RIVERSIDE COUNTY COMMUNITIES ENDING FAMILY HOMELESSNESS Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY COMMUNITIES ENDING FAMILY HOMELESSNESS Riverside County Department of Public Social Services Margaret Adkins, Social Service Planner July 22, 2018

Riverside County Map & Office Locations Roughly 180 miles wide • County population (Census 2017) : 2, 423, 266 (95% urban, 5% rural) • Land area in square miles: 7, 207 • 4 th most populous City in California

HOMELESSNESS IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY Homelessness in Riverside County decreased countywide from 2017 to 2018 by 3. 7%. The 2018 PIT count totaled 2, 316 sheltered and unsheltered homeless adults and children, compared to 2, 406 in 2017.

HOMELESSNESS IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY Overall Riverside County has decreased total homelessness by more than half from 2005 to 2018. Total Decrease 52%

SNAPSHOT OF FAMILY HOMELESSNESS RIVERSIDE COUNTY Homeless People in Families 2013 -2017 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Overall, Riverside County has decreased total family homelessness by 61% from 2013 to 2017

FAMILY HOMELESSNESS SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED Sheltered and Unsheltered Family Homelessness 2013 -2017 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 2013 2014 Sheltered Homeless People in Families 2015 2016 Unsheltered Homeless People in Families 2017

EARLY SHORTFALLS Inadequate number of shelter beds for families Limited number of dedicated RRH or PSH beds for families CES ranking and prioritization § Chronically homeless individuals § Veterans Community agencies addressed family homelessness in silos Limited resources to link families to community based services Information sharing

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS Riverside County Housing Authority (HA) § Priority preference § Rapid Rehousing- 10 beds for youth with families § 200 Section 8 Vouchers for Family Reunification Expansion of RRH beds dedicated for families in Coordinated Entry System § Lighthouse PSH- 12 families, 36 emergency shelter (ES) beds § Martha's Village- 120 emergency shelter beds § Lighthouse RRH- 12 families, 40 beds § Path of Life (dedicated family shelter)

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS (continued) Other Community Supports § City of Temecula- Western Riverside Regional Council of Governments (WRCOG)-12 families § Valley Restart Emergency Shelter- 35 beds § Project Touch– 21 day ES § ADV and Shelter From the Storm-105 beds Cal. WORKs Housing Support Program (HSP) § 1. 5 Million to fund permanent housing for Cal. WORKs (TANF) homeless families § Department of Behavioral Health § Housing Authority § HSP closed the gap- (security deposits, move in costs)

FAMILY HOMELESSNESS CALWORKS (TANF) HOMELESS ASSISTANCE JULY 2017 THROUGH JUNE 2018 Approvals 3, 328 (Homeless permanent 383/Temporary shelter 2945) 339 362 300 317 283 264 220 July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Approvals 274 209 Jan Month Feb 228 242 Mar Apr May 290 June

OUTREACH EFFORTS Strengthened Behavioral Health partnerships Infrastructure changes HSP, Homeless Programs Unit and the Housing Authority started working conjunctively with emergency shelters to assess sheltered families for HSP and or Section 8 eligibility Countywide HSP Roadshow - Awareness Campaign Orientation and Appraisal presentations Child Protective Services Outreach/Awareness Campaign School District Staff Presentations Family Resource Center collaboration Economic Development Agency Family Self Sufficiency collaboration Warm hand off between Cal. WORKs Homeless Assistance (TANF) and HSP Active Continuum of Care/Coordinated Entry System Participation

FAMILY HOMELESSNESS HSP- PLACED IN PERMANENT HOUSING FAMILIES PLACED IN PERMANENT HOUSING 253 181 144 141 FY 14/15 FY 15/16 FY 16/17 FY 17/18

HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM STATISTICAL DATA HSP July-December All Fiscal Years 562 555 467 263 235 211 126 80 65 15 41 FY 14/15 New Applications 252 108 107 125 127 107 95 52 0 FY 15/16 Approvals/Pends Denied/Withdrawn FY 16/17 * Financially Assisted FY 17/18 Permanent housing

HSP PARTNERSHIPS Riverside County Housing Authority Homeless Programs Unit Department of Behavioral Health Continuum of Care Membership Coordinated Entry- Home. Connect City of Riverside Community Employment Partners

HOUSING AUTHORITY Provides housing identification Performs a weekly orientation across the county after approval to the HSP Develops and maintains relationships with landlords Develops and maintain available housing stock Makes payments for financial assistance for permanent housing directly to the vendors

BEST PRACTICES No wrong door Streamline referral process between programs Weekly Housing Orientations with partnering agencies Housing Authority and Behavioral Health Support Effective Co. C/CES that screens families into funded projects Effective homeless prevention methods- Eviction Prevention/Diversion Partnership with Children's Services and Adult Services Weekly Team Decision Meetings Funding leveraging

MOVING FORWARD We are the key agents for change in ending family homelessness! Make productive partnerships with your TANF agency leaders Link families to the benefits of community based services § TANF agencies offer supportive services that would not be otherwise available under most HUD funding § § § Child Care Services Transportation Employment Services Ancillary Services Temporary and Permanent housing options Implement effective homeless prevention methods Think outside the box. The solutions may be in your own programs or communities Homeless families can rebuild their lives if given an opportunity for change DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY!

Questions?

CONTACT Margaret Adkins, Social Service Planner Family Stabilization, Housing Support Program and Eviction Prevention Services Madkins@rivco. org 951 -922 -7618