United Nations Regional Workshop on the 2020 World Programme for Population and Housing Censuses

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SLO C SLO CO O. U . UNSHELTERED NSHELTERED H HOMELESS OMELESS According to Housing and Urban Development s According to Housing and Urban Development s 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress- - San Luis Obispo County has the third highest rate of unsheltered homeless persons out of any Continuum of Care in the country, with 90% of its homeless population being unsheltered on any given night. *See Vital Signs- Action Trend Report in packet for more details on homelessness in SLO County 2

PARTNERSHIPWITH CAPSLO P PARTNERSHIP ARTNERSHIPWITH WITH CAPSLO CAPSLO SLO County DSS is contracting with Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) An experienced non-profit homeless services provider that has existing relationships with landlords who rent affordable housing throughout the county A successful history of housing clients using Rapid Re- Housing funding Collaborates with a wide-array of service providers across the county to deliver wrap around services to participants CAPSLO is committed to eliminating the causes of poverty by empowering low-income individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency through a wide-array of community based collaborations and programs 3

N NEW EW S STAFFING TAFFINGFOR FOR CW HSP CW HSP DSS added 2 new positions titled- Housing Barrier Employment Resource Specialist (HB ERS IV) The two employees selected to fill these positions have a strong background in WTW and now Family Stabilization and are experienced in engagement and assessment, employment assistance, barrier removal and knowledgeable about other internal/external housing programs. DSS also has a half time Administrative Assistant (AA) devoted to this program. She will assist with data entry into HMIS as well as our internal database and assist with participant needs as necessary. CAPSLO just hired 3 Homeless Case Managers 4

Eligibility for SLO Co. CW HSP E ELIGIBILITY LIGIBILITY R REQUIREMENTS EQUIREMENTS To be eligible for SLO Co. CW HSP participants must meet To be eligible for SLO Co. CW HSP participants must meet all of the following requirements: all of the following requirements: Reside in San Luis Obispo County Reside in San Luis Obispo County Be homeless as defined by HSP standards Be homeless as defined by HSP standards Have at least one member of the AU currently receiving Have at least one member of the AU currently receiving CalWORKs benefits issued from SLO County CalWORKs benefits issued from SLO County Work with the Housing Barrier ERS IV to complete the Work with the Housing Barrier ERS IV to complete the Housing Barrier Assessment and follow through with Housing Barrier Assessment and follow through with CAPSLO requirements CAPSLO requirements 5

Services Under HSP HSP S HSP SERVICES ERVICES Assistance with transportation for housing search and landlord interviews Housing placement assistance Assistance with move-in costs (deposit, rent, and/or utility connection fees) Childcare when parent(s) is/are searching for housing or meeting with potential landlords Case management Budgeting and Tenant education Referrals to other partner agencies Restricted Account set-up for homeless service needs Financial assistance with applications and credit check fees Assistance with correcting credit reports 6

Eligibility for SLO Co. CW HSP HSP H HSP HAPPENINGS APPENINGSFOR FOR O OCT CTAND AND N NOV OV 2014 2014 Collaborated with homeless service community partners to Collaborated with homeless service community partners to gain a better understanding of their programs and introduce gain a better understanding of their programs and introduce the beginning stages of HSP the beginning stages of HSP Created HSP Referral, Assessment and Tracking Process for Created HSP Referral, Assessment and Tracking Process for both CW applicants and recipients both CW applicants and recipients Hired and provided initial training for HB ERS IVs Hired and provided initial training for HB ERS IVs Altered existing contracts with CAPSLO Altered existing contracts with CAPSLO Altered other existing CW housing programs to support HSP Altered other existing CW housing programs to support HSP Trained all eligibility and employment service staff as well as Trained all eligibility and employment service staff as well as CWS on the program and referral process CWS on the program and referral process Mailed 149 CW HSP mailers to known CW homeless Mailed 149 CW HSP mailers to known CW homeless households households Took our first 18 applications for HSP!!! Took our first 18 applications for HSP!!! 7

Eligibility for SLO Co. CW HSP H HOUSING OUSING S SUPPORT UPPORT P PROGRAM ROGRAM LOG LOG Development of a database on our intranet Development of a database on our intranet DSS NET DSS NET A log for the HB ERS IVs to track referrals and the status A log for the HB ERS IVs to track referrals and the status of their applications of their applications and for their supervisors to review and for their supervisors to review progress progress A holding place for all documents to be scanned, A holding place for all documents to be scanned, uploaded and viewed by HB ERS IVs, AA, CAPSLO Case uploaded and viewed by HB ERS IVs, AA, CAPSLO Case Managers and supervisors/management Managers and supervisors/management A data collection tool for all CDSS required elements A data collection tool for all CDSS required elements A tool to track program correspondence with all parties A tool to track program correspondence with all parties 8

HSP I HSP INFORMATION NFORMATIONAND AND R REFERRAL EFERRAL Housing Support Information and Referral Forms Housing Support Information and Referral Forms HSP Application (DSS HSP 1) HSP Application (DSS HSP 1) Added to all Added to all CalWORKs packets packets CalWORKs Intake and Annual Re Intake and Annual Re- -Determination Determination HSP Brochure (DSS HSP 2) HSP Brochure (DSS HSP 2) Added to Added to CalWORKs CalWORKs informational packets informational packets Passed out to partner agencies and trainings for disbursement Passed out to partner agencies and trainings for disbursement HSP Mailer (DSS HSP 5) HSP Mailer (DSS HSP 5) Sent out to 149 existing CW Homeless families Sent out to 149 existing CW Homeless families 9

