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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 09/12/2017 - HOMELESSNESS UPDATEDATE: STAFF: September 12, 2017 Beth Sowder, Director of Social Sustainability Jackie Kozak-Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer WORK SESSION ITEM City Council SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Homelessness Update. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to provide an overview of community data, response and support system to address homelessness through a Housing First approach as well as plans for winter programs and shelter. Homeward 2020 will provide an update on its goals and role, co-created community solutions, data, housing pipeline pilot, and messaging plans. The Social Sustainability Department will provide an update on the homelessness spectrum, planning for defining the City’s role and prioritization, community partners’ work and coordination, and plans for shelter this winter. GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED 1. Does Council have any feedback regarding the Homeward 2020 community data collection? 2. Does Council have any questions or feedback regarding the homelessness spectrum and plans for strategic prioritization of City resources? BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Homelessness continues to be a top community priority with interest and concerns about the impact of homelessness on individuals and the broader community. As the City of Fort Collins continues to work with key partners, especially Homeward 2020, on local homelessness issues, this update will provide information about where the homelessness system currently is, where current gaps exist, and plans to look more strategically at this community issue. In the past, updates have included Point-In-Time count information, comparisons to state and national numbers, and current programs in place to help address homelessness. This update will focus more on Homeward 2020’s collaborative partnership with the Murphy Center to collect key local data, how staff will look at the current system to strategically identify the City role in the issue and how to prioritize limited resources to make the biggest impact, and provide a quick overview of this winter’s overflow shelter plan. “Housing First” is a term that is used more frequently when identifying strategies to address homelessness. According to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) it is an approach to quickly and successfully connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing without preconditions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment or service participation requirements. Supportive services are offered to maximize housing stability and prevent returns to homelessness as opposed to addressing predetermined treatment goals prior to permanent housing entry. Housing First is premised on the following principles:  Homelessness is first and foremost a housing crisis and can be addressed through the provision of safe and affordable housing.  All people experiencing homelessness, regardless of their housing history and duration of homelessness, can achieve housing stability in permanent housing. Some may need very little support for a brief period of time, while others may need more intensive and long-term supports.  Everyone is “housing ready”. Sobriety, compliance in treatment, or even criminal histories is not necessary to succeed in housing.  Many people experience improvements in quality of life, in the areas of health, mental health, substance use, and employment, as a result of achieving housing. September 12, 2017 Page 2  The exact configuration of housing and services depends upon the needs and preferences of the population. When looking at the Point-In-Time (PIT) count in Fort Collins, the actual number of people experiencing homelessness has remained fairly steady. The PIT is a requirement of HUD and is conducted across the county on a single night in January. Fort Collins Total Population Extrapolated Count (individuals) Individuals as proportion of population 2013 152,205 298 0.20% (1.96 people per 1,000) 2014 154,570 330 0.21% (2.13 people per 1,000) 2015 158,300 351 0.22% (2.22 people per 1,000) 2016 161,000 328 0.20% (2.04 people per 1,000) 2017 164,000 331 0.20% (2.02 people per 1,000) However, we know that there is an increase of people who are homeless and/or traveling through Fort Collins during the summer months. Because there is a need to know local, current data, Homeward 2020 strategically partnered with the Murphy Center to gather this data. Homeward 2020 Homeward 2020 facilitates the implementation of Fort Collins’ Ten Year Plan to make homelessness rare, short- lived and non-recurring by serving distinct roles in the community - catalyst, convener, advocate and data-driver. Homeward 2020 maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Fort Collins, affirming Homeward 2020’s roles and service to the community guiding implementation of the community’s Ten Year Plan. The ongoing work of Homeward 2020 strives to create a sustainable model of solutions to homelessness that are effective, efficient and responsive to our community, now and for the future. Housing First Initiative One aspect of Homeward 2020’s current work is the Housing First Initiative (HFI), a partnership between the Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope and Homeward 2020. The Murphy Center and Homeward 2020 developed a new staff position at Murphy