HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/23/2018 - HOMELESSNESS SERVICES UPDATEDATE:
STAFF:
October 23, 2018
Beth Sowder, Director of Social Sustainability
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
WORK SESSION ITEM
City Council
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Homelessness Services Update.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to provide an update regarding homelessness services in Fort Collins including:
• Current State of Homelessness Overview
• Homeward 2020
• Housing First Initiative
• Fort Collins Frequent Utilizers System Engagement (FUSE) Initiative
• Murphy Center and Homeward Alliance
• Give Real Change Campaign
• Seasonal Overflow Shelter plans
• Outreach Fort Collins
• Coordinated Assessment & Housing Placement System
Holly LeMasurier, Executive Director of Homeward 2020, will co-present this item with City staff.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
This is an update, so there are no questions of Council at this time.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
General Overview - Current State of Homelessness
Homelessness continues to be an issue across the country, and many mid-sized cities continue to struggle with
identifying and providing a balanced approach to affordable housing, homelessness prevention, homelessness
services, long-term solutions, and emergency care. Looking nationally, the following chart illustrates the current
state of homelessness based on 2017 Point in Time Count:
Location Total Population Point in Time Count
of Homeless Individuals
Ratio of Homeless
Individuals of Total
United States 325.7 million 553,742 17 per 10,000
Colorado 5.6 million 10,940 19.7 per 10,000
The Denver-metro area Point in Time count = 5,116 (includes 7 counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield,
Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson).
Zooming in to Fort Collins, the past six years has shown a consistent number of homeless individuals
experiencing homelessness based on the Point in Time Count, and a more accurate local number once the
Housing First Initiative began in 2017.
October 23, 2018 Page 2
Year Fort Collins
Total Population
Point in Time Count
of Homeless
Individuals
Percentage of
Homeless Individuals of
Total
Housing First Initiative
Number of People
Homeless for 6 months
or longer in Fort Collins
(started 2017)
2013 152,205 298 0.20%
(1.96 people per 1,000)
n/a
2014 154,570 330 0.21%
(2.13 people per 1,000)
n/a
2015 158,300 351 0.22%
(2.22 people per 1,000)
n/a
2016 161,000 328 0.20%
(2.04 people per 1,000)
n/a
2017 165,080 331 0.20%
(2.01 people per 1,000)
312 Sept. 2017
2018 165,080
(not updated)
263
(sheltered only)
0.16%
(1.6 people per 1,000)
378 Sept. 2018
Homeward 2020
Homeward 2020 facilitates implementation of Fort Collins’ Ten-Year Plan (Oct 2009 - Oct 2019) to make
homelessness rare, short-lived, and non-recurring by serving distinct roles in the community - catalyst, convener,
advocate, and data-driver. 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 into the future.
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.
Homeward 2020 is currently guiding our shared, community work through three priority alignment areas:
• Improved data development and reporting;
• Identification of housing and support solutions for our 350+ persons experiencing long-term homelessness in
Fort Collins;
• Building capacity for a sustainable, responsive system to realize the vision to make homelessness rare, short-
lived, and non-recurring in Fort Collins.
Housing First Initiative
Homeward 2020 and Homeward Alliance strategically partnered in mid-2017 to create the Housing First Initiative
(HFI): a two-year pilot project based at the Murphy Center for Hope. The project develops and produces
actionable, community-level data on the issue of chronic homelessness and, equipped with that data, identifies
and promotes solutions to increase supportive housing options, housing placements, and housing retention for
people experiencing long-term and chronic homelessness. HFI also pilots new housing solutions through local
partnerships and provides intensive case management to transition participants from homelessness to housing.
The recent HFI Annual Report (Attachment 1) summarized four primary recommendations to the City and
broader community:
1. Develop and fund diverse affordable housing options, through multiple prongs of conventional and
innovative approaches;
October 23, 2018 Page 3
An accessible, public data dashboard is monitoring the population and trends of people experiencing long-term
homelessness in Fort Collins, as well as our efforts in housing our most vulnerable people. HFI produces more
detailed, real-time data than we have ever had, informing system improvements and individual case work, as well
as investments with impact. The Housing First Initiative Annual Report provides the most comprehensive
information on the project to date since its inception in June 2017. The project produces quarterly reports
provided to the public and City Council, with updated data, successes, stories, strengths, gaps, and
recommendations. As of September 30, 2018, there are 382 people experiencing long-term homelessness in Fort
Collins, and 85 people transitioned to housing.
