Homelessness in Arlington County

Really? Here?

How Big a Problem? January 2008 “Point in Time” survey 410 individuals identified as homeless Many with problems such as severe mental illness, substance abuse, physical disabilities, HIV/AIDS 41 homeless families 126 persons in families 179 homeless persons are unsheltered

January 2008 “Point in Time” survey

410 individuals identified as homeless

Many with problems such as severe mental illness, substance abuse, physical disabilities, HIV/AIDS

41 homeless families

126 persons in families

179 homeless persons are unsheltered

How Big a Problem? Independent analysis and other studies indicate up to 1,100 homeless in Arlington served every year

Independent analysis and other studies indicate up to 1,100 homeless in Arlington served every year

Many Others on the Brink Prevention efforts County Funds $215,000 to Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs (AMEN) AMEN raises $107,000 in order to receive County funds County providing additional $78,000 in 2009 as “safety net funding” Covers rent as well as medication, utilities, rent deposits, emergency needs Northern Virginia Family Services

Prevention efforts

County Funds

$215,000 to Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs (AMEN)

AMEN raises $107,000 in order to receive County funds

County providing additional $78,000 in 2009 as “safety net funding”

Covers rent as well as medication, utilities, rent deposits, emergency needs

Northern Virginia Family Services

What’s Being Done About It?

The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness Adopted in 2006 by County Board Based on “Housing First” best practice 10 Year Plan focuses on: Preventing homelessness Moving people who do become homeless into housing rapidly Providing the wrap-around services necessary for them to maintain their housing

Adopted in 2006 by County Board

Based on “Housing First” best practice

10 Year Plan focuses on:

Preventing homelessness

Moving people who do become homeless into housing rapidly

Providing the wrap-around services necessary for them to maintain their housing

The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness Guiding Principles Commitment from all sectors of the community Best practice and evidence-based solutions Affordable and appropriate housing options Culturally competent and consumer-centered services Sufficient, committed financial resources

Guiding Principles

Commitment from all sectors of the community

Best practice and evidence-based solutions

Affordable and appropriate housing options

Culturally competent and consumer-centered services

Sufficient, committed financial resources

The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness Goals Increase the supply of affordable housing Prevent homelessness at every opportunity Provide supportive services to keep people in housing Increase income of homeless persons through employment and benefits

Goals

Increase the supply of affordable housing

Prevent homelessness at every opportunity

Provide supportive services to keep people in housing

Increase income of homeless persons through employment and benefits

The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness Rolling Up Our Sleeves Implementation Committees based on the four goal areas are hard at work developing operational plans with specific actions and timetables Results already being seen Better communication and coordination among stakeholders Better understanding of magnitude of problem Better use of data

Rolling Up Our Sleeves

Implementation Committees based on the four goal areas are hard at work developing operational plans with specific actions and timetables

Results already being seen

Better communication and coordination among stakeholders

Better understanding of magnitude of problem

Better use of data

The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness Chaired by Housing Commission & Community Services Board Leadership Consortium Housing Prevention & Education Funding & Resource Development Implementation Task Force Integrated Services Chaired by County Board & Private Sector

Housing Committee Goals Increase supply of affordable housing Housing Grant Program Review eligibility criteria Streamline review and enrollment process Improve access to and communication with landlords Increase resources available for supportive housing

Increase supply of affordable housing

Housing Grant Program

Review eligibility criteria

Streamline review and enrollment process

Improve access to and communication with landlords

Increase resources available for supportive housing

Prevention & Education Committee Goals Close the “front door” to homelessness Educate service providers, landlords, hospital and jail dischargers, persons at risk of homelessness on indicators of potential homelessness and availability of services Develop proactive prevention strategies Educate public on causes of homelessness and how people can help

Close the “front door” to homelessness

Educate service providers, landlords, hospital and jail dischargers, persons at risk of homelessness on indicators of potential homelessness and availability of services

Develop proactive prevention strategies

Educate public on causes of homelessness and how people can help

Integrated Services Committee Goals Help those whose multiple medical, mental health and social service issues interfere with their ability to maintain stable housing Review current services and delivery system Review best practices Identify gaps in services and recommend changes Identify and eliminate duplication of services

Help those whose multiple medical, mental health and social service issues interfere with their ability to maintain stable housing

Review current services and delivery system

Review best practices

Identify gaps in services and recommend changes

Identify and eliminate duplication of services

Funding and Resource Development Committee Goals Inventory existing local, state, federal and private resources Identify new resources Untapped foundation resources Homeless trust funds

Inventory existing local, state, federal and private resources

Identify new resources

Untapped foundation resources

Homeless trust funds

Top Priorities - Policy Develop communication and public awareness materials to educate the Arlington community about the homeless, the 10 Year Plan, and how they can help Develop a Homeless Trust Fund Modify County’s Affordable Housing goals to include ending homelessness and promote supportive housing Create a functional Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

Develop communication and public awareness materials to educate the Arlington community about the homeless, the 10 Year Plan, and how they can help

