2.4 Preventing Family Homelessness

an initiative of Community Solutions Collaborating with yourPublic Housing Authority:Preserving Affordable Housing to Prevent Homelessness Sarah Morrison, Director of Programs (718) 637-6460 smorrison@cmtysolutions.org

Why Public Housing?• Affordable Housing• Concentrated Poverty• Efficient Outreach• Vulnerable Population• Mission of PHA

Brief History of the Brownsville Partnership• 2005 began eviction prevention in Brownsville, Brooklyn after 25 years of developing supportive housing in New York City• 2008 transitioned to Partnership model and narrowed focus to 4 public housing developments• 2012 partner programs include early childhood interventions, child welfare prevention, financial literacy, probation, alternatives to incarceration, criminal justice prevention, recreation center, farmer’s markets

Preventing Evictions and Maintaining Housing Stability in Public Housing• Appropriately targeting outreach and services• Calibrating services based on vulnerability for eviction and homelessness• Use of community organizing• Integrating financial literacy into case management• Cash assistance for rental arrears• Connection to community resources

Targeting Outreach and Services• Collect data from local homeless services and housing authority• Base services in neighborhoods that are highest producers of homelessness• Meet regularly with PHA management office as well as PHA administration• Narrow focus further to target outreach to specific buildings with high rates of rental arrears, eviction, and shelter entry• Focus outreach to tenants with risk for homelessness: e.g. previous homelessness, evictions, young families

Calibrating Services• Assess tenants’ strengths and risks then tailor intensity of services to meet needs• One size does not fit all: tenants need different levels and types of services• Crisis is an opportunity for intervention: services offered at time of emergency with follow up to maintain stability

Community Organizing• Involve community residents in outreach and organizing efforts, beyond tenant associations• Community residents lead organizing efforts through house meetings with residents• Residents help reach out to their neighbors, identify those in need• Services sometimes better accepted from neighbors

Financial Literacy• Integrate financial literacy services and counseling into case management services• Provide different options for financial literacy: classes, peer-led support groups, individual counseling tailored to tenants needs• Advocates trained as financial counselors• Partner with financial literacy organization

Community Resources• Form relationships with respected community organizations resources that can help tenants maintain stability: eviction prevention, financial literacy, substance abuse support groups, employment help• Try not to reinvent the wheel, tap into existing resources and collaborate• Connect tenants to resources through reliable referral networks

Contact Information: Sarah Morrison Director of Programs444 Thomas S Boyland Street Suite 104 Brooklyn, NY 11212smorrison@cmtysolutions.org (718) 637-6460 www.cmtysolutions.org

2.4 Preventing Family Homelessness

by National Alliance to End Homelessness on Feb 23, 2012

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

1 Embed 223

Statistics

2.4 Preventing Family Homelessness Presentation Transcript