Exploring the Intersections of Public Housing and Homelessness

Exploring the Intersections of Public Housing and Homelessness: Prevention, Support Services and Best Practices Department of Housing and Community Development Western Mass. Regional Network to End Homelessness May 3, 2012

Why are PHAs important to efforts to end homelessness? Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) administer powerful resources for creating housing for homeless and extremely vulnerable populations. Particularly in today’s difficult funding environment, PHA resources, capacity, and experience serving extremely lowincome individuals and families make them critical partners in creating new opportunities for supportive housing and ending homelessness. Some PHAs also have development capacity that is otherwise lacking in their communities, and they can be leaders in developing new permanent supportive housing.

We are already working together to address homelessness � Up to 20% of EA families are placed through state and federal public housing, Section 8, and the LHA Transitional Housing Program � Springfield Housing Authority's 2007 commitment of 90 project-based vouchers for permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals has been a major contributing factor to the City's 27% decrease in chronic homelessness over a five-year period � DHCD’s HPRP eviction prevention initiatives � Work of ICHH Regional Networks

Current snapshot in Western Mass: EA Families in area motels Housing Authority 284 families in motels from community 40% “possibly” meet homeless preference Amherst 2 0 Agawam 2 0 Chicopee 29 11 Greenfield 15 5 Holyoke 38 11 Montague 1 0 Easthampton Hampden Ludlow Northampton Palmer South Hadley Southwick 1 1 4 3 1 2 1 0 0 1 2 1 Springfield 163 70 West Springfield 7 2 Ware Westfield Totals 3 11 284 1 4 111

DHCD and LHA Program Models that serve families that are homeless or experiencing housing instability: LHA Transitional Housing LHA Housing First Homelessness Prevention

LHA Transitional Housing Program � DHCD and DTA established THP model in 1992 � DHCD currently funds 90 units statewide administered by 8 housing authorities � DHCD funds LHA to pay for a monthly occupancy and administrative fee � DHCD funds case management staff at LHA � Families transition to lease upon successful completion of a transitional service plan � 92% graduation rate within 8 months

LHA Housing First � DHCD and DTA established Housing First model in 2007 � DHCD currently funds 40 units at 3 LHAs � Family transition from shelter and begins a lease in a public housing unit � DHCD provides participating LHA with funding for case management staff and support services � 99. 99% retention rate

Homelessness Prevention � State has experience with ICHH and HPRP-funded initiatives with LHAs � State funds Tenancy Preservation Programs (TPP) in several locations, including S-field � Federal funding through Mc. Kinney Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and the HEARTH Act ◦ Working through Continua of Care across state to bolster individual rehousing and prevention efforts ◦ RFR out now; responses due back May 8 th � FY 13 Proposed expansion to RAFT Program

Proposal for discussion: LHA Supportive Housing Model USING STATE (EA) RESOURCES: � EA families lease with LHA � DHCD pays a monthly fee of $400 to LHA � DHCD provides funds for case management staff and support services at LHA � Opportunity for a regional model involving multiple LHAs USING FEDERAL RESOURCES: � Sponsor-base Section 8 vouchers

Why is supportive housing important to PHAs? � There are many reasons PHAs choose to invest in supportive housing, including: ◦ Mission: Supportive housing complements PHAs’ missions by enhancing their ability to serve low-income households that otherwise struggle in traditional programs. ◦ Partnerships: PHAs that engage in ending homelessness create connections with government and nonprofit leaders that can open doors for other PHA initiatives. ◦ Funding: when PHAs invest in supportive housing, their contributions leverage significant resources for their agencies and their communities. In recent years, the majority of incremental vouchers available to PHAs have had requirements to serve special-needs populations in partnership with service providers, such as HUD-VASH.