TANF – RAPID RE-HOUSING PLANNING FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY Libby Boyce, LCSW Homeless Coordinator Chief Executive Office, Los Angeles County NAEH Annual Conference – July 2013

Community Context 2



LA County  4,000

square miles  88 cities and unincorporated areas  11,000,000 residents 

Homeless Count 2013  6,678



family members in 2013

TANF (CalWORKs) families  12,000

families (different homeless definition)

Historical Context 3

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

 

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Dearth of family-centered services for homeless families Challenges due to NIMBY and geographical diversity Concentration of resources in Skid Row Significant political concern about families in Skid Row Section 8 vouchers as only solution to permanently move families out of homelessness

TANF Programs Targeting Homeless Families 4



Early 2000’s  Homeless CalWORKS Families Project (HCFP)  Welfare-to-Work families with mental health diagnosis  120 days of emergency shelter or transitional housing  Transportation  Case management  Access to Section 8 vouchers in the past 

Emergency Shelter and Services (ESS)  Welfare-to-Work families  120 days of emergency shelter  Case management

Other Past Programs 5 



2006  Skid Row Assessment Team – Homeless Prevention Initiative (HPI) funded  Assess all families coming into area for safety  Beyond Shelter Pilot  City of LA Section 8 and intensive case management for 241 families 2009 – Game-Changer  HPRP – Federal Stimulus  Rapid re-housing  Case management  Move-in assistance  Short- and medium-term rental assistance

Shift to Coordinated Entry 6 



2011-12  Family Providers Workgroup in Summer 2011 to strategize around coordinated entry  Family Transitions Project (FTP) piloted coordinated entry for families in 2011 and 2012  Shifted shelter resources from single adult system to family providers  Planning for HPRP successor program funded by Emergency Solutions Grant  Skid Row family increases – renewed interest in establishing regional coordinated entry – leveraging County General Funds  RFP for coordinated Family Solutions System in Fall 2012 2013  Family Solutions System – ESG and HPI (County General Funds)  System launch in Spring 2013 with 11 sites around County offering standardized assessment, rapid rehousing and case management  11 sites in Los Angeles County  Regional model  Coordinated entry  Standardized assessment  Targeted approach  Homeless Count 2013 – family numbers reduced 27% from 2011 to 2013

7

Future 8

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

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Family Solutions System has exposed some duplication of services Established County work group to examine TANF programs and to realign resources Enhancement of regional approach that includes coordinated entry, rapid rehousing and targeting of resources based on need

Future (continued) 9



Realignment of funding sources to support one regional system for homeless families 

Overarching themes/Guiding principles  Coordinated  Rapid

entry

re-housing

 Targeted

approach

 Economic

opportunities

Future (continued) 10



Financial Assistance 

Short- to medium-term rental assistance



Security deposits, moving assistance



Utilities



Prevention assistance

Future (continued) 11



Housing Stability Services 

Standardized assessment



Case management/progressive engagement



Targeting of intervention/services based on barriers to housing retention



Goal-permanent housing as quickly as possible



Benefits acquisition

Future (continued) 12



Housing Stability Service, cont. 

Access to crisis and interim housing



Landlord outreach



Housing location assistance



Permanent housing retention services



Coordination and linkages to mental health and substance abuse support

Future (continued) 13



Community-Based Supports 

Job training and placement



Education



Community-based employment/subsidized employment

HOMELESS FAMILY SYSTEM REDESIGN Screening: 211 Direct Referrals: SRAT, DV & Emergency Shelters

Homeless Family Regional Sites Immediate Crisis Intervention

Standardized Assessment with Housing & Services Plan First 5

Families w/children Low Barrier Family (Minimal needs)

Moderate Barrier Family

High Barrier Family

(1-2 complex needs)

(Multiple complex needs/long-term homeless)

ages 0-5/DCFS history

Interim Housing

Prevention or Rapid Re-housing (Prevents entry to shelter/homeless system)

Rapid Re-housing

Targeted Housing

Permanent Supportive Housing

Stability Services



3-months rental assistance ; Interim housing;





Short-term case management;

Up to 9-months rental assistance; Interim housing;

Up to 12-months “bridge” rental assistance;







Housing location/landlord outreach;

Moderate case management;

Interim housing; Intensive case management;







Housing location/landlord outreach;



Prevention assistance, security deposits, utilities,

Housing location/landlord outreach;



Prevention assistance, security deposits, utilities,



Prevention assistance, security deposits, utilities,

flex funds;

 Coordination & linkage to MH services, substance abuse treatment, childcare, primary healthcare; and

14

Prioritize for

(Rapid exit from emergency shelter/transitional housing)

 Job training/placement, education, employment.

flex funds;

 Coordination & linkage to MH services, substance abuse treatment, childcare, primary healthcare; and

 Job training/placement, education, employment.

flex funds;

 Coordination & linkage to MH services, substance abuse treatment, childcare, primary healthcare; and

 Job training/placement, education, employment.