Lessons Learned from Rapid Rehousing in NYC Yes
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Lessons Learned from Rapid Rehousing in NYC (Yes, it’s possible!) Kelly O’Sullivan, LMSW, MBA Managing Program Director Jericho Project
What is Rapid Rehousing? Case Management + Housing Identification + Rental assistance • Housing First • Client driven • Flexible
Who do we serve? • Worked with 47 young adults ages 18 -24, coming from emergency shelter or street homelessness • Why homeless? • 76% due to family discord, many due to being LGBTQ • 20% family had trouble affording adequate housing in shelter with family • 4% couldn’t afford housing on their own • Race • • • 74% Black 9% White 4% American Indian 2% Pacific Islander 11% don’t identify with options given • Over 65% identify as LGBTQ • Barriers to housing • • 29% self-reported Mental Health or Substance Abuse history at admission 13% disclosed experiencing Domestic Violence 20% reported criminal background 37% reported having bad credit and 52% reported having no credit at all • Average income at intake: $725/month
What we’ve accomplished so far • Worked with 47 young adults ages 18 -24, coming from emergency shelter or street homelessness • Helped 36 young adults move into permanent housing • In their own apartments with their own lease • In an average of 55 DAYS!! • Built solid relationships • Taught and learned important life lessons
Where we’re headed • With over 4, 500 homeless youth in NYC in the 2017 PIT count we know there’s a need • Over, 2, 500 of these young adults are parents to over 2, 000 children • Applied for additional funding from HUD to increase the number of youth we serve by 150% • Will serve 115 homeless youth in NYC this year • Including 20 parenting youth – NEW!
Intentional growth • • • Expanding to families Talk to other youth providers Hiring and training a great team Incorporating peers Focusing on employment NAEH best practices – Housing Specialists
Lessons learned • How we message the program • • Opportunities to learn through experience Coordinate with employment Mediating roommate conflict Educate young adults and landlords on tenant rights • Plan contribution in advance, from Day 1 • Shared housing – it’s more affordable • Coordinate with other community providers when you, or the young adult, needs more help • Rapid rehousing doesn’t need to be the ONLY answer, just part of it
Kelly O’Sullivan kosullivan@jerichoproject. org (609) 535 -2978