Fort Collins FUSE Initiative - October 2018 - October 2019
The Frequent Utilizers System Engagement (FUSE) model is a nationally-recognized best practice used to help
communities break the cycle of incarceration and homelessness among individuals with complex behavioral
health challenges who are the highest utilizers of jails, homeless shelters, outreach, 911, emergency rooms, and
other temporary crisis interventions. In ‘reactive’ crisis systems, essential healthcare, housing, and legal aid
interventions are uncoordinated, resulting in these patients’ clear impact on publicly funded systems never
intended to provide ongoing comprehensive health, housing, and recovery. FUSE develops formal case
management, coordination and collaboration across systems to provide comprehensive supportive services,
aiming to increase housing stability, reduce recidivism, and break the cycle of multiple crisis service use, resulting
in public cost offsets.
Homeward 2020, working closely with the Health District of Northern Larimer County, is catalyzing and convening
a FUSE ‘demonstration’ project, bringing together many community partners to identify frequent utilizers
experiencing homelessness and find systemic ways to provide improved interventions. The project will facilitate
housing and coordinated supportive services for 10-12 frequent utilizers and document community and individual
impacts over approximately one year, with the intention to ‘scale up and systematize’ the collaborative
approaches. The project includes extensive pre and post data collection, including achievement of targeted
outcomes. Fort Collins is participating in this project as part of a national CSH FUSE Learning Community Project
with nineteen other US cities. The CSH FUSE Learning Community program will provide guidance to implement
Data Driven Problem Solving; Policy and Systems Reform, and Targeted Housing and Services.
Murphy Center
The Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope continues to serve as a day shelter and provider of core services.
In the first nine months of 2018, about 124 individuals accessed the Murphy Center day shelter each day. In
addition, the Murphy Center recorded 1,268 loads of laundry, 6,107 showers, 611 individuals serviced through
locker access and 1,029 individuals through mail access.
Important updates for this year also include:
• More individuals reporting positive employment and housing outcomes than ever - at least 135 Murphy Center
guests escaped homelessness in the first nine months of 2018, representing an approximately 175% increase
from the first nine months of 2017.
• Consistent amount of daily traffic - approximately 170 individuals per day.
• Consistent number of unduplicated guests served per month - 785 per month.
• Average guest visits increased to 14 times per year - up from about 10 times per year in 2015.
The Murphy Center has not seen a significant uptick in individuals served during the first nine months of 2018
(relative to the same period in 2017), but the data indicates that guests are accessing services at the Murphy
Center more frequently. The improved outcomes (housing and employment) are at least partly due to this
increased service access.
Approximately 20 nonprofits provide about 40 unique services at the Murphy Center; among them, Neighbor to
Neighbor distributed more than $65,000 in rent assistance during the first half of 2018.
October 23, 2018 Page 4
Homeward Alliance
Homeward Alliance (formerly Homeless Gear) has several programs to assist people experiencing
homelessness:
One Village One Family
• Helped secure housing for nine families (including 24 children) in the first nine months of 2018;
maintained 100% one-year housing-retention rate since program inception.
• One Village One Family has helped 41 families, including 95 children, escape homelessness since 2015.
Hand Up
• Helped secure 150 jobs for program participants during first nine months of 2018, bringing the total since
program inception to over 1,000 jobs.
• Average hourly wage of $12.22 in 2018, up from $11.76 in 2017.
Re-Entry
• Through first nine months of 2018, provided intensive case management to 93 individuals who are on
parole and identified by the Department of Corrections as medium to high risk of recidivism.
• Helped secure 36 jobs for program participants and maintained recidivism rate of 1%.
Dedicated Navigator
• Helped individuals and families secure over $585,000 in potential annual benefits (food assistance,
Medicaid, etc.) during first nine months of 2018.
• Helped 73 households secure food assistance, 69 obtain Medicaid and six obtain Old Age Pension, Aid
for Needy or Disabled or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Volunteer Street Outreach
• Recorded approximately 2,000 interactions with roughly 750 individuals on the streets in Fort Collins,
mostly during the evening hours.
Children in Need
• Served over 300 families at resource fairs for children and families; resource fairs include health
screenings, haircuts, clothing distribution and more.
Bike Repair
• Performed 322 bike repairs through first nine months of 2018.
Distribution
• Served approximately 500 individuals per quarter (no significant change in any quarter) at Murphy Center
Gear Room, distributing life-sustaining supplies and helping people meet basic needs.
