Retooling the Homeless Crisis Response System

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Informed and inspired by Opening Doors, communities across the country have made tremendous advances toward retooling the homeless crisis response system. We have gained critical new insights on the necessary components of an effective crisis response system for all people who experience or are at risk of homelessness, including more advanced thinking about the critical elements of coordinated entry systems. The development of these systems is making it possible for communities to quickly and effectively connect citizens in need with support tailored to their individual, unique needs by utilizing rapid re-housing to quickly connect individual and families to the supports they need to prevent or exit homelessness, target permanent supportive housing for those who are experiencing chronic homelessness, and utilize the existing inventory of transitional housing to connect people to a safe and rapid pathway to housing stability. There is still much more work to be done, however, in furthering the development of such systems, and the implementation of such strategies, in communities across the country.

Since the launch of Opening Doors, our understanding of what works has further solidified, and we’ve seen tremendous progress. Your input is essential to the ongoing success of Opening Doors. Please share and vote for the ideas you think would have the greatest impact in an amendment to Opening Doors.

Please consider these questions when crafting your feedback and voting for the feedback you think is most valuable. And please use the Opening Doors Amendment 2014 Participation Guide for more information on what strategies are currently included in Opening Doors. Find it here: http://bit.ly/USICH2014

1. Are there additional strategies for retooling the crisis response system that you think should be reflected in an amendment to Opening Doors?

2. How would your community/organization benefit from greater clarity on issues such as: the roles coordinated assessment, rapid re-housing, and transitional housing play in effective coordinated response systems? Please explain what information would be most helpful.

3. Are there other areas of the Plan you feel would benefit from updated information or the incorporation of additional strategies?

Thank you!

Are there additional strategies for retooling the crisis response system that you think should be reflected in an amendment to Opening Doors?

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Develop best practices and toolkits for emergency shelter operations

Emergency shelter plays a critical role within the crisis response system yet there are few if any best practice guides for communities or providers to use to improve the quality of emergency shelter. HUD, HHS, and USICH should develop best practices guidance and toolkits that can be implemented locally as part of retooling the crisis response system. The materials should cover general as well as the unique needs of sub-populations. The provision of services and efficient/effective operations by the shelter provider as well as strategies to integrate shelter with prevention, rapid rehousing, housing location, permanent supportive housing, and comprehensive services (i.e. health care, children's needs, domestic violence services, etc.) are all topics that should be covered. Without an effective emergency shelter (network of emergency shelters), it will not be possible to end homelessness.

Emergency shelter plays a critical role within the crisis response system yet there are few if any best practice guides for communities or providers to use to improve the quality of emergency shelter. HUD, HHS, and USICH should develop best practices guidance and toolkits that can be implemented locally as part of retooling the crisis response system. The materials should cover general as well as the unique needs of sub-populations. The provision of services and efficient/effective operations by the shelter provider as well as strategies to integrate shelter with prevention, rapid rehousing, housing location, permanent supportive housing, and comprehensive services…

56 votes

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1 comment · Retooling the homeless crisis response system · Delete… · Admin →
Remove barriers to services for homeless children, youth, and families

One of the listed goals for retooling the crisis response system is removing low barriers for services. This is very applicable for children and families who are living doubled-up or in motels, and may not be considered eligible for transitional housing and other HUD services if they don't meet the "imminent risk of homelessness" definition under HEARTH. The number of homeless children, youth, and families living in these situations continues to increase. Therefore, local service providers should have the freedom to assess the need in their community, and make decisions to prioritize these children, youth, and families for services based on need. In addition, when assessing these families or unaccompanied youth, the safety of their current situation needs to be taken into consideration. Doubled-up situations can be both stressful and dangerous, exposing children and youth to physical or ****** abuse by adults in the household, as well as put youth in danger of being trafficked. It is critical that these families are able to access services like transitional housing and other wraparound supports so they can achieve residential stability. Also, we appreciate and support your recent efforts to improve coordination of services between federal programs for children and youth, for this is also critical to improve outcomes. Specifically, it is vital that children, youth, and families receive mental health services and that children and youth receive educational supports so they can transition to a successful adulthood.