Center, the HFI Program Director, to lead the partnership’s program. The program serves people experiencing homelessness who are, and seek to be, residents of Fort Collins (eligible individuals are those who have resided in Fort Collins, while homeless, for a minimum period of six months). The HFI Director, Marla Cleary, and Homeward 2020 Director, Holly LeMasurier, work closely together to achieve shared goals: (a) Help an increased number of individuals and families in Fort Collins escape homelessness and, as a result, contribute to Homeward 2020’s plan to make homelessness rare, short-lived, and non-recurring; and (b) Leverage Murphy Center’s existing infrastructure - and associated infrastructure of service providers - into providing better and more-proportionate services to people experiencing homelessness; and (c) Generate data that provides a clearer understanding of the state of homelessness in Fort Collins, and communicate that data to community stakeholders. Key Data Points The program will produce an accessible, up-to-date dashboard of data points to monitor our community’s homeless response system, and housing solutions successes, by Homeward 2020’s benchmark measures related to homelessness: rare, short-lived and non-recurring. The dashboard’s desired data points include: Rare  Rates of entry into homelessness and effective diversion/preventions  Reasons for becoming homeless September 12, 2017 Page 3 Short-Lived  Length of time homeless  Interventions/programs applied and impact Non-Recurring  Re-entries into homelessness  Retention and factors Reporting Deliverables  Quarterly reports, written and oral, on program progress, lessons learned and key metrics (the first report will be available in October, following completion of the first quarter data, July-September).  Real-time data on the state of homelessness in the City, including but not limited to: the number of individuals experiencing homelessness at any point in time and the number of individuals who have escaped homelessness since program inception (or from any point requested).  A comprehensive, annual report that describes and/or identifies program progress, the state of homelessness in the city and trends, strengths and gaps in the City’s system of housing and homeless services.  A dashboard of community-level statistics updated monthly and published on the websites of Homeward 2020, Homeless Gear and the Murphy Center. Strategic Segmentation: A data-informed, client-based approach The shared vision for Fort Collins is housing all community members experiencing homelessness, and the Hosing First Initiative is piloting a new approach. It starts with a goal of identifying everyone who is homeless. Fort Collins outreach, shelters, police, service providers and community-at-large are helping to get qualifying community members in to the Murphy Center to be enrolled in the project. Stemming from the project’s initial data collection and reporting process described above, the project will develop a profile of real-time clients and their housing support needs, currently estimated at 380 people. Intake and interview data will inform what specific housing and support services will be needed to successfully house the people experiencing homelessness in Fort Collins today. From this initial participant profile of hundreds of individuals in our community, the pilot group will be strategically segmented based upon their level and intensity of support and services needed in their housing placement and retention (low, medium, high intensity). After the group is segmented based on duration and intensity of needed resources (i.e. low, medium, high), ‘pipelines’ of appropriate, available, and housing-focused services will be aligned to each segment to streamline and accelerate housing success based on current assets and strategic injections of new resources. This client- centered approach will strive to align people with solutions to serve them rapidly, effectively and in scale and scope appropriate for their needs. Service providers will know accurate and real-time numbers of Housing First Initiative participants accessing, or waiting for, specific services. Meanwhile, real-time needs and gaps will become evident in the process, so appropriate resourcing can be evaluated and aligned. Services and supports demonstrating results can be bolstered and targeted for increased temporary or permanent investment. Housing First Initiative Activities Current project accomplishments include:  Follow up interviews with initial participants to establish current status, housing and support needs  Initial drafts of data-informed, user-centric segmentation, and associated key resources  Documenting gaps and developing resource proposals (FTE, funding, volunteers, housing, etc.)  