To help illustrate the impact of these services on people, here are a couple guest testimonials:
“Life changing. Support emotionally, physically, for both me and my dog. Murphy Center has brought
me through so much including helping me say goodbye to my 12-year-old best friend, Bandit. Murphy
Center has been there for me when I have been so physically ill, has helped me with a safe place to be
when I was too sick to sleep in the shelter. Helped me with clothes and food for my doggies and most of
all treated me with compassion and respect despite my social status. I have been welcomed here and
truly found the hope to carry me along this journey. The staff and volunteers genuinely care about
people and I am blessed to have formed a relationship with staff and other guests here. Thank you so
much for all your support and for being the catalyst to my having a home. Without all the hard work of
many, I would not be moving in!”
“I’ve had a long journey, through having addiction and being on parole and to have gone through having
a mental breakdown to having a bad relationship… but I’m moving forward to better myself. I’m off
parole now, thanks to Amanda working with me and helping me get there. She has seen me and been
there at my worst to where I am today. I am so grateful for Catholic Charities for helping me out when I
had my mental breakdown and letting me know that they care for people and if you put use the
resources that they have, they can help you. For being where I am at today and being clean of meth for
over one year and a half and doing good for myself and being able to move to Montana with my mom
and dad is a wonderful feeling. Having support from the Murphy Center, Homeless Gear, SummitStone,
they have been there to help me when I needed it, so please, if you want to change, use the Murphy
Center and Homeless Gear. You just got to ask.”
October 23, 2018 Page 5
Give Real Change Campaign
Give Real Change is a partnership between the Downtown Business Association (DBA) and the Murphy Center
designed to be an alternative for people to give donations to service providers while shopping downtown
(Attachment 2). It ran as a pilot program from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2018 and included more than 20
downtown businesses who hosted donation boxes. Marketing collateral and informational materials about the
issue of homelessness educated and invited customers to donate to local services. Proceeds benefited the
Murphy Center, the local hub of services for people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.
Successes included:
• $2,299.30 donated.
• 28 businesses hosted collection jars and marketing information.
• Murphy Center attended DBA board meetings and forged new partnerships.
• Yielded numerous high-level marketing and educational materials.
Challenges included:
• Change collection was less than expected.
• Some businesses were unable to prominently display donation boxes.
• The process of collecting change was labor-intensive.
Suggestions for improvement:
• Offer electronic giving options.
• Additional human and marketing resources.
• Increase/expand business engagement.
The Downtown Development Authority has determined that they will not undertake this campaign again.
Seasonal Overflow Shelter Plan
For this winter season, 2018-19, the City continues to work with and rely upon the primary shelter providers
(Catholic Charities and Fort Collins Rescue Mission) to provide increased shelter during the cold winter months
(November thru April). The City will continue to provide funding for an additional Seasonal Overflow Shelter (SOS)
that will be operated by Catholic Charities. This year’s plan includes:
• SOS site at Community of Christ Church, 220 E. Oak Street
• Women only
• 10pm - 6am
• 7 nights per week
• Increased capacity for men at Catholic Charities facility
• Fort Collins Rescue Mission will increase capacity for men
Emergency weather activations will continue to rely upon community partners to expand capacity and provide
warming center locations. The City will assist in coordination during activations and provide transportation and
security assistance using the same plan as last year.
Outreach Fort Collins
Outreach Fort Collins (OFC) continues to gain momentum in their approach to provide street-based triage for a
vibrant downtown. Their primary goals are to address street conflicts, streamline referrals, and maintain
downtown as a vibrant, thriving, and welcoming place for all. They are not solely about homelessness and
enforcement. They continue to have hundreds of contacts with merchants, people experiencing homelessness,
neighbors, and other people in the downtown area. They work closely with the District 1 Police team, businesses
and service providers to quickly and effectively resolve daily issues while also building trusting relationships to
assist people in accessing appropriate services to ultimately help them move out of homelessness and receive
needed treatment/services.
October 23, 2018 Page 6
In 2017-2018, OFC identified 24 chronically homeless, high vulnerability clients based on the vulnerability index
tool (VI-SPDAT). Each of these individuals are known by OFC to have some, often frequent involvement with Fort
Collins Police Services and UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital. OFC obtains data from Police Services and
UCHealth to track long-term outcomes resulting from interaction and service coordination provided by OFC. OFC
staff have worked intentionally in 2017 and 2018 with these individuals to reduce their impact on emergency
services in the community while also connecting them to long-term solutions and positive life outcomes. As of
August 2018:
• 11 of these individuals are now housed within Larimer and Weld Counties
• 1 is housed in Denver County
• 2 currently reside at Ft. Lyon Residential Treatment Facility
• 3 have been housed with family
• 6 are still homeless in Fort Collins
• 1 cannot be located
Coordinated Assessment & Housing Placement System (Attachment 3)
HUD requires that each Continuum of Care have a Coordinated Assessment and Housing Placement System
(CAHPS), also known as “Coordinated Entry”. Our local/regional CAHPS program of Coordinated Entry is a
process that coordinates the assessment, case conferencing, prioritization, and service coordination for the most
vulnerable individuals and families with the end goal of getting them housed as soon as possible with appropriate
supportive services. CAHPS creates a prioritization list and then seeks housing placements and supportive
services in communities.
