Program Matters: Catch 22

By Senior Director of Programs and Operations Jeannine Short

Ensuing from HUD’s overarching objective to eradicate homelessness is the goal of permanently housing those most vulnerable to becoming homeless. This often means housing (or attempting to house) persons with significant mental health and/or substance abuse issues.  While the effort is certainly noble, it seems that the issues that plague this population have become the “elephant in the room”.

Despite the best efforts of HUD-funded agencies to meet HUD’s expectations, the reality is that there will be failures that can negatively impact funding.

The mandate to serve only the most vulnerable population (which implies significant if not insurmountable challenges), and HUD’s expectation to consistently meet or exceed outcomes is in every way a catch 22.

Does an agency perhaps  “cream”  in an effort to meet these expectations? Or, does an agency truly embrace the “most vulnerable” objective and risk the loss of funding?

Intake Matters: What a family leaves behind

By Intake and Resident Specialist Holly Gardner

 

This month I have been particularly busy doing walk through’s of apartments after a family moves out. Part of my job duty as an intake and resident specialist is to assess what the apartment needs will be for maintenance and cleaning, then I estimate the time frame and planning for the new family. 

 

Most of the time the family moves out gracefully, with minor damages.  Sometimes, if they won’t need these items in their new place they leave dishes, clean bedding and other things behind as a gift for the new family moving in.

 

I have noticed a direct correlation between the condition of the apartment when they move out and the family’s participation in the program.  It is no surprise to me when I see a family thrive here and want to share what they can with the new families coming in.  It is always refreshing to do the walk through when a family has left such a nice mark on us, the property and especially the new families moving in to the space.

 

Most of the time I can measure fairly well how to clean up a unit after a family departs, I can see that mini blinds get replaced, painting is done and a stove gets a deep cleaning, but I can’t always see or measure what that family was able to take in and or what that family will take with them when they leave us and continue on their housing and self-sufficiency journey. But when departing family’s with their own stresses and concerns are thoughtful enough to share their small bounty with another family I know that this is a kind gesture, a true welcome and it won’t go to waste. 

 

Aftercare Matters: Growth Happens in Small Successes

By Aftercare Critical Time Intervention Case Manager, Sara Barrett

 

As the first group of Aftercare families comes to a place of completing services, we are taking time to look back with each family and note the successes had since moving from interim housing to permanent housing.

 

Each family, at the beginning of services completes a Needs Assessment to rate their strengths and needs in the following categories: Basic Needs of housing, food, furniture, finances, clothing and transportation, Parent and Child needs of Education, Employment, Mental Health, Physical Health, Substance Abuse and Legal Concerns, and Family Relationships including adult to adult, parent to child, sibling and parent relationships. Child Safety Risk and Domestic Violence are also assessed.

 

Clients work with the Aftercare Worker to determine where they see their own family. Needs Assessments are completed consistently throughout the program to determine success, change and show areas of needed growth. Aftercare services are then tailored to meet the needs expressed on the Assessment.

 

Self-Assessment and reflection, I have seen, is sometimes a scary and difficult part of Aftercare for our clients. Many of them fear looking back through the time and are resistant at first to discuss the history of our service time together. They automatically assume failure for themselves.

 

As we sit and look at each of the small categories of need, making up the whole picture of their hard work in Aftercare, I slowly see them relax and a smile build across their faces.

 

100% of all of the families actively participating in Aftercare have seen improvements in all categories of assessed need during their time in the program. This is great news.

 

More importantly however, families are learning to recognize their own successes to be proud of and understand that growth does not just stop at obtaining a roof to live under; but it is a continual process.

 

Interventions for Homeless Families

A couple of us just left a meeting with a researcher from a company engaged by HUD to study the effectiveness of the various methods of moving homeless families from emergency shelter to permanent housing.

They will evaluate several approaches to ending homelessness for families:

1. Housing subsidies and no other services
2. Transitional housing with intensive supportive services
3. Rapid re-housing (placement in housing with temporary rental assistance) followed by services focused on keeping housing
4. Assisting families in finding their own solutions to their housing problem.

The study will attempt to answer several questions:

1. What is the relative effectiveness of the different approaches?
2. Are the same interventions that give short-term housing stability effective for the long-term?
3. Are there interventions that are more effective for some categories of homeless families than others?

Fortunately, when they measure effectiveness, they will be looking at more than ending homelessness for a family for a few months. They want to know if an approach will be effective in keeping a family stable – i.e. in permanent housing for at least 18 months. They also will be looking at how well the approach keeps families intact, because family dissolution is a significant side effect of homelessness. They will consider the well being of the adults and children, and finally, the impact on self-sufficiency – employment, earnings and dependence on public assistance.

I’ve mentioned some of our successes by these measures in previous blogs: 83% of our families remain in permanent housing for a minimum of 24 months; we routinely reunite families with up to six children; the earnings of our residents increase by more than 50% and their dependence on public assistance decreases by more than 30% by the time they leave.

Kansas City may or may not be chosen as one of the sites for the study. We were invited to the meeting as one of the agencies that are likely to participate. Even if we aren’t one of the cities in the study, it will be fascinating to learn from the results when they are reported out from 2011-2013.

- Laura Gray

Hard Work and Dedication

A quick success story from our Director of Programs, Jeannine Short.

Great things are happening at Community LINC. We’re moving families toward self-sufficiency!

Take the Clegg family for example. When they came to Community LINC they were both unemployed and living where ever they could find a bed (or sofa) for a night. To make matters worse, the couple had just given birth to a beautiful baby girl. Imagine, an infant daughter and no place to live.

Fortunately, they were referred to Community LINC and their progress has been phenomenal!

Not only are they gainfully employed, but they are also pursuing other educational interests that will supplement their income. Too, they are within weeks of obtaining permanent housing.

This family is a testament to what hard work and dedication can bring!

- Laura Gray