Effective Response to Homelessness Crisis in Pierce County
This presentation highlights the evolution of diversion as an effective response to the crisis of homelessness in Pierce County. It discusses the challenges faced by the centralized intake system and the success of diverting families from the waitlist. By reallocating investments and piloting diversion programs, over 250 families have resolved their homeless crisis with a low return rate. The focus is on practical solutions and collaborative efforts to address homelessness effectively in the community.
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Presentation Transcript
Diversion: An Effective Response to Crisis of Homelessness National Conference on Ending Homelessness July 18, 2017 Jeff Rodgers Supervisor, Homeless Programs Pierce County Human Services Tacoma, WA www.piercecountywa.org/cc
Pierce County, WA COC $12 million in 2016 to housing and services COC - $3.5 million ESG - $370,000 WA State - $3.7 million Local - $4.5 million COC has about 3,050 permanent and temporary beds PIT (2017): 1,762 persons Increase in unsheltered and chronic Coordinated Entry (2016): about 5,400 literally homeless households Population = 840,000 City of Tacoma = 208,000 Median Income = $72,300 Market Rent 2BR = $1,140 Vacancy rate = 3.3% 2 www.piercecountywa.org/cc
Evolution of Diversion in Pierce County What Centralized Intake taught us Why we decided to divert families from Centralized Intake Wait List What we learned from our Diversion Pilot Why Diversion is a cornerstone of our Crisis Response System Why Diversion is in quotes 3 www.piercecountywa.org/cc
Then: Centralized Intake System Flow Who s getting referred to housing Mainly low-barrier families Who s not Getting Referred Mainly single adults and families with very high barriers How long it s all taking Many months or until we lose contact Monthly: 150 Assessments Monthly: 30 Vacancies Wait List! 4 www.piercecountywa.org/cc
Centralized Intake Wait List Lost contact with about 1/3 of the people on the placement roster. Around 20% found housing on their own Only 20% were entering our system Remainder stayed on wait list for a long time Some highest barriers - never got a referral There must be a better way! 5 www.piercecountywa.org/cc
Now What?!? Dilemma Implemented Centralized Intake without Right Sizing System Yikes! Response Reallocate investments from Transitional Housing to Rapid rehousing Divert households from placement on Wait List Piloted Diversion for families 2014/2015 Engaged our Center for Dispute Resolution to Train Learning Collaborative Data Dashboards 70% Take-Up rate - over 250 families resolved homeless crisis 8% return rate 6 www.piercecountywa.org/cc
Now: Coordinated Entry 7 www.piercecountywa.org/cc
Outcomes Through 2016 Over 750 households successfully diverted since October 2014 (out of 2,800 offered diversion) 83% of families take-up offer of diversion vs 6% of single adults Over 50% of all Households who take-up diversion are successful 710 Families and 41 singles Average financial assistance under $900 8% Return Rate since October 2014 Successful Exits to Housing 6% Re-Established Rental 9% Shared Housing 15% Doubled-Up 70% Relocated 8 www.piercecountywa.org/cc
A Word About Money Flexibility of Funding Sources unusual expenses (car repair, child care, buying groceries for a roommate, etc.) Local Revenues Private Funds Could use SSVF or ESG (we don t) Financial Assistance Not the Only Tool $$s Help with Diversion Reliance on $$s may impact creativity $$s Finite - Creativity is Infinite 9 www.piercecountywa.org/cc