The Northern Colorado Continuum of Care started CAHPS in February 2016 focusing on homeless veterans
catalyzed by the Mayor signing on to the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. CAHPS is the
process by which those identified as “highly vulnerable” experiencing homelessness in Larimer and Weld
Counties are recommended for housing options to support their needs. CAHPS consists of a set of common
procedures and tools used by partnering organizations and agencies within the region to perform intake, assess,
prioritize, and match individuals and families experiencing homelessness with available housing and services
(vouchers, affordable and supportive housing openings, residential programs, etc.).
CAHPS data since it began:
Veteran CAHP System-started February 2016
(As of September 2018)
Individuals Assessed
Larimer 240
Weld 113
Other 10
Total Assessed 363
Individuals Housed
Larimer 133
Weld 61
Other 61
Total Housed 255
October 23, 2018 Page 7
Adult CAHP System-started April 2017
(As of September 2018)
Individuals Assessed
Larimer 359
Weld 68
Other 0
Total Assessed 427
Individuals Housed
Larimer 44
Weld 11
Other 17
Total Housed 72
Family CAHP System-started March 2018
(As of October 2018)
Individuals Assessed
Larimer 44
Weld 47
Other 0
Total Assessed 91
Individuals Housed
Larimer 8
Weld 23
Other 9
Total Housed 40
Next Steps
Over the next year, the City and Homeward 2020 will focus on the following:
1. Reporting actionable data and recommendations.
2. Systemic solutions to homelessness and the growing shortfall of accessible, affordable housing.
3. Defining specific and strategic interventions and investment options to achieve the vision to make
homelessness rare, short-lived, and non-recurring.
4. Set system performance targets.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Housing First Initiative Year 1 Report (PDF)
2. Give Real Change Final Report October 2018 (PDF)
3. Coordinated Assessment & Housing Placement System Data Sheet (PDF)
4. PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
Housing First Initiative Annual Report
2018
Who We Are
Definitions
• This report does not represent
everyone who is homeless in Fort
Collins. The Murphy Center alone
serves about 3,000 people each
year, many of whom have been
homeless for less than six months.
• Unless otherwise noted, the
data in this report pertains only
to individuals who have been
homeless in Fort Collins for six
months or longer. Sample sizes
vary between data points.
• HFI’s definition of chronic
homelessness (six months or longer
in Fort Collins) is more inclusive
than the federal government’s
definition of chronic homelessness.
• Reports include data from
Homeward Alliance, Catholic
Charities, Fort Collins Rescue
Mission, Outreach Fort Collins,
the Coordinated Assessment
and Housing Placement system
group and other agencies in
the community and at the
Murphy Center.
Homeward 2020, now in the final
phase of its ten-year plan to make
homelessness rare, short-lived and
non-recurring in Fort Collins, seeks to
produce actionable, community-level
data on the issue of homelessness
and—equipped with that data—
identify and promote solutions that
increase housing options, housing
placements and housing retention for
people experiencing homelessness.
As part of that effort, Homeward 2020
and Homeward Alliance partnered in
mid-2017 to create the Housing First
Initiative (HFI): a two-year pilot project
based at the Murphy Center. HFI
collects City-level data on the issue of
homelessness, pilots “housing-first”
solutions and provides intensive case
management to people who are
chronically homeless.
HFI reports share local data and
learning experiences, highlight new
partnerships and identify
trends and gaps.
Over a 45-day stretch in mid-2018, two people who were homeless—
both among the top 15 most-vulnerable members of our community, as
measured by a standard assessment tool—died on the streets of Fort Collins.
These were not aberrations, but rather reflections of a known concern.
People experiencing homelessness, and particularly those who sleep
HFI Timeline
June 2017
HFI launches
• There are 378 people experiencing long-term homelessness
(six months or longer) in Fort Collins.
