A special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors Presenters Melanie Alvarez Director of Programs Friendship Service Center Inc Avery Lenhart Executive Director Windham Region No Freeze Project Inc ID: 1018601
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1. Low Barrier and Housing Focused Shelters and ServicesA special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors:
2. Presenters:Melanie AlvarezDirector of ProgramsFriendship Service Center, Inc. Avery LenhartExecutive Director Windham Region No Freeze Project, Inc.Evan SerioProgram ManagerDowntown Evening Soup Kitchen
3. Low Barrier Models and Harm Reduction in Shelters Melanie Alvarez, Director of Programs - Hope Connection Center @ Friendship Service Center, Inc.Avery Lenhart, Executive Director - Windham Region No Freeze Project, Inc.Evan Serio, Program Manager - Downtown Evening Soup KitchenMay 17, 2023
4. AgendaIntroduction to Programs (10 Min)Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) - Drop-in & Resource CenterFriendship Service Center (FSC) - Hope Connection Center - Drop-in & Resource CenterWindham No Freeze - Seasonal Shelter Creating a culture of Low-Barrier and Harm Reduction Programming 101 (50 Min)Panel Discussion Q&A (15 Min)
5. 266DROP-IN & RESOURCE CENTERSOUP KITCHENDowntown EveningStateOPENOPENOPENLOW BARRIERDROP-INSERVICESWARMING CENTER&
6. 266 STATE STREETTwo blocks from the New Haven GreenOne block from Liberty’s Safe HavenTwo blocks from Sunrise Cafe, Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
7. CO-DESIGN WORKSHOP: 9 KEY IDEASIt should provide for a variety of critical needs.It should be highly visible.It should be highly accessible.It should be centrally-located.It should be an interagency collaboration.It should support collocated services.It should take a trauma-informed and harm-reduction approach.It should empower people with lived experience as leaders and decision-makers.It should be imbued with a sense of community.
8. DROP-IN CENTER - GROUND FLOOR
9. RESOURCE CENTER - 2ND FLOOR
10. FRAMEWORK & GUIDING PRINCIPLESLow barrierPerson-centered“Come as you are” policyClient safety - physical and psychosocialDe-escalation and upstream planningSeek to embody a Harm Reduction philosophy
11. Wifi & Device ChargingPhone AccessComputer AccessMail ServicesLockersFree CafePrinter / Scanner / CopierBasic Needs ProvisionBridge Case ManagementIn- and Out-of-Network ReferralsMonitored Public RestroomMeeting Space - U-ACT (CAB)Harm Reduction Supply DistributionSeasonal Warming Center Site (Nov-Apr)RESOURCES & SERVICESProvider Partnerships & Regularly Scheduled Outreach TeamsAnthem Blue Cross / Blue ShieldBHCareCAN Assessments, in-personColumbus HouseCMHCThe ConnectionCornell Scott-Hill Health Homeless HealthCSHHC ID testingLiberty Community Services
12. WHERE DO DROP-IN CENTERS FIT IN THE LANDSCAPE?
13. WHERE DO DROP-IN CENTERS FIT IN THE LANDSCAPE?SHELTERSUNSHELTEREDFAITH COMMUNITYOTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIESCLINICS & HOSPITALSSOUP KITCHENS & PANTRIESNEIGHBORHOOD STAKEHOLDERSOUTREACH?
14. CRISIS!WHERE THEY’RE ATHarm Reduction meets people “where they are at”What does that mean for a brick and mortar Drop-in Center?
15. HOW DO WE MITIGATE HARMS?PERSON-IN-ENVIRONMENT PERSPECTIVEHarms associated with Homelessness Mental & physical healthDrug useDV/IPVSYSTEMS PERSPECTIVEHarms that originate fromCare systemsCarceral systemImmigrationRacism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, sizeism, ableism …Agency-level systems
16. HOW IS CRISIS HANDLED?HOW ARE RULES & POLICIES SHARED?FIRST CONTACTHOW IS KNOWLEDGE PRODUCED & DISTRIBUTED?HOW ARE MINOR INCIDENTS HANDLED?HOW IS CLIENT ADVOCACY HANDLED?WHAT LANGUAGE IS USED?WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?HARM REDUCTION:UPSTREAM PLANNINGHOW IS SPACE SHARED?CAN CLIENTS IDENTIFY WITH STAFF?
