The DC Experience – The DC Experience – Intersection of Intersection of

Homelessness and Child Homelessness and Child WelfareWelfare

Marta BeresinMarta BeresinWashington Legal Clinic for the HomelessWashington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

Third Annual ABA Parent Attorneys Third Annual ABA Parent Attorneys ConferenceConferenceJuly 2013July 2013

WLCHWLCH WLCH strives to break down barriers to WLCH strives to break down barriers to

justice for people struggling with justice for people struggling with homelessness in DC. Through staff and homelessness in DC. Through staff and more than 200 volunteer attorneys we more than 200 volunteer attorneys we provide low barrier, comprehensive legal provide low barrier, comprehensive legal services at intake sites throughout DC. services at intake sites throughout DC. Rooted in this client work, WLCH staff Rooted in this client work, WLCH staff engages in policy advocacy and engages in policy advocacy and community education to improve and community education to improve and expand local and federal programs that expand local and federal programs that serve the low- and no-income community.serve the low- and no-income community.

Rising Family Homelessness Rising Family Homelessness Since recession hit, homelessness among families Since recession hit, homelessness among families

has increased sharply in DC & nationally and has increased sharply in DC & nationally and families now comprise the fastest growing families now comprise the fastest growing segment of the homeless population:segment of the homeless population:

DC: DC: 18% increase from 2011 to 201218% increase from 2011 to 2012• 73% increase (!!) from 2008 to 201273% increase (!!) from 2008 to 2012

Nationally: Nationally: Increased 28 percent between 2007 and 2010 to Increased 28 percent between 2007 and 2010 to

nearly 170,000 families in 2010 (HUD data)nearly 170,000 families in 2010 (HUD data) Families now comprise more than 1/3 of homeless Families now comprise more than 1/3 of homeless

population (HUD 2011 Point In Time count)population (HUD 2011 Point In Time count) In 16 states, at least 1 in 5 homeless families was In 16 states, at least 1 in 5 homeless families was

unsheltered in 2011 (HUD Point in Time count)unsheltered in 2011 (HUD Point in Time count)

Recession’s Impact on Recession’s Impact on Affordable Housing & ShelterAffordable Housing & Shelter

Recession = decreased city and federal Recession = decreased city and federal revenues revenues

Decreased revenues = cutbacks in Decreased revenues = cutbacks in affordable housing, safety net, and human affordable housing, safety net, and human services programs like emergency shelter services programs like emergency shelter

In DC, 60% of cuts have fallen on human In DC, 60% of cuts have fallen on human services programs services programs

Human services = only 30% of budgetHuman services = only 30% of budget

Result: Change in Result: Change in Long-Standing Shelter PolicyLong-Standing Shelter Policy

Right to shelter in DC only in winter, but Right to shelter in DC only in winter, but long-standing policy of sheltering year-long-standing policy of sheltering year-round families with no safe place to stayround families with no safe place to stay

End of hypothermia season 2009, families End of hypothermia season 2009, families applying for shelter began calling WLCHapplying for shelter began calling WLCH

DC told them if they couldn’t find a safe DC told them if they couldn’t find a safe place to stay, they would have to call CPS place to stay, they would have to call CPS

Families were often asked: “Are you sure Families were often asked: “Are you sure you have no safe place to stay because if you have no safe place to stay because if you don’t we’ll have to report you to CPS?”you don’t we’ll have to report you to CPS?”

No other assistance was offered.No other assistance was offered.

Concerns with Change in PolicyConcerns with Change in Policy Government is reporting families for doing Government is reporting families for doing

the right thing, asking for helpthe right thing, asking for help Chilling effect on shelter applications – Chilling effect on shelter applications –

families will not take this risk families will not take this risk Housing is more cost-effective than foster Housing is more cost-effective than foster

carecare Part of national trend towards Part of national trend towards

criminalization of homelessness and criminalization of homelessness and povertypoverty

Not consistent with local law on “neglect”Not consistent with local law on “neglect”

DC “Child Neglect” LawDC “Child Neglect” Law

Neglected child means a child “who is Neglected child means a child “who is without proper parental care or control, without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control necessary for his or other care or control necessary for his or her physical, mental, or emotional or her physical, mental, or emotional health, health, and the deprivation is not due to and the deprivation is not due to the lack of financial means of his or her the lack of financial means of his or her parentparent.” DC Code 16-2301(9)(A)(ii).” DC Code 16-2301(9)(A)(ii)