• During the month of June, 15 individuals entered long-term homelessness,
meaning that they hit the six-month mark of experiencing homelessness. The
primary reasons reported include: asked to leave/evicted, bad credit, lost job/
couldn’t find work and mental illness.
• Among 64 HFI participants who secured housing, 61 remain housed today.
• On average, HFI participants experience homelessness for four years with
over 72 participants experiencing homelessness ten years or longer.
For more data and information: homeward2020.org/data-dashboard
July 2017
HFI pilots volunteer
Advocates*
September 2017
Governor Hickenlooper visits
the Murphy Center** to learn
more about local efforts
October 2017
In partnership with Housing
Catalyst, HFI is granted
five project-based housing
vouchers from Colorado
Department of Local Affairs
January 2018
HFI develops and receives
funding for “Contingency
Fund” to meet unexpected,
housing-related needs
March 2018
HFI and Homeward 2020
launch online data dashboard:
Addressing Long-Term
Homelessness in Fort Collins
August 2017
HFI celebrates first
participant to obtain
housing
May 2018
Homeward Alliance
commits to use of BitFocus,
a robust database and case
management software
July 2018
HFI joins regional Continuum
of Care Governing Board
September 2018
HFI releases first annual
report and hosts panel
discussion on state of
homelessness in Fort Collins
*HFI trained volunteers as “Housing Advocates”
to offer long-term, supportive services to HFI
participants. After piloting this approach, HFI
shifted its volunteer focus to meet short-term
housing search and move-in needs.
**The Murphy Center is the hub of services
for individuals and families experiencing
(970) 658-9878 • www.HomewardAlliance.org • Info@HomewardAlliance.org
Program and System Analysis
HFI Strengths
HFI Participation in System-Level Work
Community Gaps HFI Recommendations
Data Collection: HFI manages a robust data system that empowers the program to identify system trends and housing
solutions, target service delivery and lead or participate in community data initiatives.
Supportive Housing: HFI helps individuals cut through the red tape and access existing housing in Fort Collins. The
program maintains a flexible fund for housing expenses, develops relationships with private landlords and forms
partnerships with nonprofit housing providers. Housing Catalyst plans to open 60 new units of permanent supportive
housing in 2020; up to 20 of those units are designated for HFI participants.
Collaboration: Collaboration is shared communication and coordination with a purpose. HFI collaborates with diverse
stakeholders at the system and individual levels, working to create community change and provide participants with
customized support.
Agency Alignment: Homeward Alliance operates the Murphy Center and nine programs, including HFI. The agency
has added new programs and adjusted existing programs to align more-closely with HFI and respond to community
opportunities and gaps.
FUSE Project: FUSE is a nationally-renowned, supportive housing model through which communities identify and
provide intensive, housing-focused support to individuals (a) with complex medical and behavioral health challenges
and (b) who are the highest users of emergency rooms, jails, shelters, clinics and other costly crisis services. Homeward
2020 is convening stakeholders to initiate a FUSE project in Fall 2018.
Housing Placement: HFI continues to contribute to the development of a robust, regional Coordinated Assessment
and Housing Placement System, identifying individuals experiencing homelessness and streamlining housing access
across Larimer and Weld Counties.
Data Collection: HFI participates in numerous local collaboratives that seek to improve data collection and sharing,
enhance service coordination and more-clearly identify system strengths and gaps. Homeward Alliance (including
HFI) expects to soon launch a customized agency database that will integrate with the statewide, Housing and Urban
Development (HUD)-mandated Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
Lack of Affordable Housing Options: Despite recent gains,
the demand for subsidized and affordable housing—housing
vouchers, permanent supportive housing units, affordable
housing—continues to exceed the supply in northern Colorado.
The inventory is especially low for people who earn between
30% and 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Shortage of Supportive Services: Housing is the first and
most critical step toward stability. Many HFI participants,
however, also require ongoing supportive services: intensive
case management, counseling, medically-assisted treatments,
in-home healthcare, legal assistance and more. Numerous
agencies provide housing-retention services to people who
escape homelessness, but those services are extremely limited.
Barriers to Housing Access: Many individuals who are
homeless face numerous barriers to housing: credit issues,
poor tenant record, criminal histories and more. HFI engages
regularly with landlords to reduce or eliminate these barriers,
but significant gaps remain.
Develop new affordable units, invest in permanent
supportive housing projects and provide funds to
programs that make housing affordable for people
with zero or extremely-limited incomes.
Develop or fund programs that provide flexible,
client-centered services to people who are homeless
or formerly-homeless, with an emphasis on programs
that provide long-term or permanent support.
