2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress San Luis Obispo County has the third highest rate of unsheltered homeless persons out of any Continuum of Care in the country with 90 of its homeless population being unsheltered on any given night ID: 569044
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According to Housing and Urban Development’s
2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress-
San Luis Obispo County has the third highest rate of unsheltered homeless persons out of any Continuum of Care in the country, with 90% of its homeless population being unsheltered on any given night. *See Vital Signs- Action Trend Report in packet for more details on homelessness in SLO County
SLO Co. Unsheltered Homeless
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Partnership with CAPSLO
SLO County DSS is contracting with Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO
)
An experienced non-profit homeless services provider that has existing relationships with landlords who rent affordable housing throughout the countyA successful history of housing clients using Rapid Re-Housing
fundingCollaborates with a wide-array of service providers across the county to deliver wrap around services to participants
Partnership with CAPSLO
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CAPSLO is committed to eliminating the causes of poverty by empowering low-income individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency through a wide-array of community based collaborations and programsSlide4
New Staffing for CW HSP
DSS added 2 new positions titled-
Housing Barrier Employment Resource Specialist (HB
ERS IV)
The two employees selected to fill these positions have a strong background in WTW and now Family Stabilization and are experienced in engagement and assessment, employment assistance, barrier removal and knowledgeable about other internal/external housing programs.DSS also has a half time
Administrative Assistant (AA) devoted to this program. She will assist with data entry into HMIS as well as our internal database and assist with participant needs as necessary.CAPSLO – just hired 3 Homeless Case Managers
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Eligibility for SLO Co. CW HSP
To be eligible for SLO Co. CW HSP participants must meet all of the following requirements:
Reside in San Luis Obispo County
Be homeless as defined by HSP standards
Have at least one member of the AU currently receiving CalWORKs benefits issued from SLO CountyWork with the Housing Barrier ERS IV to complete the Housing Barrier Assessment and follow through with CAPSLO requirements
Eligibility Requirements
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Services Under HSP
Housing placement assistance
Assistance with move-in costs (deposit, rent, and/or utility connection fees)
Case management
Referrals to other partner agencies
Financial assistance with applications and credit check feesAssistance with correcting credit reports
Assistance with transportation for housing search and landlord interviews
Childcare when parent(s) is/are searching for housing or meeting with potential landlords
Budgeting and Tenant education
Restricted Account set-up for homeless service needs
HSP Services
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Eligibility for SLO Co. CW HSP
Collaborated with homeless service community partners to gain a better understanding of their programs and introduce the beginning stages of HSP
Created HSP Referral, Assessment and Tracking Process for both CW applicants and recipients
Hired and provided initial training for HB ERS IVs
Altered existing contracts with CAPSLO
Altered other existing CW housing programs to support HSPTrained all eligibility and employment service staff as well as CWS on the program and referral process Mailed 149 CW HSP mailers to known CW homeless households
Took our first 18 applications for HSP!!!
HSP Happenings for Oct and Nov 2014
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Eligibility for SLO Co. CW HSP
Development of a database on our intranet – DSS NET
A log for the HB ERS IVs to track referrals and the status of their applications – and for their supervisors to review progress
A holding place for all documents to be scanned, uploaded and viewed by HB ERS IVs, AA, CAPSLO Case Managers and supervisors/management
A data collection tool for all CDSS required elementsA tool to track program correspondence with all parties
Housing Support Program LOG
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Housing Support Information and Referral Forms
HSP Application (DSS HSP 1) –
Added to all
CalWORKs
Intake and Annual Re-Determination packetsHSP Brochure (DSS HSP 2) –
Added to CalWORKs informational packetsPassed out to partner agencies and trainings for disbursement HSP Mailer (DSS HSP 5)
Sent out to 149 existing CW Homeless families
HSP Information and Referral
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Housing Support Program E-Forms
Housing Support Referral E-Form
When an HSP Application is signed, eligibility staff will also have the participant sign our county’s
Multi-Service Referral and Release of Information (DSS 815).