Data entry to create Q1 project data baseline and anticipated ongoing dashboard tracking progress  Outreach to property managers and landlords to increase ‘low-barrier’ and risk-mitigated housing ‘pipelines’  Outreach to shelters to collaboratively support participants moving toward housing placement  Recruitment and training of Housing First Advocate volunteers to provide participant support  Outreach to potential employers to hire participants seeking employment  Developing a diverse ‘menu’ of ways to become involved in HFI and clearly and quickly invest in solutions September 12, 2017 Page 4 Goal The goal of Housing First Initiative is to catalyze a durable, systemic transformation. Targeted injections of niche resources will strengthen capacity in the entire system and include both building on existing, effective assets and development of new partnerships and investments to fill gaps throughout the spectrum. Following the initial intense efforts and resources focused on housing the existing hundreds of people experiencing homelessness in this pilot, the system can be rescaled and maintained at right-sized levels to sustain long-term community resiliency and ensure ongoing, effective support is ready when needed. The community will always need to work to make homelessness rare, short-lived and non-recurring, and new approaches, involving the broadest community participation, will succeed. When we are successful, Council and community can join the ranks of nationally renowned cities that effectively faced homelessness, and overcame our greatest local and national challenge together. Homelessness Spectrum The Fort Collins community has a system of service providers that contribute to the overall assistance and safety net of services for people at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. The City provides funding to these and other human service providers in our community through the annual competitive funding process which includes federal and City funds as well as services funded through the City’s Budgeting for Outcomes process. The City is usually only one of many different funders for the non-profit service providers; they usually have a diversified funding mix. To get an idea of how the Fort Collins’ system works and where City funds currently are allocated, the following chart shows current providers (may not be all-inclusive), as well as how City funds were allocated in 2017. It is important to note that not all of the service providers listed received City funding, and many services providers fall into at least two if not all three categories of Rare/Prevention, Short-lived/Immediate Needs, and Non-recurring/Pathways into Housing because they offer programs in all three categories. Rare/Prevention Short-lived/Immediate Needs Non-Recurring/Pathways into Housing  Murphy Center  Homeless Prevention Initiative  Neighbor to Neighbor Housing Counseling and Homeless Prevention Initiative  The Family Center – scholarships for low- income families  Homeless Gear – Murphy Center Programs  Food Bank – Kids Café’  BASE Camp – childcare scholarships  Boys & Girls Club - scholarships  Elderhaus – Therapeutic Care  Project Self-Sufficiency – Pathways to Self- Sufficiency  Respite Care – Childcare scholarships  SAVA – Victim Services  Teaching Tree – Childcare Scholarships  Turning Point – Intervention Program  Volunteers of America  Homeless Gear – Murphy Center Support  Catholic Charities – Shelter and Senior Services  Fort Collins Rescue September 12, 2017 Page 5 Rare/Prevention Short-lived/Immediate Needs Non-Recurring/Pathways into Housing  Northern Colorado Aids Project  SummitStone Health Partners – Community Behavioral Health Treatment  Catholic Charities – Shelter Services Service  FoCo Café  Coordinated Assessment & Housing Placement System Approx. City Funding 2017 $429,500 Approx. City Funding 2017 $487,735 Approx. City Funding 2017 $1,680,000 Moving forward, utilizing the Housing First Initiative data as well as embarking on a community human services strategic planning process, the City will be better able to understand its role in the homelessness spectrum as well as how to prioritize funding and resources. It will also help identify gaps and needs in our current system. Some current gaps include: Rare/Prevention Short-lived/Immediate Needs Non-Recurring/Pathways Into Housing  Diversion programs  Affordable housing units  Affordable child care  Job placement/training  Access to behavioral health/detox  Case management  Livable wages  Access to behavioral health/detox  Rapid Re-housing  Case management  Affordable housing units  Access to behavioral health/detox  Permanent supportive housing units  Landlord engagement  Case management  Housing navigators A strategic process utilizing the Housing First Initiative data will enable the City and the community to clearly identify gaps and programs needed to improve the system, identify gaps, and focus on priorities that will make homelessness rare, short-lived, and non-recurring in Fort Collins. Winter Shelter Plans The City of Fort Collins will continue to work with the service providers in the provision of winter overflow shelter during the cold winter months of November thru April. The following programs will continue this winter: 1. Seasonal Overflow Shelter a. City coordinates with United Way, Catholic Charities, Fort Collins Rescue Mission to provide funding, shelter location, and services to provided expanded shelter. b. Community of Christ Church will be the location again this year. 2. Safe Place to Rest September 12, 2017 Page 6 c. Coordination with service providers and City departments is a key component of this process. 4. Neighborhood/Community meeting a. September 18, 2017, Old Town Library, 6:00 p.m. Next Steps 1. Winter Shelter Plans Neighborhood/Community Meeting - September 18, 6:00 p.m., Old Town Library 2. Affordable Housing Fee Waivers - City Council meeting September 19 3. Housing First Training September 25 a. Morning session for elected officials and executive management b. Day session for service providers and front line workers 4. Housing First Initiative First Report - October 5. Outreach Fort Collins Summer Report - October 6. Winter Overflow begins - November 1 7. Affordable Housing Capital Funds - City Council Work Session November 28 8. Land Bank Policy Review and Recommendations - Q1 2018 ATTACHMENTS 1. PowerPoint Presentation (PDF) 1 Homelessness Update City Council Work Session September 12, 2017 ATTACHMENT 1 Summary 2 • What is Housing First? • Fort Collins Homeless Population snapshot • Homeward 2020 Update • Community Data Collection • Housing Solutions • Homeless Spectrum • Winter Shelter Plans General Direction Sought 3 1. Does Council have feedback regarding the Homeward 2020 community data collection? 