HSP I HSP INFORMATION NFORMATIONAND AND R REFERRAL EFERRAL Housing Support Program E Housing Support Program E- -Forms Forms Housing Support Referral E Housing Support Referral E- -Form Form When an HSP Application is signed, eligibility staff will also have the participant sign our county s Multi-Service Referral and Release of Information (DSS 815). They will then complete the online Housing Support Referral E-Form to begin HSP process. Once completed an email will go to four people the referring party and their supervisor, the assigned HB ERS IV and their supervisor notifying them an additional person has been added to the log. Housing Support Communication Tool E Housing Support Communication Tool E- -Form Form Any significant changes to the case are communicated with a separate e-form that is emailed to all four parties as well. 10

H HOUSING OUSING B BARRIER ARRIER A ASSESSMENT SSESSMENT Housing Barrier Assessment (HBA) Forms Housing Barrier Assessment (HBA) Forms Based on shared materials from the HSP meeting at CDSS in October and processes found on the National Alliance to End Homelessness website www.endhomelessness.org , the following forms were created/modified for our county use: HSP Level of Assistance Questionnaire (DSS HSP 3) HSP Level of Assistance Determination worksheet (DSS HSP 4) HSP HMIS Release form (DSS HSP 6) CAPSLO s current Adult/Child Intake and Arizona Self-Sufficiency Matrix forms were also adopted as part of our Housing Barrier Assessment (HBA) to adhere to SLO County HMIS standards and meet partner agency needs (DSS HSP 7 forms) 11

H HOUSING OUSING B BARRIER ARRIER A ASSESSMENT SSESSMENT HB ERS IV Duties HB ERS IV Duties 1. Ensure participant is receiving any temporary shelter they may be eligible to through HAP or Family Stabilization 2. If participant does not Send a DSS HSP 102 Denial Notice to notify participant they are denied (all denials/discontinuances are staffed with supervisor). Refer to other internal or external housing programs if appropriate (Diversion, HAP Permanent Shelter Payment, 4-Month Rental Assistance, SSVF, ESG, 50 Now, Klaproad funding) not meet HSP eligibility criteria, HB ERS IV will: 1. 2. 3. If participant meets eligibility criteria, HB ERS IV will: Complete a Housing Barrier Assessment Assist participant in criminal background and credit checks Work with WTW worker to identify self-sufficiency barriers and assist in referrals send DSS HSP 101 Approval Notice to notify participant they are approved to receive assistance through the program Refer participant to CAPSLO Case Manager for assistance with Housing Navigation and Support 1. 2. 3. 4. 12 5.

Services Under HSP H HOUSING OUSING N NAVIGATION AVIGATIONAND AND S SUPPORT UPPORT Once referred to a CAPSLO Case Manager Once referred to a CAPSLO Case Manager CAPSLO will CAPSLO will Conduct a Family Support Review Create a Housing Plan with participant Assist participant with housing navigation Refer for childcare needs as necessary Provide training for tenants on how to maintain successful tenancies Provide budgeting classes Assess and issue payments for HSP Check in weekly with clients during the first two months following housing placement and work proactively to identify and address barriers that could potentially threaten housing retention Provide landlords with a point of contact should problems arise. If problems do arise, CAPSLO will work with landlords and participants to address the issue(s) 13

HSP HSP SIMPLIFIED SIMPLIFIEDSTEPS STEPS Participant completes HSP Application and Referral Participant completes HSP Application and Referral 1. 1. Eligibility staff completes HSP Referral E Eligibility staff completes HSP Referral E- -Form Form 2. 2. HB ERS IV contacts participant ASAP for HBA HB ERS IV contacts participant ASAP for HBA 3. 3. HB ERS IV completes HBA and a referral for housing HB ERS IV completes HBA and a referral for housing navigation is made to CAPSLO with a Level of Need navigation is made to CAPSLO with a Level of Need Determination Determination 4. 4. CAPSLO completes a Housing Navigation Plan with CAPSLO completes a Housing Navigation Plan with participant, assists with housing location, issuance participant, assists with housing location, issuance of funds and conducts weekly/monthly check ins of funds and conducts weekly/monthly check ins for housing retention for housing retention 5. 5. 14

Services Under HSP HSP N HSP NEXT EXT S STEPS TEPS DSS and CAPSLO have several meetings scheduled in December to work on housing navigation and support Introduction of HSP team Establish a division and understanding of roles Finalize a Housing Navigation Plan Finalize Weekly and Monthly Progress/Check In Reports Establish starndards for lengths and amounts of financial assistance based on level and types of needs and barriers Determine process for childcare referral CAPSLO begins landlord engagement and recruitment Coordinate with HMIS Administrator to design a services screen that will allow both DSS and CAPSLO to see and enter data for our participants Create a CAPSLO data entry screen on HSP Log for the completion of CDSS data elements 15

Services Under HSP C CHALLENGES HALLENGES Time to implement Duration of program Lack of affordable housing options 16

Q QUESTIONS UESTIONS? ? For more information, please contact For more information, please contact Jenny Hart Jenny Hart SLO Co. CalWORKs/WTW Program Manager SLO Co. CalWORKs/WTW Program Manager jhart@co.slo.ca.us jhart@co.slo.ca.us 17