They will then complete the online
Housing Support Referral E-Form to begin HSP process.
Once completed – an email will go to four people – the referring party and their supervisor, the assigned HB ERS IV and their supervisor – notifying them an additional person has been added to the log.
Housing Support Communication Tool E-Form
Any significant changes to the case are communicated with a separate e-form – that is emailed to all four parties as well.
HSP Information and Referral
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Housing Barrier Assessment (HBA) Forms
Based on shared materials from the HSP meeting at CDSS in October and processes found on the National Alliance to End Homelessness website
www.endhomelessness.org
, the following forms were created/modified for our county use:
HSP Level of Assistance Questionnaire (DSS HSP 3) HSP Level of Assistance Determination worksheet (DSS HSP 4)
HSP HMIS Release form (DSS HSP 6)CAPSLO’s current Adult/Child Intake and Arizona Self-Sufficiency Matrix forms were also adopted as part of our Housing Barrier Assessment (HBA) to adhere to SLO County HMIS standards and meet partner agency needs (DSS HSP 7 forms)
Housing Barrier Assessment
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HB ERS IV Duties
Ensure participant is receiving any temporary shelter they may be eligible to through HAP or Family Stabilization
If participant does
not
meet HSP eligibility criteria, HB ERS IV will:Send a DSS HSP 102 Denial Notice to notify participant they are denied (all denials/discontinuances are staffed with supervisor).
Refer to other internal or external housing programs if appropriate (Diversion, HAP – Permanent Shelter Payment, 4-Month Rental Assistance, SSVF, ESG, 50 Now, Klaproad funding) If participant meets eligibility criteria, HB ERS IV will:
Complete a Housing Barrier Assessment
Assist participant in criminal background and credit checks
Work with WTW worker to identify self-sufficiency barriers and assist in referrals
send
DSS HSP 101 Approval Notice
to notify participant they are approved to receive assistance through the program
Refer participant to CAPSLO Case Manager for assistance with Housing Navigation and Support
Housing Barrier Assessment
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Services Under HSP
Conduct a Family Support Review
Create a Housing Plan with participant
Assist participant with housing navigation
Refer for childcare needs as necessary Provide training for tenants on how to maintain successful tenanciesProvide budgeting classesAssess and issue payments for HSP
Check in weekly with clients during the first two months following housing placement and work proactively to identify and address barriers that could potentially threaten housing retentionProvide landlords with a point of contact should problems arise. If problems do arise, CAPSLO will work with landlords and participants to address the issue(s)
Housing Navigation and Support
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Once referred to a CAPSLO Case Manager – CAPSLO will Slide14
Participant completes HSP Application and Referral
Eligibility staff completes HSP Referral E-Form
HB ERS IV contacts participant ASAP for HBA
HB ERS IV completes HBA and a referral for housing navigation is made to CAPSLO with a Level of Need Determination
CAPSLO completes a Housing Navigation Plan with participant, assists with housing location, issuance of funds and conducts weekly/monthly check ins for housing retention
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HSP simplified stepsSlide15
Services Under HSP
DSS and CAPSLO have several meetings scheduled in December to work on housing navigation and support
Introduction of HSP team
Establish a division and understanding of roles
Finalize a Housing Navigation Plan
Finalize Weekly and Monthly Progress/Check In ReportsEstablish starndards for lengths and amounts of financial assistance based on level and types of needs and barriers
Determine process for childcare referral
CAPSLO begins landlord engagement and recruitment
Coordinate with HMIS Administrator to design a services screen that will allow both DSS and CAPSLO to see and enter data for our participants
Create a CAPSLO data entry screen on HSP Log for the completion of CDSS data elements
HSP Next
Steps
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Services Under HSP
Time
to
implement
Duration of
programLack of affordable housing options
Challenges
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For more information, please contact
Jenny Hart
SLO Co. CalWORKs/WTW Program Manager jhart@co.slo.ca.us
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Questions?