A place to call home: taking the next step to build school-housing partnerships

1. A place to call home: taking the next step to build school-housing partnerships

2. National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth • 22nd Annual Conference • Houston, TX • November 9, 2010

3. Overview of today’s workshop • Partnering with HUD’s Continuum of Care and Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing: Mobile County, AL • Partnering with Social Service Agencies and Non-profits to House Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Berks County, PA • Partnering with Housing and Workforce Agencies to House Families: Mesa County, CO • Looking to the Future: New Federal Housing Policies

4. Mobile County Public School System What we did and why • Partnerships with agencies within the CoC • Housing First • Homeless Prevention & Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) • Transitional Living Program (TLP) • Disability Housing • Sybil Smith • Family Promise • McKemie Place • Salvation Army

5. Mobile County Public School System What we did and why MCPSS/Housing First HPRP Collaboration Contracted Social Worker/Case Manager Job Duties with the School System as Social Worker: • Assist social workers in homeless education by identifying students and providing case management to a small caseload • Remove barriers to school attendance to foster academic success for homeless students • Advocate for students/families within the school system and with outside agencies • Assist in providing training to school system personnel about needs of homeless students

6. Mobile County Public School System What we did and why MCPSS/Housing First HPRP Collaboration Social Worker/Contracted Case Manager Job duties as a HPRP Case Manager: • Accept referrals from colleagues in the school system • Interview and assess potential HPRP clients • Collaborate with clients to formulate a case plan and monitor compliance with case plan • Refer clients to appropriate community services and advocate for them • Educate CoC colleagues about school system services and educational needs of children in housing programs

7. Mobile County Public School System What is working • Families are receiving services that may have not been provided without the collaboration. The first 5 families in our CoC to receive HPRP housing assistance were our school system families • Education of both agencies regarding the basic requirements and protocols for clients to receive services • Existing collaboration will serve as a solid foundation to support future endeavors

8. Mobile County Public School System What needs improvement Locally: • Program is being implemented in a manner that only allows for short-term assistance (3 months); most families require more time to stabilize • Reduction in “wait-time” for intake appointments and approval for services • Improvement in communication between HPRP case managers working in different agencies • Utilization of social services’ expertise in a more effective and efficient manner

9. Mobile County Public School System What needs improvement Nationally : • Program rules, requirements and forms are continuously changing • Excessive documentation required • Income ceiling is such that the most vulnerable are not eligible for services (income too low) • HUD definition of “homeless” excludes many of our school system families that are homeless under McKinney

10. Mobile County Public School System What needs improvement The Harsh Reality • CoC didn’t build relationships or garner support from the local housing community before serving families • Lack of affordable housing in our area coupled with a poor local economy make breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness a long-term challenge that short term assistance does not assuage

11. Legacy House A program for Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) in Berks County

12. What we know • 2006 - 737 calls to the NRS from callers in the 610 area code. • 2007 - increased to 1,699 (+120%) • 59 unaccompanied youth identified by Berks County School Districts (2009-2010) • 54 in one school year in one district • The closest shelter Philadelphia or Bethlehem • No counseling services • No local “hotline”

13. History of RHY services in Berks • Trying to establish a shelter for 30+ years • Various organizations have looked at this • Homeless Coalition Youth Committee • Applied for RHY federal grant in 2005

14. What we have • Homeless Children’s Initiative – BCIU • Liaisons in 18 districts • $$ for outreach and prevention programs provided by Driven • Awarded $25,000 from United Way • Driven Ministries, Inc.

15. Referral process for Legacy House services Community and schools

16. Scope of the program • Berks County youth age 12-17 • Goal is to serve at least 45 youth in 2009 • Referrals from local homeless education liaisons • Part time case manager will be hired

18. What happens after a referral is made? • Youth will be assessed for need for housing (shelter or host home) • Parents will be notified and consulted • Any indication of abuse will be reported to CYS immediately • Case management will assess family and youth for ongoing services and make referrals • Case management services for 30 days following referral

19. Role of Local Homeless Education Liaison • Provide referrals to the Legacy House program for RHY services • Work closely with Legacy House case manager to ensure education services during housing crisis • Coordinate with Bethany Children’s Home as needed to ensure continued education services for youth • Make referrals to Legacy House for RHY prevention services as needed

20. Future Plans • Document need for RHY services • Determine best way to serve this population moving forward (e.g. – shelter vs. host home model, services etc.) • Apply for ongoing federal, state and local grants for RHY prevention and intervention services • Expand services as needed

21. Colorado Housing and Education Collaborative What we did and why CO Department of Education & CO Division of Housing Data Sharing and Initial Collaborations • Liaisons as primary referral sources for HPRP funding • M-V student number presentation to CO Interagency and Community Council on Homelessness • Meetings with Director of the Division of Housing • Expansion of Mesa County “Next Step Housing Program”

22. Colorado Housing and Education Collaborative What is working Mesa County, Colorado • Mesa County located on the Western boarder of CO and covers 3,309 square miles, population 146,000 (2009) • 5 municipalities including Grand Junction, CO • Highest unemployment rate in state in 12/09 (8.9%) • 275% increase in foreclosures from 10/08-10/09 • 44.17% student body of 22,000 on F/R lunch • 478 children served through McKinney-Vento Homeless Education in 2008-09

23. Colorado Housing and Education Collaborative What is working Mesa County “Next Step Housing Program” • Collaborative effort between Mesa #51 School District, GJ Housing Authority, Mesa County Workforce Center and other homeless service providers • Transitional housing assistance (2 years) and case management for 50 families each during two year cycle • Housing assistance provided by HOME – TBRA (Tennant Based Rental Assistance) • Families chose where they wish to live within Mesa County (minimizing school moves)

24. COlorado Housing and Education Collaborative What is working Mesa County “Next Step Housing Program” (cont) • Most families are directly referred by district’s M-V liaisons in the “REACH” program • Next Step provides subsidized housing, full security deposit, intensive case management and support services for two years • Families are required to comply with all case management expectations, including school-based ones such as enrollment, attendance and academic success

25. Colorado Housing and Education Collaborative What is working Mesa County “Next Step Housing Program” (cont) • Housing assistance payments – HOME Funds • GJHA receives administrative funding through UW, City of GJ, Mesa County DHS and other grant sources. Mesa County DHS provides a full time caseworker • Mandatory case management includes home visits, referrals and follow-through requirements for participants • Each family has a Housing Advocate/Case Manager who assists with locating housing, mediating with landlord (if needed) and other resources including transportation

26. Colorado Housing and Education Collaborative What is working Mesa County “Next Step Housing Program” (cont) • Case Manger connects families with counseling, medication, financial training, GED courses, career training, resumé building and other resources, as appropriate • Families receive $300/year in funds to pay for anything from college text books to utilities • Committee of Partner Agencies (with MOUs) is instrumental to success

27. Colorado Housing and Education Collaborative What is working Mesa County “Next Step Housing Program” (cont) • 109 families with 218 children were served through “pilot” grant • Next Step families experienced a 28% increase in income from the time of program enrollment • 33 Next Step clients secured employment • 10 others secured other income (social security, child support, etc) • 10 (parents) enrolled in higher education

28. COlorado Housing and Education Collaborative What is working Mesa County “Next Step Housing Program” (cont) • Children in the program saw academic gains • 79% of children in Next Step increased their grades • 80% of children in Next Step increased their attendance • 58% of children in Next Step increased their CSAP performance • Teachers reported improved classroom behavior

29. Colorado Housing and Education Collaborative What is working Mesa County “Next Step Housing Program” (cont) • Family mobility decreased significantly • Most families move 3 to 5 times/year • Next Step families moved only one time (into their current unit) • Next Step participants, in full program compliance, at the end of the two year time frame still needing assistance, are given preference on GJHA Choice Voucher waiting list

30. Colorado Housing and Education Collaborative What is working Taking What Works and Building On • CO Division of Housing and Department of Education are collaborating to replicate Mesa County model in four other CO communities • CO Div of Housing granting $2 million over two years • Prioritizing communities with high need, as well as a high-level of school district liaison, social services and housing authority capacity • Looking at communities with agencies who will come together collaboratively through an MOU process

31. Recently enacted legislation: HUD MckinNey-Vento Act Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act Amends HUD homeless programs; does not alter ED’s homeless programs When is the new law effective? Homeless definition – waiting for final regulations to be issued HUD is implementing a few pieces of bill through annual NOFA (grant application) process (more details later) Remainder of bill (not covered here) is awaiting draft regulations (e.g. provision preventing shelters from refusing to house families with teen boys, unless there is somewhere else for the family to go)

32. Hearth act: new hud definition of homelessness Definition category 1: People who will lose their housing within 14 days, as shown by: Court order (foreclosure or eviction) Living in a motel and doesn’t have resources to stay for more than 14 days Sharing housing and “credible” evidence that they will not be allowed to stay for more than 14 days Any oral statement found to be credible shall be considered credible evidence