2. Questions regarding the homelessness spectrum and plans for strategic prioritization of City resources? Housing First Strategy Housing First Approach: • Connects individuals experiencing homelessness to permanent housing • No preconditions and barriers to entry • Supportive services offered to maximize housing stability 4 1ST Fort Collins Homeless Population Fort Collins Total Population Extrapolated Count (individuals) Individuals as proportion of population 2013 152,205 298 0.20% (1.96 people per 1,000) 2014 154,570 330 0.21% (2.13 people per 1,000) 2015 158,300 351 0.22% (2.22 people per 1,000) 2016 161,000 328 0.20% (2.04 people per 1,000) 2017 164,000 331 0.20% (2.02 people per 1,000) 5 Homeward 2020 Update 10-Year Plan Make homelessness rare, short-lived and non-recurring. Homeward 2020 Catalyst Convener Advocate Data-driven 6 Housing First Initiative 7 Housing First Initiative Goals 8 Murphy Center/ Homeward 2020 Partnership • Tie mission to accurate, actionable data • Share with community • Help Murphy Center provide services, locate housing 9 I. Data and Reporting • Client, system profile • Regular reports • Dashboard II. Housing Solutions • Inventory and needs • Community-based solutions Housing First Initiative Outcomes Sample Data Points • Rare: Frequency/reasons • Short-lived: Duration, housing solutions • Non-recurring: Monitoring Analysis • What assets provide ‘pathways out’? • What resources increase success rates? 10 Actionable Data and Reporting Housing Solutions Strategic segmentation • Based on data • User-centric design Needs by pipeline • Low/short • Medium (12-18 months) • Long-term 11 What’s Ahead Q1 Report: October • Data for ‘rare, short-lived, and non-recurring’ • Local profile • Segmentation Q2/Q3 Reports: • Monitor • Develop dashboard (early 2018) • Identify additional resources • Evaluate 12 ? Murphy Center Homeless Prevention Initiative Neighbor To Neighbor Murphy Center Homeless Gear Catholic Charities Fort Collins Rescue Mission Outreach Fort Collins Housing Catalyst CARE Housing Neighbor to Neighbor Housing Catalyst 13 RARE (PREVENTION) SHORT-LIVED (IMMEDIATE NEEDS) NON-RECURRING (PATHWAYS TO HOUSING) 13 Homelessness Spectrum CITY FUNDING | 2017 $429,500 CITY FUNDING | 2017 $487,735 CITY FUNDING | 2017 $1,680,000 Homelessness Spectrum – Current Gaps 14 RARE (PREVENTION) SHORT-LIVED (IMMEDIATE NEEDS) NON-RECURRING (PATHWAYS TO HOUSING) 14 Diversion Programs Affordable Housing Units Affordable Child Care Job Placement/Training Behavioral Health Facility/Detox Case Management Livable Wages Behavioral Health Facility/Detox Rapid Re-housing Case Management Affordable Housing Units Behavioral Health Facility/Detox Permanent Supportive Housing Units Landlord Engagement Case Management Housing Navigators Winter Shelter Plans 15 • Seasonal Overflow Shelter • Safe Place to Rest • Emergency Weather Shelter Plan • Neighborhood/Community Meeting • September 18, 6:00 p.m., Old Town Library Next Steps 1. Winter Shelter Plans Community Meeting – September 18 16 2. Affordable Housing Fee Waivers – September 19 3. Housing First Training – September 25 4. Housing First Initiative Report – October 5. Outreach Fort Collins Summer Report – October 6. Winter Overflow Begins – November 1 7. Affordable Housing Capital Funds – November 28 8. Land Bank Policy Recommendations – Q1 2018 General Direction Sought 17 1. Does Council have feedback regarding the Homeward 2020 community data collection? 2. Questions regarding the homelessness spectrum and plans for strategic prioritization of City resources? a. The City is working with three community member churches/organizations to provide a community-based shelter expansion option. b. This was piloted last year, and will be piloted a second year to increased community ownership/responsibility for the program. 3. Emergency Weather Shelter Plan a. The Emergency Weather Shelter Plan was improved and functional last winter season. b. It will continue this winter with activation occurring when specific triggers are met. Mission  Safe Place to Rest  Outreach Fort Collins  Special Agency Session  Housing First Initiative  Neighbor To Neighbor First Month’s Rent Assistance  Faith Family Hospitality  SummitStone Health Partners - Mental Health Services  Matthews House  Volunteers of America  Crossroads Safehouse  Disabled Resource Services- – Access to Independence  Food Bank  Serve 6.8  Northern Colorado Aids Project  SAVA – Victim Services  Volunteers of America – Home Delivered Meal  Housing Catalyst  CARE Housing  Neighbor to Neighbor  Land Bank Program  Affordable Housing developers  Coordinated Assessment & Housing Placement System  Murphy Center  Catholic Charities- Senior Services  Fort Collins Rescue Mission  Faith Family Hospitality  Homeless Gear – One Village One Family  Housing First Initiative  SummitStone Health Partners  Northern Colorado Aids Project  Disabled Resource Services  Matthews House  RVNA  Volunteers of America  Crossroads Safehouse