One of the listed goals for retooling the crisis response system is removing low barriers for services. This is very applicable for children and families who are living doubled-up or in motels, and may not be considered eligible for transitional housing and other HUD services if they don't meet the "imminent risk of homelessness" definition under HEARTH. The number of homeless children, youth, and families living in these situations continues to increase. Therefore, local service providers should have the freedom to assess the need in their community, and make decisions to prioritize these children, youth, and families for services based…

14 votes

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1 comment · Retooling the homeless crisis response system · Delete… · Admin →
Move funding from the lowest-performing quintile (fifth) to the highest-performing quintile.

Track the cost, speed, and long-term success of programs that result in homeless people getting housed, either directly or by increasing income so that they can return to self-sufficiency.

Those programs in the bottom 20% of ratings in any of those categories should be retooled or eliminated. Their funding should go to those programs which are in the top 20% in ALL of those categories.

Program comparisons may need to be kept within certain parameters so that "like" is compared with "like" (apples with apples, not oranges).

14 votes

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0 comments · Retooling the homeless crisis response system · Delete… · Admin →
(:Amen. Provide funds for after hours services ? Here in world famous skid row,CA we see the need to have after hours serviecs ?

More funds should go to after hours service ? Here in world famous skid row,CA the homeless capital of the USA
We find most of our homeless US Vets sleeping every where ?
For more info to help ?
Vets Helping Vets Homeless Feeding & Toy Drive
6262773457 ask for Coach Ron the one and only.

11 votes

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0 comments · Retooling the homeless crisis response system · Delete… · Admin →
Include well-targeted diversion strategies as a key aspect of crisis response, closely linked to coordinated entry.

Poorly targeted prevention does not effectively reduce homelessness, but there is increasing evidence that well-targeted diversion does and can free up system resources for other needs. Communities need to learn more about how to do this well and also have the flexibility to use resources for this purpose.

11 votes

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0 comments · Retooling the homeless crisis response system · Delete… · Admin →
Automate the housing process

As soon as a person or family is identified as being imminently at-risk or has just become homeless, they should be entered automatically into a centralized housing waitlist database. If they do not have the income to pay market rate rent, they will need subsidized or "below market rate" housing, so why wait for them to find out how to get on this or that waiting list and make them fill out a separate application for each one?

At-risk people might avoid homelessness if an affordable unit were available at or before they are in crisis, but they don't know to get on the lists BEFORE they are in crisis. Most newly homeless spend weeks or months learning how to navigate they homeless system so they don't get on housing waiting lists right away and when they do it is in a haphazard way as they learn about openings; this delays their exit from homelessness. Many chronically homeless are not on housing lists at all, which keeps them homeless.

If we KNOW they need housing (or are soon to need it), it is cruel and inefficient to wait until they ask for it. Just register them for it and get them ON THE PATH TO HOUSING automatically with as little extra effort and cost as possible.

If they are seeking help at a food bank or energy assistance program, they do not have enough income for ALL their basic needs, including rent. They are therefore "at-risk". They should be immediately referred for a standardized, wholistic, universal "Social & Economic Assistance" screening to determine current and projected income, housing needs (bedrooms, accessibility, etc.), supportive service needs if any, and eligibility for mainstream supports and govt benefits. ALL needs should be assessed (not just what they need at that moment) and "wraparound" services referrals made ASAP.

Their data should be entered ONCE and shared with HMIS (if/when they go homeless) and a housing waitlist database. (Not over and over for every program or housing application!)