33. Hearth act: new hud definition of homelessness Definition category 2: Unaccompanied youth and families with children defined as homeless under other federal laws, IF have not been in permanent housing for a long time, AND experienced persistent instability as measured by frequent moves, AND can be expected to continue this way due to disability, physical or mental health condition, addiction, DV or abuse history, or multiple barriers to employment (examples include lack of high school degree or GED, illiteracy, low English proficiency, history of incarceration or unstable employment)

34. Hearth act: new hud definition of homelessness Definition category 3: Individuals or families fleeing domestic violence or other dangerous or life threatening conditions in their current housing, including where the health or safety of children is jeopardized

35. Hearth act: new hud assurances related to education Starting with the next application, due November 18: The Continuum of Care applicant will be required to demonstrate that it is collaborating with LEAs to assist in the identification of homeless families as well as informing these homeless families and youth of their eligibility for McKinney-Vento education services

36. Hearth act: new hud assurances Related to education: Strategies Develop Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between the Continuum of Care and area school districts on protocols for identification and enrollment, including procedures for information-sharing. Share education information as part of intake and exit. Conduct joint trainings and visits. Form a child/youth subcommittee

37. Hearth act: new hud assurances related to education Starting with the next application, due November 18: Continuum of Care applicant will be required to demonstrate that it is considering the educational needs of children when families are placed in emergency or transitional shelter and is, to the maximum extent practicable, placing families with children as close to possible to their school of origin so as not to disrupt their children’s education

38. Hearth act: new hud assurances related to education: strategies Work with school districts to create a map that matches school addresses with shelter and transitional housing addresses, to assist in placing families and youth as close as possible to their schools Include school stability as a standard criterion in assessing the appropriate shelter or transitional housing programs for families or youth Ask families for the names of the schools that their children are attending as part of intake processes

39. Hearth act: new hud assurances related to education Starting with the next application, due November 18: Project applicants must demonstrate that their programs are establishing policies and practices that are consistent with, and do not restrict the exercise of rights provided by the education subtitle of the McKinney-Vento Act, and other laws relating to the provision of educational rights and related services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness

40. Hearth act: new hud assurances related to education: strategies Review and revise shelter policies to ensure children and youth are fully supported in exercising their education rights, including the right to remain at their school of origin. Help unaccompanied homeless youth to access higher education opportunities, including by verifying their status for the FAFSA.

41. Hearth act: new hud assurances related to education Starting with the next application, due November 18: Project applicants must demonstrate that programs that provide housing or services to families are designating a staff person to ensure that children are enrolled in school and connected to the appropriate services within the community, including early childhood programs such as Head Start, Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, and McKinney-Vento education services

42. Hearth act: new hud assurances related to education: strategies Consider who is the most appropriate staff person to be the “education and early care” coordinator. Convene a meeting of the newly designated HUD education/early care contacts, local school district liaisons, Head Start staff, and preschool staff. Assist in providing transportation to Head Start and other preschool programs and arranging after-hour child care. Invite early intervention and special education staff to shelters for child find activities.

43. Hearth act: hprp/ESG HPRP was ARRA / Recovery Act / “Stimulus” funding Will be gone after 2011 But HEARTH Act transformed current HUD ESG, or “Emergency Shelter Grant” into new ESG, or “Emergency Solutions Grant” Key distinction is that old program had very limited allowable use for prevention; most $$$ went to emergency shelter. New program will get higher % of McKinney-Vento $$$ (20%), allowing MOE for shelter and expanded prevention use

44. HUD-ED-HHS demonstration vouChers 6,000 Section 8 vouchers from HUD Applicants are local Public Housing Agencies, demonstration collaboration with school district and with local TANF agency If funded in FY 2011 federal budget, applications and awards will take place in calendar year 2011 Data collection on housing stability will be part of demo If successful, advocates can seek more vouchers

45. Contact information Mattie McVey-Lord, Chief Program Officer, UMOM, mlord@umom.org, 602-275-7852 Denise Riemer, Homeless Education Social Worker, Mobile County Public Schools, AL, (251) 221-4279, driemer@mcpss.com or Larissa Dickinson, Homeless Education Social Worker, Mobile County Public Schools, AL, (251) 221-4283, lndickinson@mcpss.com Jeremy Rosen, Policy Director, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, jrosen@nlchp.org, 202-638.2535 Beth Rothermel, Homeless Student Coordinator, Berks County Intermediate Unit, PA, 610-987-8509, betrot@berksiu.org Dana Scott, Colorado Dept of Ed, McKinney-Vento State Coordinator, Scott_d@state.co.us, 303.866.6930

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