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Presented by Bill Hobson at the Annual Conference of National Alliance to End Homelessness on July 28-30, 2008 in Washington D.C. Overview of DESC's supportive housing, mental health services, chemical dependency services, emergency shelter, and program integration. Tenant selection process based on mental disorders and risk factors. Allocation of shelter beds through various methods. Importance of DESC Vulnerability Assessment Tool in housing selection for homeless individuals.
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Vulnerability Assessmentfor Chronically Homeless Individuals presented by Bill Hobson Annual ConferenceNational Alliance to End HomelessnessJuly 28-30, 2008 – Washington D.C. www.desc.org
Overview of DESC • supportive housing • licensed mental health services • licensed chemical dependency services • emergency shelter • high level of integration across programs www.desc.org
Kerner-Scott House experience (1997) Tenant Selection Process • severe and persistent mental disorders • not connected to anyone • too disorganized to self-advocate • most at risk of living on the streets • based selection on key informant observation www.desc.org
DESC emergency shelter experience(1979-2003) How to allocate limited beds in high-demand environment? • first come, first serve [1979-1984] • random selection (the “fish bowl”) [1984-1994] • diagnosis [1994-2003] • scores on Vulnerability Assessment Tool [2003-present] www.desc.org
Common methods of tenant selectionfor permanent supportive housing • Wait lists with rule-out criteria • criminal hx, rental hx, behavioral issues • Housing readiness • sobriety, psychiatric stabilization, payeeships www.desc.org
High utilization (continued) • frequent use of hospital, jail, other institutions • “Million Dollar Murray” (2006) • DESC's 1811 Eastlake • Political power in using this method • Flaws • diminishing return • ignores vulnerability www.desc.org
DESC Vulnerability Assessment Tool • developed in 2003 to allocate limited shelter beds • began using as primary method for housing selection in 2005 • have done 6,582 assessments since 2003 • focuses on • vulnerability induced by behavioral health issues • who is at greatest risk if left on the streets • limited research shows high correlation with institutional use www.desc.org