Common housing "Qualifications" (criminal history, income, etc) would be entered so that they could automatically be matched with ALL housing they qualify for; housing "Preferences" (pets, closeness to bus lines, clean & sober, etc) would be entered so that they would see ALL housing options that would best suit them. Putting people into inappropriate housing increases the chance that they will return to homelessness. Housing needs to be APPROPRIATE for each person and situation.

When a unit opens up at a place they are properly matched with, they would be notified and a housing facilitator would help them make the transition from wherever they are staying at that time: get the paperwork done, move them in, etc.

This problem needs a SIMPLIFIED, INTEGRATED, CENTRALIZED solution. Right now, it is complicated, siloed, and uncoordinated.

As soon as a person or family is identified as being imminently at-risk or has just become homeless, they should be entered automatically into a centralized housing waitlist database. If they do not have the income to pay market rate rent, they will need subsidized or "below market rate" housing, so why wait for them to find out how to get on this or that waiting list and make them fill out a separate application for each one?

At-risk people might avoid homelessness if an affordable unit were available at or before they are in crisis, but they don't know…

6 votes

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0 comments · Retooling the homeless crisis response system · Delete… · Admin →
Ask for additional support from the Social Security Adminstration

Every day the Social Security Adminstration (SSA) suspends or stops the issuance of SSI payments when recipients (already determinined to be aged, blind, or disabled) fail to comply with a request from SSA. When an SSI recipient's checks stop, this means the safety net for this individual is non-existent and without income, there is no hope for a place to live.

We need to work with this federal agency to be more considerate before they stop the issuance of SSI payments.

An SSI recipient is either aged (over 65), blind, or disabled (documented and proven). Many cannot work and have other challenges such as poor health, limited education, and anxiety with the normal functions of every day life. Frequently, they face challenges or difficulties in understanding letters and requests made of them from the SSA.

While SSA is working well with some of the advocates in some parts of the country as the advocates follow the SOAR model and assist homeless individuals that are aged, blind, or disabled, apply for SSI; the SSA should explore a similar model in finding advocates that can work with the individual before the SSA stops the issuance of the SSI payment. I cannot imagine a reason an SSI recipient would want to stop receiving SSI if they remain eligible.

Our society needs to find a way to not allow the SSA to stop the issuance of SSI payments to eligible individuals that might just need an advocate to support them during a possible stressful and challenging experience they sometimes feel they are in when dealing with a large bureacracy.

Every day the Social Security Adminstration (SSA) suspends or stops the issuance of SSI payments when recipients (already determinined to be aged, blind, or disabled) fail to comply with a request from SSA. When an SSI recipient's checks stop, this means the safety net for this individual is non-existent and without income, there is no hope for a place to live.

We need to work with this federal agency to be more considerate before they stop the issuance of SSI payments.

An SSI recipient is either aged (over 65), blind, or disabled (documented and proven). Many cannot work and have…

3 votes

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0 comments · Retooling the homeless crisis response system · Delete… · Admin →
Houusing and services are critical

Ultimately, if we really want to help people move from homelessness into housing we need to invest in more affordable rental housing, including supportive housing. We should recognize that without more housing “retooling” the homeless crisis response system will not end homelessness. In addition, there needs to be funding for strong, evidence-based supportive services that help people stay housed.

1 vote

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0 comments · Retooling the homeless crisis response system · Edit… · Delete… · Admin →

Retooling the Homeless Crisis Response System

Are there additional strategies for retooling the crisis response system that you think should be reflected in an amendment to Opening Doors?

There are two ways to get more votes:

Develop best practices and toolkits for emergency shelter operations

Remove barriers to services for homeless children, youth, and families

Move funding from the lowest-performing quintile (fifth) to the highest-performing quintile.

(:Amen. Provide funds for after hours services ? Here in world famous skid row,CA we see the need to have after hours serviecs ?

Include well-targeted diversion strategies as a key aspect of crisis response, closely linked to coordinated entry.

Automate the housing process

Ask for additional support from the Social Security Adminstration

Houusing and services are critical

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