17. CENTERING CLIENT CHOICE & VOICEAAAQ FRAMEWORKAvailability Accessibility Acceptability QualityCLIENT FEEDBACK & INPUTHow and when are client opinions solicited?Lived Experience vs. Lived ExpertiseCAB involvement - (U-ACT) Unhoused Activists’ Community Team
18. Melanie Alvarez, Director of ProgramsIn honor and recognition of the life and work of Shawn Lang 1956-2021Hope Connection CenterA program of:
19. Hope Connection Center Est. Feb. 2023Low Barrier Drop in and Resource Center for individuals and families experiencing or at at risk for homelessness61 Arch StreetNew Britain, CT. 06051860-225-0211
20. Low Barrier Service Models are Essential! Incorporate Housing First PrinciplesAccessibility and equityAddressing needs of individuals in crisisFocus on addressing housing needsSafe and appropriate Diversion Graphic: Courtesy of National Alliance to End Homelessness
21. Hope Connection Center Provides Immediate and Low-barrier Access…Criminal background checks to access services…Waiting list for accessing basic needs…Sobriety requirements or alcohol/drug screenings …income/form of payment for services required…restrictions due to sexuality/gender identification
22. Simple and easy to follow structure & policiesRespect other participants and staff Use the drop-in space in a respectful manner. Be a good neighbor. No weapons are allowed in the shelter, and nothing may be used as a weapon inside the shelter. Substance use and substances are not allowed on the premises.
23. Effective Harm Reduction and Low Barrier services are incorporated into organizational cultureEmployee and Client OrientationsOngoing training for all levels of staffInteractions and conversations among staff and with participantsEmployee buy-in and overcoming misconceptions of substance misuse and mental health
24. Collaboration and conversationsWelcoming and Trauma Informed EnvironmentIncorporating service partners & colocation of servicesBuilding Rapport with participants and communityAsk questions that encourage responses - be curious Interactions and conversations among staff and with participants
25. Harm Reduction PrinciplesDo no harmIndividuals and their relationship to substances & other risk behaviors Assessing motivations for changeAsk questions that encourage honest conversationsSuccess is related to self-efficacyProgress rather than perfection Provide tools/resources to reduce harmAdapted from Practicing Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, Patt Denning, 2001
26. Case Study - AngelaDaily utilizer of supportive servicesHistory of Chronic Homelessness and has refused to access shelter in the pastHas family locally, but they will not allow her to stay with them when actively using substancesHas entered into several treatment programs and relapsed many times and has expressed that she is not willing to change her behaviorsThe client is frequently in emotional distress and staff have called mobile crisis who have provided over the phone support. Does not have a mental health diagnosis because she consistently misses appointments post crises
27. Contact information:Melanie AlvarezDirector of Programsmalvarez@fsc-ct.orgcall/text: 860-438-8802
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29. Creating a Low Barrier Shelter EnvironmentHousing Focus While Addressing An Immediate Need
30. Traditional Shelter EnvironmentFocus on:Overall safety of staff and guestsViews intoxication as a threat to shelter safetyIncreasing income as a means to housingLimited accommodations for people with special circumstances
31. Low-barrier, Housing Focused Shelter EnvironmentFocus on:Safety of guests if otherwise unshelteredMeeting guests where they are atQuick exits to permanent housingAssisting those who may be hardest to houseGreater emphasis on guest: safety, housing, positive outcome
32. Shelter is a safe environment that meets an immediate need. It should be seen as a very short-term solution to a very temporary situation.
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35. The environment helps to encourage or discourage certain behaviors of staff and guests. A well-prepared environment means fewer conversations about rules and regulations.Examples:•To encourage hand-washing, provide an enjoyable hand-washing experience, complete with hot water, nice soap, and paper towels.•To encourage masking, provide good masks at the door. Make sure all staff are masked.•To encourage sleep, minimize sensory disruptions. Provide earplugs or white noise, keep temperatures cool, make sure beds are in good condition.
36. How to create an environment that encourages peace, safety, and positive engagement(How to avoid creating a litany of rules to enforce and issuing consequences, aka head-banging)Search your environment to see how it contributes to undesirable situations!
37. I don’t feel safe without my partner near me!You and your partner are welcome to sleep near one another.Mixing genders is ok! It’s safer than sleeping outside!I want to spend the holiday with my family, but I don’t want to lose my bed.You can take some nights out.I can’t live without my pet boa constrictor!Let’s talk about how quickly we can get you housed!Encourage relationships outside the shelter, which might lead to housing.I don’t feel safe without my partner near me!
38. Common concerns and ways to solve themSubstance abuse on the premisesInstall blue lights in the bathrooms.Allow guests to leave and return.Focus on housing.
39. Common concerns and ways to solve themPetsAccommodate pets: make a kennel, use a separate room, help find foster care.Accommodate guests who have issues with pets: use a separate room.Focus on housing.
40. Housing Focus means:Every conversation is about housing.The response to every complaint is a question about housing.Every intake begins with creating a housing plan.Messaging is important!Create a culture in your environment that encourages guests to see the hope in housing!
41. Questions?www.cceh.orginfo@cceh.org A special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors: