Regional Trends
• Continuum of Care – promote communitywide
commitment
– Denver Metro, Colorado Springs, and Balance of
State
– Northern Front Range Continuum of Care
– Coordinated Entry:
• Northern Colorado will be a pilot site
• HUD-approved technical assistance
– Landlord Engagement
11
Local Action Items
2010 – 2014: Overview of Activities & Progress
• Improved data collection
• Increase permanent supportive housing VASH
vouchers and Redtail Ponds
• Increased rapid re-housing supply
• Increased access to supportive services
• Cold weather emergency shelter program
• Volunteer street outreach
• Increased community awareness
12
Local Action Items
2015 Action Items
• Enhance data collection (HMIS)
• Planning for next permanent supportive housing
• Strategies to make veteran homelessness rare, short-
lived, and non-recurring
• Landlord engagement/engagement
• Street Outreach Program
• Downtown Merchant Workshops
• Enhance communication and engagement
13
Definitions/Shared Language
Chronically Homeless – homeless for a year or more or
cycles frequently in and out of homelessness
Episodically Homeless – Cycles infrequently in and out
of homelessness
Transitionally Homeless – Homeless for a short time
and usually only once
Temporarily Housed – involuntarily doubled up, couch
surfing, or staying at motels
At risk of homelessness – unsustainable housing costs
14
HMIS Benefits
15
Permanent Supportive Housing
• Redtail Ponds opened in March
– 40 units to disabled and veteran homeless
– 20 low-income/affordable units
• Positive Outcomes include:
– Residents giving back by volunteering
– Obtaining employment
– Supporting each other
– Accessing medical care and nutrition
– Partner agencies providing services on-site
– No one has returned to homelessness
16
Redtail Ponds
17
Veteran Homelessness
• Mayor’s Challenge to End
Veteran Homelessness
– National and State
program
– Solidify partnerships and
secure commitments
– Mayor Troxell agreed
– Staff and Homeward 2020
examining greatest need
• Fort Collins Data:
– PIT 32 veterans
– Redtail Ponds housed 18
– Rapid rehousing housed 4
– Additional 8 VASH
vouchers leased
18
Landlord Engagement
• To gain more housing for people experiencing
homelessness
• Landlord training hosted by Northern Front Range
Continuum of Care
• Success in Denver area – 200 housing units
• Information will be provided to Northern Colorado
Rental Housing Association:
– Current programs looking for partners
– Neighbor to Neighbor’s tenant training
19
Street Outreach Program
• Pilot a New Street Outreach Program in Fort Collins
• Collaborative based on best practice model
• Professional/trained staff
• Proactive AND responsive to multiple clients
• Available 7 days per week to provide relationship
building and services
20
Burlington, VT
21
Expected Outcomes
• Expected outcomes:
– Safe, livable place for all
– Increase access to travelers and hard to reach
– Decrease calls to Police
– Greater coordination and efficiency
22
Downtown Merchant Workshops
• Downtown Development Authority, service providers,
Homeward 2020, City (Police and Social
Sustainability)
• Educational workshop developed
• Focus on business concerns, processes and protocols,
and appropriate responses
• Approx. 40 businesses represented, conversations,
and creative problem solving ideas
23
Communication & Engagement
• Quarterly Gatherings
• Poverty Simulation
• Updating 10 Year Plan
• Updating Website
• City of Fort Collins &
Homeward 2020
Homelessness
Initiatives Agreement
24
Local Action Items
Activities and Strategies for 2016 and beyond
• Additional permanent supportive housing
development
• Additional rapid re-housing opportunities
• Implement coordinated entry process
• Expand access and usage of HMIS
• Establish robust prevention and shelter diversion
25
Successes
• In the past several months since the Community
Conversation on Homelessness:
Ø Over 40 people are off the street – Redtail Ponds
Ø Five families are no longer homeless – One Village
One Family (Homeless Gear)
Ø 3 people moved into Single Room Occupancy
Ø 2-3 families per quarter leave Faith Family
Hospitality Program into permanent housing
26
Conclusion
• Our approach to making homelessness rare, short-
lived, and non-recurring relies on:
– Extensive collaboration
– Utilizing best practices
– Providing access to permanent housing for all
27
Direction Sought
1. Does Council have questions about local action
items?
2. Does Council have questions about national, state,
and regional trends?
3. Is there anything missing that Council would like
staff and Homeward 2020 to consider?
28
adults, including veterans;
Families; Youth;
Unaccompanied children
Primary Housing Solution
Prevention/Rapid Re-
Housing/Shelter Diversion
Some situations resolved
with no financial assistance
Who?
Most Often: Individual
adults, including veterans;
Families; Youth;
Rarely: Unaccompanied
Children
Primary Housing Solution
Prevention
Some situations resolved or
sustained with no financial
assistance
Descriptions of who experiences homelessness
Individual adults: Any single adult, over the age of 24
Veteran: Any person having served in the armed forces
Youth: Any person between the ages of 18 and 24
Child: Any person under the age of 18; may be in a family
or on their own (unaccompanied)
Families: A group with at least one person over the age of
18 and one person under the age of 18
Descriptions of primary permanent housing
solutions
Permanent supportive housing: Long-term (i.e., no
time limits) housing assistance, with supportive
services
Rapid re-housing: Short- to medium-term (from one
month up to two years) rental assistance, with
supportive services if needed
Prevention: Rental assistance to help retain housing
“Literally Homeless” according to the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development; includes only
individuals staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or in unsheltered areas
“Literally Homeless” according to the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development; includes only
individuals staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or in unsheltered areas
“Homeless” according to the Department of Education; some “At Risk of Homelessness” may also qualify, if eviction is imminent
Primary Housing Solution
Permanent Supportive
Housing
Residents and People Who Travel
Residents are those who have the intention of staying
in this area (unless access to housing, employment,
reconnecting with family, etc., prompts a move).
People who travel are those whose stays in the area
are intentionally short in duration; increases in this
population are reported in warmer months