Lessons from Columbus, Ohio

Holly S. KastanAdvisory BoardCommunity Shelter Board

Barbara PoppeExecutive DirectorCommunity Shelter Boardbjpoppe@csb.org614.221.9195

Overview

CSB model Initiatives

Rebuilding Lives Prevention

Managing for resultsClosing thoughts

The Community Shelter Board

The Community Shelter Board was created in 1986 to respond to the 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 Franklin County Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce Metropolitan Area Church Council ADAMH Service Board Columbus Foundation Leo Yassenoff Foundation

Mission

CSB, by coordinating community-based efforts, fostering collaboration and funding services, assists families and individuals in Central Ohio to resolve their housing crisis.

Organizational Methods

collaboration with other systems

raise and distribute money

advocacycommunity

education regarding homelessness

assure accountabilitycoordination with

partner agenciespractice fiscal

conservancycontinue research

and data analysis for effective planning

Funders

Public City of Columbus

(40%) Franklin County (26%) Ohio Housing Trust

Fund (5%) Other (2%) HUD SHP (1%)

Private Fundraising (13%) United Way of Central

Ohio (13%)

Framework

PreventionDiversionMinimize shelter stayMove to appropriate housing quicklyCreate permanent supportive housingMeasures results and manage for

outcomes

Initiatives

Rebuilding Lives Prevention

Rebuilding Lives

A new strategy to end homelessness

Rebuilding Lives

Rebuilding Lives has two goals: To provide long-term, permanent

housing solutions to end the cycle of long-term homelessness

To maintain an emergency shelter system for people with short-term crises.

Rebuilding Lives Results

Improved safety net 3 new emergency programs Resource centers operational in all adult shelters Improved coordination among programsNew housing 372 units of permanent supportive housing Serves most chronically homeless from

streets/sheltersNew thinking Housing is solution not shelters

Supportive Housing Tenant Profile (7/1/02-6/30/03)

Where did they come from? 100% experienced long-term homelessness 44% came from emergency shelter 35% came directly from streets

Who are they? 95% male 78% 35-54 years 65% black; 29% white 60% had no income at intake to housing 21% Veterans

Supportive Housing Results (7/1/02-

6/30/03)

Tenants 475 housed Average cumulative length of stay = 397

days > 80% maintained housing for year or

moreShelters

Despite economic downturn, shelter utilization has not increased

Supportive housing is cost-effective

System Daily cost

Supportive housing $36

Jail $58

Detox $191

State psychiatric hospital $482

Inpatient medical hospital $1,085

Rebuilding Lives Funder Summit, March 2003

Rebuilding Lives PACT Team Initiative (RLPTI)

Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic Homelessness

Comprehensive approach – multi-agency, multi-disciplinary

Housing First – scattered site permanent supportive housing

Access to Health Care and Income – replication of PACT model and Maryland SSI Outreach project

RLPTI Target Population

Experienced chronic homelessness – living on streets and in shelters

Serious mental disabilities with co-occurring substance abuse disorders and/or physical disabilities

Estimate of annual prevalence of target population = 410 persons

RLPTI Local Collaborative

System ADAMH Board Community Research

Partners Community Shelter

Board Continuum of Care

Steering Committee County Department of

Job/Family Services Rebuilding Lives

Funder Collaborative

Providers Chalmers P. Wylie VA

Outpatient Clinic Community Housing

Network Corporation for

Supportive Housing Metropolitan Housing

Authority Neighborhood Health

Centers Southeast, Inc.

Replicating Best Practices with a Columbus Twist

Pathways to Housing Low demand, scattered sites rental housing and

public housing Evidence-based practices -- PACT (Program of

Assertive Community Treatment) multi-disciplinary treatment team plus IDDT (Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment) for persons with dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse

Multi-Agency PACT team services which includes VA, Neighborhood Health services, and housing provider

Replicating Best Practices with a Columbus Twist

Maryland SSI Outreach Project Outreach, record collection, application

completion and advocacy SSI/SSDI and/or Veterans benefits County Department of Jobs/Family

Services SSI unit will be benefits coordinator

Planned RLPTI Client Outcomes

156 adults (47 Veterans) participate in initiative {impact = 40% of target pop.}

80% remain in housing for 12+ months

90% increased income w/in 12 months

60% improved behavioral health w/in 12 months

Planned RLPTI Community Results

Reduce chronic homelessness

Improved transition of target population from homeless-specific services systems to mainstream systems of support

Improved collaboration among housing/service providers and mainstream agencies

Homelessness Prevention

Closing the front door to homelessness

Prevention

Coordinated services with centralized fiscal agent

Satellite partners provide housing counseling, landlord advocacy, financial planning, and assistance with applications

Client financial assistance to avoid eviction or move to more affordable housing

Prevention Results

Ends homelessness 95% of households receiving financial assistance

resolve crisis. 98% do not subsequently enter shelter

Cost effective $432/hh served

Managing for Results

Managing for Results

Measure progress - HMIS Client Provider Funder Community

Outcomes-based fundingLeverage community resourcesCommunicate the successes

Benefits of CSB Model

Public/private partnershipIncreased system planning, service

coordination, accountabilityAbility to establish community-wide

policyMore effective monitoring of programs

to ensure high quality servicesMore effective communication

Challenges to ending chronic homelessness

Permanent Supportive Housing Stable operating subsidies

Stable services funding

Capital development grants

Systems Integrations to Prevent Homelessness Cooperation among local, state and federal agencies

Re-entry policies that prevent discharge to homelessness

Lessons from Columbus, Ohio

Holly S. KastanAdvisory Board

Barbara PoppeExecutive Director