developing local capacity for supportive housing: the columbus experience
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Developing Local Capacity for Supportive Housing: The Columbus Experience. Barbara Poppe Executive Director Community Shelter Board www.csb.org Presented at the 2009 Conference on Homelessness, Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County February 6, 2009. Who is CSB?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Developing Local Capacity for Supportive Housing:The Columbus Experience
Barbara PoppeExecutive Director
Community Shelter Boardwww.csb.org
Presented at the 2009 Conference on Homelessness,Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County February 6, 2009
Community Shelter Board
• Created in 1986 to respond to growing needs of homelessness in Franklin County
• "It is unacceptable for anyone in our community to go without food or shelter for even one night."
Mel Schottenstein, CSB Founder
CSB’s Founders
• Public/Private Partnership:– City of Columbus
– Franklin County Commissioners
– United Way of Central Ohio
– Columbus Chamber
– Metropolitan Area Church Council
– ADAMH Board
– The Columbus Foundation
– Leo Yassenoff Foundation
A New Strategy – 1998
• Short-term needs – ensure basic emergency shelter during a crisis
• Long-term needs – establish permanent housing with supportive services
A New Strategy – 1998
• Develop 800 units of supportive housing
• Establish a Funder Collaborative
• Create Good Neighbor Policies and Procedures
• Institute a community relations plan
Rebuilding LivesFunder Collaborative
• Provide funding for capital, services and operations of supportive housing
• Strategy
• Program guidelines & standards
• Underwriting criteria
• Program evaluation, outcome measurement & reporting requirements
Rebuilding LivesFunder Collaborative
• MembersAffordable Housing Trust of Cols/Franklin Co.
ADAMH Board
City of Columbus, Administration
Columbus City Council
The Columbus Foundation
Columbus Health Department
Columbus Mayor’s Office
Columbus Medical Assoc. Found.
Columbus Metro. Housing Authority
Community Shelter Board
Corporation for Supportive Housing
Franklin County Administration
Franklin County Children Services
Franklin Co. Dept. Job & Family Services
Franklin Co. Office on Aging
Franklin County MR/DD
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing
Osteopathic Heritage Foundations
United Way of Central Ohio
Veterans Service Commission
Columbus’ Report Card
• PSH programs successfully target heavy shelter users
• PSH programs reduce demand for shelter by at least 5% per year
• PSH reduces shelter use by 35 days per placement
Columbus’ Report Card
• PSH residents have much less subsequent admission to shelters
• 70% of residents either retain housing or exit to successful housing placement over a 5-year period – only 9% return to homelessness
Columbus’ Report Card
• Average cost of $33/day is much lower than institutional care – cost per unit varies widely by program
• Federal source provide 58% of total operating & services funding for Rebuilding Lives programs; CSB provides 19%; the State of Ohio only 2%
Keys to project success
• Success due to tremendous partnership
– Between funders, providers, and neighbors
• Project development:
– Good Neighbor Agreements
– Diverse locations
– Strong political and business community support
– Strong developers and providers
Keys to project success
• Funding– Board, system and funder support and
consistent leadership
– Availability of local and federal funding
– Creativity in securing funding sources
• Housing First program model– Low-demand housing and voluntary services
What impact has occurred?
• New investment from key stakeholders - City, County, ADAMH, CMHA, United Way
• Broad range of implementing agencies (board and staff) are informed and on board
• High level of media attention and focus
What impact has occurred?
• Pressure for public policy action and investment
• Real Estate Transfer Fee
– $6.5 million annually for homeless services & affordable housing
What ‘hooks’ have kept political, business & community leadership invested?
• “Caring community – moral foundation”
• Partnership approach
• Media coverage – generate positive and manage the negative
• Results -- the plan did not sit on the shelf – it actually was implemented
• Broad & diverse investment
• Consistent, quality communication – “Care & Feeding” of leadership
How have new leaders been engaged?
• Immediate one-on-one briefings
• Tours
• Establish relationship with staff
• Use CSB trustees and their government affairs staff
What are the opportunities?
• Recognition of leaders
• Ongoing engagement of champions
• National model
Rebuilding Lives
Access Making sure community resources
are available to prevent or end homelessness
[Strategy] Access to benefits & health care
Rebuilding Lives
Crisis responsePreventing and resolving housing crises as quickly as possible
[Strategy] Single point of access to emergency
shelter for adults
Rebuilding Lives
TransitionGuiding exits from homelessness to stable housing
[Strategy] Develop 1,400 more supportive
housing units
Rebuilding Lives
Advocacy Leveraging public policy to work toward ending homelessness
[Strategy] Launch a campaign for increased
resources for housing & rent subsidies
community shelter board111 liberty street, suite 150 columbus, ohio 43215614.221.9195www.csb.org