Promote landlord engagement and education and
invest in programs that reduce or eliminate barriers
to housing access.
Invest time and funding in initiatives that produce
actionable, system-level data on the issue of
homelessness.
GIVE REAL CHANGE: FINAL REPORT, OCTOBER 2018
CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW
Give Real Change is a partnership between the Downtown
Business Association (DBA) and the Murphy Center. It is
underwritten by First National Bank, and the City of Fort
Collins provided financial support.
From Memorial Day through Labor Day 2018, more than 20
downtown businesses hosted Give Real Change donation
boxes, marketing collateral and informational materials
about the issue of homelessness—educating and inviting
customers to donate to local solutions. Proceeds benefited
the Murphy Center, the local hub of services for people ex-
periencing or at-risk of homelessness.
2,299.30
Raised from 28 local
businesses
SUCCESSES
BUSINESS BUY-IN 28 businesses hosted collec-
tion jars and marketing/informational materials
NETWORKING Murphy Center staff attended
DBA board meetings, forged new partnerships
with business owners and laid the groundwork
for future collaborations
EXPOSURE The campaign yielded numerous
high-level marketing and educational materials.
It had a launch party and kickoff booth in Old
Town Square and was featured in social media
and in the DBA newsletter
CHALLENGES
CASH DONATIONS Change collection was less-
than-expected; downtown merchants attribute
that to the infrequency with which customers
use cash and change
VISIBILITY Some businesses were unable to
prominently display donation boxes and materi-
als due to limited counter and wall space; some
stopped hosting the jars, citing lack of space
COLLECTION The process of collecting change
was labor-intensive, but a team of volunteers
managed most of the workload
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE IMPLEMENTATIONS
ELECTRONIC GIVING This campaign included
a largely-unsuccessful text-to-donate compo-
nent. Future campaigns should leverage this
and other electronic giving options
WORK TEAM Murphy Center staff and volun-
teers spent dozens of hours developing and co-
ordinating this campaign, but the campaign
would be more successful with additional hu-
man and marketing resources
EXPAND BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT The cam-
paign was most successful at businesses where
buy-in was the greatest (where materials were
most-prominently displayed, staff members
were well-versed, etc.).
The campaign—in any future iterations—would
benefit if it included stronger day-to-day part-
nerships between participating businesses and
the nonprofit beneficiaries
The Murphy Center is an initiative of Homeward Alliance. Homeward Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Data for the Northern Colorado Coordinated Assessment Housing Placement System
Northern Colorado Continuum of Care
Addressing Homelessness Across Larimer & Weld Counties
Veteran CAHP System
Started February 2016
As of 9/11/2018
# Assessed – Larimer 240
# Assessed – Weld 113
# Assessed – Other 10
# Housed – Larimer 133
# Housed – Weld 61
# Housed – Other 61
Total Assessed 363
Total Housed 255
% assessed that are housed:70.25%
% active that are housed:73.49%
# inactive: 16
# archived: NA
Data for the month of September
# Assessed – Larimer 2
# Assessed – Weld 2
# Assessed – Other 0
# Housed – Larimer 0
# Housed – Weld 0
# Housed – Other 0
Total Assessed 4
Total Housed 0
% assessed that are housed: 0
# inactive: 0
# archived: NA
Adult CAHP System
Started April 2017
As of 9/25/2018
# Assessed – Larimer 359
# Assessed – Weld 68
# Assessed – Other 0
# Housed – Larimer 44
# Housed – Weld 11
# Housed – Other 17
Total Assessed 427
Total Housed 72
% assessed that are housed: 16.86%
% active that are housed: 18.70%
# inactive: 42
# archived: 108
Data for the month of September
# Assessed – Larimer 4
# Assessed – Weld 0
# Assessed – Other 0
# Housed – Larimer 1
# Housed – Weld 0
# Housed – Other 0
Total Assessed 4
Total Housed 1
% assessed that are housed: .25%
# inactive: 0
# archived: 0
Family CAHP System
Started March 2018
10/1/2018
Data for the Northern Colorado Coordinated Assessment Housing Placement System
Northern Colorado Continuum of Care
Addressing Homelessness Across Larimer & Weld Counties
Definitions:
• Assessed: Those household who have completed the VI-SPDAT
• Housed: Those household who have been housed
• Inactive: Those household that have not been able to be contacted or seen in the last 90 days
• Archived: Those households that have been on the inactive list and have not been able to be contacted or seen in the last 6+ months
This month CAHPS has assessed 20 new households and housed four new households. The Department of Housing gave CAHPS five vouchers to disseminate for
those who were most vulnerable. Reviewing the by name list, looking at the VI-SPDAT scores, it appeared that the families in Larimer and Weld Counties were
the most vulnerable according to their scores and chronicity status. We were able to assign all five voucher to five families, four of those families in Larimer
County (all assessed in Fort Collins) and one in Weld County.
