USING ASSESSMENT TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO THE RIGHT SERVICES TRIAGING: UMOM New Day Centers Mattie Lord, Chela Schuster, Randy Hade PRE 2014 FROM A FAMILY PERSPECTIVE 12 agencies 26 programs No shared wait lists Multiple, lengthy applications No shared eligibility criteria Getting into shelter = Needle in a haystack ONE DOOR, ONE PROCESS Single Application Regional approach Prioritization STANDING STRONG FOR FAMILIES A New Leaf ABC Housing, Inc. CASS Vista Colina Community Bridges, Inc. Family Promise Homeward Bound House of Refuge East Labors Community Service Agency Salvation Army Save the Family, Inc. UMOM New Day Centers Watkins Emergency Shelter GUIDING PRINCIPLES In August 2012, the Coordinated Assessment Workgroup developed these guiding principles: The assessment and referral process should be client-centric The system must be easy for clients to navigate Establish multiple points of access Prioritize enrollment based on client need Prioritize hardest to serve clients first Focus on ending the clients homelessness as quickly as possible Balance provider choice in making enrollment decisions with the systems need to serve all clients Initial Assessments should be as simple as possible Establish accountability amongst assessment workers and providers GUIDING PRINCIPLES Make a system that is sustainable Leverage and support existing partnerships and strong partnership Streamline any parallel processes Offer choices which promote self-sufficiency Deliver services that are well coordinated between all staff and agencies Support provider staff with appropriate referrals Ensure availability and access to a broad, flexible array of effective services and supports for consumers and their families that address their multiple needs Provide individualized services in accordance with the unique potentials and needs of each consumer and family Use a Housing First approach Use real-time data to make quick referrals ASSESSMENT TOOL Maricopa County agreed to use the Family VISPDAT and VISPDAT tools as assessment for coordinated entry The VI-SPDAT helps identify who should be recommended for each housing and support intervention, moving the discussion from simply who is eligible for a service intervention to who is eligible and in greatest need of that intervention. While the SPDAT is an assessment tool, the VI-SPDAT is a survey that anyone could complete, to help prioritize clients. UMOM NEW DAY CENTERS: A BRIEF OVERVIEW OUR CONTINUUM OF SERVICES Coordinated Entry Diversion Emergency Shelter Rapid Rehousing (RRH for families, SSVF and Transition in place for victims of Domestic Violence) Transitional/ Extended shelter (Families, GPD for veteran families) Permanent Supportive Housing IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE COORDINATED ENTRY & THE FAMILY HOUSING HUB FHH Central Mon.- Thurs. East valley- 2 days per week West Valley- 1 day per week Phoenix Elementary school-.5 day per week CONFIDENTIAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS Safety first (DV? Crisis?) Diversion questions Family VI-SPDAT Special Needs ADA Family size Geography Veteran status Eligibility questions Full assessment for very high acuity WHAT IS DIVERSION? From Ending Family Homelessness Strategic Plan 2020 We agree to commonly fund and support services to families seeking shelter, with a strong focus on resolving and diverting as many families as possible whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so. Diversion includes looking at the current circumstance of the family from wherever they are connecting from across the County and professionally, sensitively, and patiently attempting to solve their housing instability without ever requiring shelter admission. RESOURCES The FHH waiting room is full of resources and information on housing, employment and other resources to help divert families prior to even meeting with FHH Staff members. DIVERSION IMPACT 885 households were formally diverted 10/14 12/ households returned to FHH for homeless/housing services. 650 households did not return. Formal diversion Rate 27% SELF-DIVERSION In person Families 2,985 Families entering shelter 810 ASSESSMENT DETERMINES INTERVENTION Family VI-SPDAT score Emergency Shelter Rapid Rehousing Transitional Housing Permanent Supportive Subsidized/ Section 8 Permanent affordable housing Eviction Prevention EMERGENCY SHELTER 5 different programs Typically up to 120 days Only intervention offered to lowest acuity Used as bridge to other interventions for moderate and high acuity Marcus 32 year old single dad 2 children Employed less than 3 months Felony 10 years old past eviction RAPID REHOUSING 3 different providers Core Components Housing Search and Placement Temporary Rental assistance Case Management Typically up to one year, average of 6 months assistance Offered to moderate acuity families Isabel 25 YO single mother 2 children Less than 30% AMI 2 past evictions Owes money to utility company Major credit problems TRANSITIONAL HOUSING 6 different programs Typically up to 2 years Offered to high acuity households Michaela 41 year old single mom 3 children Receives sporadic child support Recent felony Long history of substance use Child welfare involvement PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING 3 different providers Scattered site Clustered Not time limited Core Components Housing Search & Placement Rental assistance Case Management Offered only to highest acuity households Liz and Tom 5 children No employment No HS diploma/ GED Recent felony and misdemeanors 2 past evictions Major credit issues and wage garnishments History of mental health and substance use on and off for 10 years. MULTIFAMILY/SECTION 8 Currently in process of piloting work with Multifamily housing with preference for those experiencing homelessness DOCUMENT & DATA COLLECTION Documentation of homeless status Proof of identity Proof of relationship with child(ren) Documentation of income HMIS Entry created Informed consent DV victim files are closed UDEs collected F-SPDAT score attached Documents uploaded Electronic file prepared to be manually opened to receiving program. REFERRAL TO RRH, TH, OR PSH PROGRAMS 1 page referral sent from FHH to Program Program accepts/denies within 24(ish) hours Goal: 85% acceptance rate If accepted, either placed on SPL or sent to agency if unit is available. If denied, FHH works toward alternative referral. NO IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY Week of11/211/911/1611/23 ES RRH TH GPD 0110 PSH Week of12/712/1412/2112/28 ES RRH TH GPD 0100 PSH 6787 PROGRESSIVE ENGAGEMENT Family VI SPDAT score will be used as starting point for providing services to all families If a family fails an intervention and the case manager has completed a full F-SPDAT showing need for a higher intervention, family will be placed on that SPL. RESULTS The average number of families slipping into homelessness in Maricopa County = 51 families per week. RESULTS On any given week at the Family Housing Hub 380 will people call to inquire about FHH services. 62 families will walk through the door of a FHH site. 51 families will be identified as experiencing homelessness. 12 homeless families will be formally diverted, of which 9 will not return. 39 homeless families will be formally assessed for interventions. Initial assessment scores will indicate: 4 will likely need only a short stay in Emergency Shelter 20 will likely need Rapid Rehousing (& ES as a bridge) 11 will likely need Transitional Housing (& possibly ES as a bridge) 4 may need Permanent Supportive Housing, but will need a full FSPDAT assessment 27 homeless families will access a shelter or housing intervention. RESULTS Oct 1 Dec families were fully assessed and placed on Service Priority Lists During the same time period, 252 families were removed from Service Priority Lists as they entered programs entered shelter - 58 entered RRH - 26 entered TH - 0 entered PSH CHALLENGES Change is hard Family habits/expectations Provider habits/expectations VIP habits/expectations Funder habits/expectations Operation of side doors Oversight/accountability Public misperceptions of diversion No immediate services for immediate needs NEXT STEPS Seek continued, sustainable funding Strengthen diversion to homeless system Define measures of success Coordinate with multifamily/ Sec 8 Coordinate with DV system Coordinate with youth system Continued education to funders (Regional approach) Work with partners to minimize eligibility criteria Continue tracking data in an effort to right size interventions PLAN TO END FAMILY HOMELESSNESS QUESTIONS? Mattie Lord Chief Program officer Chela Schuster Director of Strategic Housing resources Randy Hade Family Housing Hub Coordinator