This document discusses shelter diversion as a strategy to reduce homelessness. Shelter diversion identifies individuals and families at risk of homelessness and provides assistance to prevent them from entering emergency shelters. The goals are to provide early intervention through assessment and problem-solving to divert clients to other assistance options instead of shelters. Key principles are to determine if shelter is needed, divert to other prevention assistance whenever possible, and make shelter admission a last resort. Diversion focuses on crisis intervention and resolving immediate housing needs through expedited assistance and short-term housing plans. Staff require special skills for rapid assessment of housing options and resources. Data is collected on diversion outcomes. Questions address implementing diversion across agencies or regions and linking it to homelessness prevention programs.

1. Using Diversion to Reduce Homelessness NAEH National Conference July 2011

2. Workshop Purpose To understand what shelter diversion is and how to develop diversion practices to help meet local prevention and homeless system goals To learn about operational practices of promising diversion practices To explore opportunities for diversion development under HEARTH

3. Workshop Presenters Matt White, Abt Associates Amanda Andere, FACETS, Fairfax County, VA Joyce Tavon, Father Bills and MainSpring, Quincy, MA Faith Frazier, BAMSI, Brockton, MA

4. What is “Shelter Diversion”? Strategy: Identify and divert at-risk persons and provide linkage to other prevention assistance Fundamental Goals: Provides front-line intervention to individuals and families seeking emergency assistance by providing a preliminary assessment and problem-solving to divert clients from accessing the emergency shelter system. The program should reduce the demand for shelter beds by helping at-risk individuals and families find options other than entering emergency shelter.

5. Key Principles & Concepts Not every person who presents for shelter needs shelter Determine “eligibility” for shelter Divert to prevention and stabilization assistance whenever possible Emergency shelter referral/admission is always last option if no other options Programmatic Focus: crisis intervention and resolution of immediate need Identify plan for safe housing tonight Identify plan for tomorrow and short-term Expedited linkage to homelessness prevention/stabilization resources

6. Key Principles & Concepts (cont.) Specialized role across homeless system or within shelter “front door” Can be part of stand-alone system program or incorporated part of each shelter provider Staff require special skills, information, supervision Rapid assessment focused on housing needs, options, resources Assess what’s relevant – more assessment information can be collected later Collect and use data Number of contacts, characteristics Disposition Who’s diverted/not diverted and why

7. Design Questions… Is centralized intake required to make shelter diversion work? How does diversion work when not all the collaborations are in place? How can a CoC fund shelter diversion? Can diversion be implemented over a multi-jurisdictional region? How are staff skills and approaches different in a shelter diversion setting? How can shelter diversion strategies be linked with existing HPRP resources and future HEARTH resources?