1
Homelessness Services Update 2018
Jeff Mihelich, Holly LeMasurier, Beth Sowder
OcOctober 23, 2018
ATTACHMENT 4
Overview
2
• Current state of homelessness
• Homeward 2020
• Housing First Initiative & FUSE Project
• Homeward Alliance & Murphy Center
• Give Real Change Campaign
• Seasonal Overflow Shelter plans
• Outreach Fort Collins
• Coordinated Assessment & Housing
Placement System
Current State of Homelessness
3
1. Total Population
Point in Time
Count of
Homeless
Individuals
Individuals as
proportion of
population
United
States 325.7 million 553,742
17 per 10,000
Colorado 5.6 million 10,940 19.7 per 10,000
Denver-metro = 5,116
7 counties – Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver,
Douglas, Jefferson
Fort Collins Homeless Population
4
0.00%
0.05%
0.10%
0.15%
0.20%
0.25%
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Homeless as % of Total population
Count of Homeless Individuals
Point in Time Count
Housing First Initiative Count of Homeless for 6 months or longer in Fort Collins (started 2017)
Percentage of Homeless Individuals of Total Population
Homeward 2020
5
Guiding the 10-Year Plan to make homelessness rare, short-lived and
Non-recurring in Fort Collins.
2018-2020 community action areas:
• Data development to drive solutions
• Identify housing and supportive services solutions for 350+
experiencing long-term homelessness.
• Plan for long-term system sustainability to continue the
mission.
• MOU with City
6
Housing First Initiative
7
• Two-year pilot
• Data collection and analysis
• Pilot housing/services
HFI Dashboard
8
Recommendations
9
1. More housing pathways
2. Increase housing retention services
3. Engage community
4. Support housing development for 0-30% AMI
FUSE Model
10
Frequent Users Systems Engagement (FUSE)
• Corporation for Supportive Housing
• 19 other communities
• Interventions for “frequent utilizers of costly public crisis systems”
• Improved system, community, individual outcomes
• Partners: healthcare, justice, police, mental health, housing, outreach
and shelters
• Data collected
• November 2018 launch
Murphy Center & Homeward Alliance
11
• Increased individuals reporting positive employment and housing outcomes
• 135 escaped homelessness in first 9 months of 2018 – 175% increase over 2017
• Average guest visits 14 times per year
• Approx. 20 nonprofits provide about 40 unique services at the MC
Homeward Alliance 2018 Updates
12
One Village One Family: Helped 9 families secure housing
Hand Up: Helped secure 150 jobs for participants
Re-Entry: Intensive case management for 93 individuals
Dedicated Navigator: Helped people secure over $585,000 in potential
annual benefits; 73 secure food assistance; 69 Medicaid
Street Outreach: ~2,000 interactions with 750 individuals
Children In Need: Served over 300 families
Bike Repair: Performed 322 repairs
Give Real Change
13
• Pilot – Memorial Day thru Labor Day 2018
• Raised $2,299
• Successes and challenges
• Suggestions for future implementations
• DBA will not undertake this campaign again
Seasonal Overflow Shelter Plan
14
November 1 thru April 30
• SOS site at Community of Christ Church
• Staffed and operated by Catholic Charities
• Women only
• 10pm – 6am
• 7 nights per week
• Increased capacity for men
• Catholic Charities
• Fort Collins Rescue Mission
• Emergency weather activation stays same
15
Outreach Fort Collins
• Address street conflicts
• Streamline referrals
• Maintain downtown as vibrant, thriving, and
welcoming to all
•OFC is NOT:
– Solely about homelessness
– Enforcement
– A silver bullet
16
Outreach Fort Collins – Goals
• Downtown Fort Collins focus
• Proactive engagement with all clients
• Focused effort & engagement with high utilizers of
emergency services and police interaction
17
Outreach Fort Collins – Approach
Outreach Fort Collins Results
18
24 high users of public services & chronically homeless with high vulnerability
Through contact and a lot of work:
• 11 are now housed in Larimer and Weld Counties
• 1 housed in Denver County
• 2 currently at Ft. Lyon Residential Treatment Facility
• 3 have been housed with family
• 6 are still homeless in Fort Collins
• 1 individual cannot be located
Coordinated System
19
• HUD requires Coordinated Entry
• Coordinates assessment, case
conferencing, prioritization, most
vulnerable
• Regional – Larimer and Weld
• Veterans – 255 housed
• Adults – 72 housed
• Families – 40 housed
• Youth – planned in 2019
Next Steps
20
City and HW2020 focus:
1. Actionable data & recommendations
2. Systemic solutions to homelessness, housing
3. Strategic interventions and investment
4. System performance targets
# Assessed – Larimer 44
# Assessed – Weld 47
# Assessed – Other 0
# Housed – Larimer 8
# Housed – Weld 23
# Housed – Other 9
Total Assessed 91
Total Housed 40
% assessed that are housed: 43.96%
% active that are housed: 46.51%
# inactive: 5
# archived: 0
Data for the month of September
# Assessed – Larimer 8
# Assessed – Weld 4
# Assessed – Other 0
# Housed – Larimer 1
# Housed – Weld 2
# Housed – Other 0
Total Assessed 12
Total Housed 3
% assessed that are housed: .25%
# inactive: 0
# archived: 0
ATTACHMENT 3
ATTACHMENT 2
homelessness or housing instability in our
community.
