Anchorage Community Plan to End Homelessness Lisa Aquino

Anchorage Community Plan to End Homelessness Lisa Aquino, Chair, Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness Executive Director, Catholic Social Srvcs Michele Brown, President and CEO, United Way of Anchorage Nancy Burke, Mayor Berkowitz’s Housing and Homeless Services Coordinator

Homelessness: how to approach a complex issue? • Organize resources and partners committed • Assess needed infrastructure • Ensure changes are lasting • Replicate!

Homeless: outcomes over 2 year period • Number of single adults decreased from 902 to 840 • More people seeking shelter than attempting to stay outdoors • Number of families without a place to stay fell by 91 – from 371 to 280

Partners make it happen Partners may focus on different measures/aspects • Municipality - public safety and safety net • Homeless social service providers – non-profits working together to house people and meet basic needs • Families, youth, veterans, adults, specialized population • United Way - Community wide data, convening and system focus • Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness - HUD Continuum of Care, Coordinated Entry and leveraged grant resources • Community

Partners make it happen Partners may focus on different measures/aspects • Specialized Non-profit services – medical, mental health, substance treatment • Medical access (Catholic Social Services and hospitals) • Behavioral health focus on how funding works in community • Substance Treatment services and access for timely treatment • Elderly homeless • Street outreach

Headline Indicators 1. Find the people • Timeline to housing from homelessness • Rate of homeless persons in community 2. Housing – reduce time in homelessness • Rate of units for stable residences 3. Stabilize and maintain healthy individuals and families • Length of time stable after housing • Rate of homeless individuals reporting success in housing

Current data – collaboration works: 1. Find the people: • 711: current number of people on the “By Name list” (Jan. Jul 2017) 2. Housing first! House people and reduce time homeless: • 217: Number of people housed for continued recovery/progress (Jan-Jul 2017) • 200: Mayor’s Action Agenda focusing on chronically homeless adults over 2 years

John’s Story: back on his feet

James and Dana’s Story: a new perspective

Addressing the needs of a community One provider’s experience: Catholic Social Services • Last year 462 people positively exited homeless services at our agency – 462 people housed • Medical respite and clinical services at Brother Francis Shelter • In MR pilot - 80% did not return to homelessness after respite • Clare House – Rate of families returning to shelter fell from 15% to 3% because of progressive housing and trauma informed care • Brother Francis Shelter – working to promote safety and create an environment where guest can plan for the future and become more self-sufficient • Increased staff and reorganized positions • Changed to the trauma informed care model • Increase partnerships to provide more services

• • • Alaska Homeless Management Information System Coordinated Entry Continuum of Care grants HUD Youth Demonstration Project Homeless Connect and the Point in Time Count Creating and Supporting Systems to End Homelessness in Anchorage

Systemic Focus: Partners and Resources • United Way role as system focused partner • Finances that have come into the system • Municipality: 2016 $425, 000 to coordinate outreach and “Find them” • Providence Health Services - $2, 000 to continue system improvements

Anchorage Plan to End Homelessness Transform to a client centric, networked services community system where homelessness is rare and brief Population focus and coordination Community infrastructure Sustainability Single adults Families Housing and Homeless Services alignment and coordination System financing, resources, and community investment Veterans Re-Entry Data repository and reporting Community connection Housing Units Communications Youth and young adults transitioning Pipeline to opportunities

Thank you!