Develop a Homeless Trust Fund

Modify County’s Affordable Housing goals to include ending homelessness and promote supportive housing

Create a functional Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

Top Priorities - Financial Communication materials to educate the community $30,000 Ancillary Services (part-time nurse practitioner and Housing Locator for the Homeless) $135,000

Communication materials to educate the community $30,000

Ancillary Services (part-time nurse practitioner and Housing Locator for the Homeless) $135,000

Top Priorities - Financial Increase funding for rental subsidy programs including Housing Grants, Transitional Housing Grants, and Permanent Supportive Housing ($833,000) Provide additional funds to increase rent standard for Housing Grants Program and Transitional Housing Grants ($600,000) Establish Rent Guarantee Fund to support landlords providing housing to homeless households ($100,000)

Increase funding for rental subsidy programs including Housing Grants, Transitional Housing Grants, and Permanent Supportive Housing ($833,000)

Provide additional funds to increase rent standard for Housing Grants Program and Transitional Housing Grants ($600,000)

Establish Rent Guarantee Fund to support landlords providing housing to homeless households ($100,000)

Cold Weather Plan Created to keep people who are homeless safe when the weather becomes extremely cold. Emergency Winter Shelter Nov. 1 through March 31. [Volunteers of America – Chesapeake (VOA-C)] Capacity is 58. Overflow facilities at the ready. Provides safe place to sleep as well as food, a hot shower, laundry facilities and access to a range of services through the Department of Human Services and community partners. 2049 15th Street North (Courthouse area); opens daily at 4 p.m.

Created to keep people who are homeless safe when the weather becomes extremely cold.

Emergency Winter Shelter Nov. 1 through March 31. [Volunteers of America – Chesapeake (VOA-C)]

Capacity is 58. Overflow facilities at the ready.

Provides safe place to sleep as well as food, a hot shower, laundry facilities and access to a range of services through the Department of Human Services and community partners.

2049 15th Street North (Courthouse area); opens daily at 4 p.m.

How Can I Help?

It Depends Who You Are Faith community Real estate developers People at the “front door” of homelessness Civic groups Public

Faith community

Real estate developers

People at the “front door” of homelessness

Civic groups

Public

Faith Community Land resources – create affordable housing County Housing Office (David Cristeal) Enterprise Community Partners (David Bowers) Alliance for Housing Solutions (Sarah Bailey) Non-profit affordable housing developers

Land resources – create affordable housing

County Housing Office (David Cristeal)

Enterprise Community Partners (David Bowers)

Alliance for Housing Solutions (Sarah Bailey)

Non-profit affordable housing developers

Faith Community Advocacy – Be a Voice Support proposals for dedicated funding to address homelessness Funding for housing grants / rental assistance Call for employers to pay living wage Support zoning actions that create affordable units in new / redeveloped properties Lobby County Board for adequate funding to meet affordable housing goals Lobby U.S. Congress for housing grants

Advocacy – Be a Voice

Support proposals for dedicated funding to address homelessness

Funding for housing grants / rental assistance

Call for employers to pay living wage

Support zoning actions that create affordable units in new / redeveloped properties

Lobby County Board for adequate funding to meet affordable housing goals

Lobby U.S. Congress for housing grants

Faith Community Create a mechanism in your organization for people to learn and help Social justice committee Hold food and clothing drives Adopt-A-Family Act as guarantor for families Partner on projects with shelter / housing providers

Create a mechanism in your organization for people to learn and help

Social justice committee

Hold food and clothing drives

Adopt-A-Family

Act as guarantor for families

Partner on projects with shelter / housing providers

Faith Community Partner with the key players – Department of Human Services 10 Year Plan Implementation Task Force Non-profit agencies / service providers

Partner with the key players –

Department of Human Services

10 Year Plan Implementation Task Force

Non-profit agencies / service providers

Individuals Pick up a few extra items to donate next time you are at the store Plant an extra row in the garden Bergmann’s “Share the Warmth” coat donation program (last 3 weeks of every year) Volunteer at the Emergency Winter Shelter Contribute items for back to school Check for volunteer and donation opportunities at County Volunteer Office (great web tool) Donate to community non-profits engaged in homelessness prevention

Pick up a few extra items to donate next time you are at the store

Plant an extra row in the garden

Bergmann’s “Share the Warmth” coat donation program (last 3 weeks of every year)

Volunteer at the Emergency Winter Shelter

Contribute items for back to school

Check for volunteer and donation opportunities at County Volunteer Office (great web tool)

Donate to community non-profits engaged in homelessness prevention

Individuals Human acknowledgement – say hi

Human acknowledgement – say hi

Thank You! Arlington has the will and the means to prevent and end homelessness By working together, we can make a difference Learn more about the issues and the community’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness at: www.arlingtonva.us/dhs

Arlington has the will and the means to prevent and end homelessness

By working together, we can make a difference

Learn more about the issues and the community’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness at:

www.arlingtonva.us/dhs