Top Five Self-Reported
Contributing Factors to
Homelessness*
Unable to pay rent/mortgage
Lost job, couldn’t find work
Relationship problems or
family break-up
Asked to leave
Mental illness
0
30
60
90
120
150
133
126
108
103
100
Housing Secured by Type (n = 48)
64 HFI participants
secured housing
Number of People Housed
from June 2017 to June 2018
Project based voucher
Tenant based voucher
Rapid rehousing
Affordable housing
Outside of city limits
Moved out of state
Market
Assisted living/nursing
home
Long term treatment
program
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
31%
25%
8%
6%
10%
6%
6%
4%
2%
HFI Data Analysis
Housing First Principles HFI Data Snapshot
*Participants can select multiple reasons.
Seniors Experiencing
Homelessness
Fort Collins currently has 38 seniors (61+)
experiencing long-term homelessness
60% of these seniors have a
self-reported disability
9% of these seniors are veterans
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines cost-burdened families
as those “who pay more than 30% of their income for housing” and “may have difficulty
affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care.” Severe
rent burden is defined as paying more than 50% of one’s income on rent.
The Cost Burden of Rent
Average rent for a one-bedroom
in Fort Collins/Loveland in 2017:
$1,179.01
Income required for this not
to be cost-burdened:
$3,930/month
12% $1 - $499
16.5% $500 - $999
2.8% $1,500 - $1,999
6.3% $1,000 - $1,400
1.1% $2,000+
61.3% $0/No income
Monthly
Income
Among HFI
Participants
Housing First
Evidence-based theory with a simple, but transformative, underlying
assumption: housing is a prerequisite to everything. People who are
homeless are far more likely to overcome or effectively manage personal
obstacles—mental-health issues, substance-use disorders, physical
disabilities, unemployment—when they have roofs over their heads.
Proven principle of service provision through which practitioners
identify—and help participants manage—the consequences of trauma,
past and present. HFI meets people where they are, understanding that
many are recovering from or actively experiencing trauma.
Trauma Informed Care
Harm Reduction
Best-practice strategy that seeks to lessen, but not necessarily eliminate,
the negative impacts of drug and alcohol use. HFI does not require
program participants to be sober, but rather helps individuals avoid
risky behaviors and reduce the harms associated with substance use.
outside, have mortality rates far higher than people with homes.
One recent report, published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association, found that people who were homeless and unsheltered were
nearly 10 times more likely to die (over a 10-year period) than people with
housing. The average age at death was 53.
What’s more, we know how to prevent these deaths. When we focus on
securing housing for people who are homeless, we literally save lives.
Housing First Initiative represents our best attempt to get to the heart
of the issue: to define the scope of the problem, identify what works and
what is missing and implement the interventions today that get results.
Every person deserves the right to live (and die) in a home. We cannot
accept homelessness. We must act now and invest more in what we know
can make homelessness rare, short-lived and non-recurring.
Marla Cleary, HFI Director
Why This Matters
ATTACHMENT 1
2. Develop and fund programs that provide very flexible, client-centered housing placement and
retention services;
3. Promote landlord education and engagement to more deeply involve and support access to the
private market;
4. Invest in developing actionable data and utilize it to identify appropriate interventions and monitor
outcomes.