2.5 Rapid Re-Housing for Unaccompanied Youth: An Effective Housing Solution Speaker: Sage Foster Rapid re-housing has proven effective at ending homelessness among families and individuals. With the increase in the number of these programs, some have expanded to also serve youth with a rapid re-housing model. This workshop will describe the components of the model, and the necessary adaptations to make this model work for unaccompanied homeless youth.

1. 2.7 Rapid Re-housing for Youth
NAEH National Conference on Ending
Family and Youth Homelessness
Los Angeles, February 8-10, 2012
Sage B. Foster, M Ed, MPH
Housing Partnership Manager
Abode Services
(510) 552-6927
sfoster@abodeservices.org

2. Rapid Re-housing in Alameda County,
CA
• Provide financial assistance to 400-600
literally homeless households throughout
Alameda County
• Engage multiple landlords interested in filling
vacancies and being valued community
stakeholders
• Provide no more then is necessary of less
then is needed to achieve housing stability

3. Components of Rapid Re-housing
Program
• ‘Housing First’ for OPRI Young Adults
-Determine Barriers to housing (eviction,
nature of crime) at intake
-Show appropriate units based upon
neighborhood preferences, landlord
relationships and accessibility to employment
or schools
-Encourage creative, solution based approaches
to tenancy issues (loud music, multiple guests)

4. Outcomes of Rapid Re-housing/OPRI
• Re-entry (40 21-35 y/o men) have lowered
recidivism by 48% in 1st year of housing.
• 85% of housed re-entry population still in
housing after one year.
• Landlords are waiving criminal background
checks based upon demonstration of gratitude
and respect shown by the young men.
• The Oakland Housing Authority is considering
additional subsidies to serve OPRI/Re-entry

5. System Modifications of Rapid Re-
housing for OPRI Re-entry
• Partnership with agency that is expert in
serving Re-entry
• Define and train staff new to ‘Housing First’
model
• Meet often in the implementation stages of
program to assure housing and services are
working together
• Promote housing retention even if it requires
agency to change practices.

6. How OPRI Has Transformed Systems
• By leveraging Rapid Re-housing to pay security deposits, the Oakland Housing
Authority in partnership with the City of Oakland provided 40 subsidies to 21-35 y/o
men being released from San Quentin prison.
• Volunteers of America, the service agency, has not had access to permanent housing
for its participants in the past
• OPRI now serves 65 Oakland encampment dwellers with two additional partner
agencies
• The program model and partners helped Abode Services obtain a Supportive Services
for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant in 2011.
• The Oakland Housing Authority views this as their most innovative housing program
and intends to seek expansion of subsidies to all populations
• One Re-entry participant shared recently that “without this program I would be
spending my life behind bars and now I have a home and a job; I am learning to love
myself and see the good in others”