WLCH took Two-fold ApproachWLCH took Two-fold Approach

Built coalition of advocates including:Built coalition of advocates including: Domestic Violence advocatesDomestic Violence advocates Homeless/housing advocatesHomeless/housing advocates Parents/children’s attorneys… to:Parents/children’s attorneys… to:1)1) Advocate with DC agencies (DHS, CFSA, Advocate with DC agencies (DHS, CFSA,

Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth and Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth and Families) to change policy/protocol; and Families) to change policy/protocol; and

2)2) Advocate for new housing resources for Advocate for new housing resources for homeless families from local budget $$homeless families from local budget $$

Agency Reform StrategyAgency Reform Strategy

Engaged Directors of CFSA, DHS, & office of Deputy Engaged Directors of CFSA, DHS, & office of Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth and FamiliesMayor for Children, Youth and Families::

Intolerable to have families deterred from seeking Intolerable to have families deterred from seeking assistance and reported for doing so assistance and reported for doing so

Chilling effectChilling effect on parents applying for shelter will put on parents applying for shelter will put children at greater riskchildren at greater risk

Housing is the solutionHousing is the solution – (i.e., yes, homelessness – (i.e., yes, homelessness has a debilitating effect on children, BUT housing has a debilitating effect on children, BUT housing not foster care is answer) not foster care is answer)

Housing is humane & more cost effectiveHousing is humane & more cost effective Asked for support for housing proposals, $$ for Asked for support for housing proposals, $$ for

short-term solutions, and a new protocol from the short-term solutions, and a new protocol from the shelter intake office.shelter intake office.

Budget Advocacy for More Budget Advocacy for More Housing ResourcesHousing Resources

1.1.Educated PublicEducated Public: Via our blog, used stories about clients : Via our blog, used stories about clients who were reported to CPS just because they were who were reported to CPS just because they were homeless and seeking shelterhomeless and seeking shelter

2. 2. Educated our local legislatureEducated our local legislature (DC Council): Via email (DC Council): Via email campaigns and meetings with Councilmemberscampaigns and meetings with Councilmembers

3. Worked with local arm of the Center on Budget and 3. Worked with local arm of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (DCFPI) to develop and advocate for a Policy Priorities (DCFPI) to develop and advocate for a budget proposal to target locally funded Section 8 budget proposal to target locally funded Section 8 vouchers to 250 “Priority 1” homeless familiesvouchers to 250 “Priority 1” homeless families

What we AchievedWhat we Achieved

DC Council included funding for 285 DC Council included funding for 285 locally funded Section 8 vouchers in FY 13 locally funded Section 8 vouchers in FY 13 Budget to target homeless familiesBudget to target homeless families

Council funded another 200+ housing Council funded another 200+ housing vouchers for FY 14 (this budget season) vouchers for FY 14 (this budget season) targeted at homeless familiestargeted at homeless families

$1 million in FY13 & FY14 for a “Flexible $1 million in FY13 & FY14 for a “Flexible Family Services Fund” within CFSA for Family Services Fund” within CFSA for hotel stays, temporary rent assistance, or hotel stays, temporary rent assistance, or back rent for homeless families.back rent for homeless families.

Potential Housing ResourcesPotential Housing Resourcesto Advocate for in your Jurisdictionto Advocate for in your Jurisdiction

Unique opportunity to advocate for housing solutions, which Unique opportunity to advocate for housing solutions, which are so much more cost-effective and humane than foster are so much more cost-effective and humane than foster care:care:

Permanent Supportive Housing (local or federal)Permanent Supportive Housing (local or federal) Locally funded Section 8 vouchers Locally funded Section 8 vouchers Transitional Housing for Reunifying FamiliesTransitional Housing for Reunifying Families FUP Section 8 vouchersFUP Section 8 vouchers Vouchers for young parents aging out of Foster CareVouchers for young parents aging out of Foster Care New Federal funding opportunities – e.g., Health and New Federal funding opportunities – e.g., Health and

Human Services (HHS) gave out $5 million in Human Services (HHS) gave out $5 million in housing/child welfare partnership grants this year – look housing/child welfare partnership grants this year – look out for more of such opportunitiesout for more of such opportunities

Contact informationContact information

Marta Beresin, Esq.Marta Beresin, Esq. Staff Attorney/Policy AdvocateStaff Attorney/Policy Advocate Washington Legal Clinic for the HomelessWashington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U Street, NW1200 U Street, NW Washington, DC 20009Washington, DC 20009 202-328-5506202-328-5506 marta@legalclinic.org www.legalclinic.org