Connecticut Homelessness Response System: A Housing-First Approach

How we do it The Connecticut homelessness response system is built on principles and practices that enable us to effectively end homelessness Using a Housing First approach, which removes barriers to help homeless individuals obtain permanent housing as quickly as possible, without unnecessary prerequisites. Coordinating outreach efforts to identify and engage every individual experiencing homelessness and focus outreach efforts on achieving housing outcomes. Developing CAN By-Name Lists to prioritize the most vulnerable individuals using the Vulnerability Index - Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT). Closely monitoring progress toward the goal, including the success of programs achieving permanent housing outcomes. Aligning housing and supportive service resources to ensure that everyone can ultimately have a safe, stable place to call home. Reducing barriers to quickly move people experiencing homelessness into housing. Collaboration and cooperation among state agencies, over 200 programs, and other stakeholders committed to ending homelessness 1

Timeline of recent achievements in Connecticut 2015 January 2015 Governor Malloy launches Zero:2016 effort to end chronic homelessness in Connecticut February 2015 Coordinated Access is fully implemented when Greater New Haven CAN comes online March 2015 Series of 100 day challenges around the state to accelerate efforts to end homelessness August 2015 Connecticut becomes the first state to end chronic homelessness for veterans 2016 January 2016 New statewide CAN managers at DOH to facilitate coordinated access February 2016 Connecticut is certified as one of two states to end all homelessness for veterans July 2016 Statewide 90 in 90 challenge, in which CANs verified 90% of chronic clients in 90 days January 2017 All Chronic (Verified) homeless in Connecticut are matched to a housing resource 2017 2

CANs are how we organize our statewide system Waterbury/Litchfield CAN Greater Hartford CAN Northeast CAN 8 Coordinated Access Networks (CANs) Central CAN Southeast CAN Middlesex Meriden Wallingford CAN Fairfield County CAN Greater New Haven CAN 3

CDBG Program Service Set-Asides To supplement DOH s existing efforts to end homelessness in CT Two set-asides: Diversion Specialists Short-term Crisis Housing for Young Adults Municipalities eligible to apply for both programs Additional information available in February 2018 Letter of intent to apply for either set-aside (or both) due by April 12, 2018 KEY DATES Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 15, 2018 4

Homeless Shelter Diversion Shelter diversion is a strategy that prevents homelessness for people seeking shelter by helping them identify immediate alternate housing arrangements and, if necessary, connecting them with services and financial assistance to help them return to permanent housing. Shelter diversion programs can reduce the number of households becoming homeless, the demand for shelter beds, and the size of program wait lists. Connecticut homeless providers working through CANs diverted 4,565 households from July 14, 2014 through July 31, 2017. 3,953 households (87%) of these households did not subsequently enter shelter. Of those clients served in 2015 (at least 18 months prior) rates of return were less than 20%. Shelter diversion can save funds that are otherwise lost due to the impact of homelessness: research from the University of Connecticut reflects that the cost of a family s homelessness in Connecticut can be as much as $122,460 per family homeless, or $33,360 per person, when the costs of homelessness as well as the additional costs of system utilization are accounted for. Letter of intent to apply for either set-aside (or both) due by April 12, 2018 Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 15, 2018 5

Homeless Shelter Diversion Activities The case manager at the local-level CAN intake appointment will explore all possible housing alternatives, employing the approach learned through the shelter diversion training, seeking to empower clients to identify their own best housing resolutions, rather than seeking to dictate solutions to them. Shelter diversion services are tailored to each household s needs, and can include any of the following: Conflict mediation (with a landlord, family or friends) Financial, utility, and/or rental assistance Short-term case management focused on housing stabilization Connection to mainstream services and benefits Housing location and advocacy Mediation can be an important component of shelter diversion efforts. Many households facing homelessness may require assistance and advocacy with landlords due to low income compared to the cost of rent, or due to eviction history. Some households may be facing homelessness due to conflict within shared housing, including housing shared by multiple generations of a family. Resolving these conflicts through a light/moderate-touch mediation may be the most effective way to help a household avoid homelessness and retain permanent housing that they can afford. Letter of intent to apply for either set-aside (or both) due by April 12, 2018 Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 15, 2018 6

Short-term Crisis Housing for Young Adults DOH committed to ending youth homelessness by the end of 2020 Approximately 2000 young adult individuals entered our homeless response system in FY2017 Insufficient crisis housing capacity Ensure safety on path to housing: o Fear of adult shelters o Susceptible to sex trafficking, harassment, abuse, depression, and suicide o Approximately 1 out of 4 young adult individuals added to housing BNL in FY17 reported that they had been attacked or beaten up since becoming homeless. Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness (Number of young adult individuals scheduled for CAN intakes in FY17) Greater New Haven Wallingford Meriden/ Middlesex/ Greater Hartford Waterbury/ Litchfield Fairfield County Region: Northeast Southeast Central Statewide Inflow #: 76 139 462 329 131 129 154 390 1,810 7

Crisis Housing Overview Up to $200,000 set-aside for operating and/or support service dollars Only for young adult individuals (age 18-24 at program entry) New or expanding capacity Different setting options, such as: congregate shelter, closed group homes, shared 3 family house (shared bathrooms & kitchen (if include one)) Allowed to contract with service provider in different municipality CAN shelter prioritization process Applications are due by June 15th for competitive review (LOI: April 12th) 8