The document discusses a paradigm shift towards a prevention-centered homelessness assistance system, outlining typologies of homelessness in Philadelphia and Massachusetts and the effectiveness of various interventions. It emphasizes the importance of prevention strategies, early interventions, and tailored resources to reduce homelessness, highlighting successful programs in both regions. Key recommendations include enhancing agency collaborations and developing new service priorities for housing stabilization and tenant sustainment.

1. A Prevention-Centered
Homelessness Assistance System:
A Paradigm Shift?
Dennis Culhane,
Stephen Metraux and
Thomas Byrne

2. Typology of Single Adult Homelessness
(Philadelphia)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Transitional Episodic Chronic
% of Persons % Days Used
 Transitionals:
 1.19 stays
 20.4 days
 Episodics:
 3.84 stays
 72.8 days
 Chronics:
 1.53 stays
 252.4 days

3. Disability Rates
(Single Adults in Philadelphia)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Mental Illness Physical Substance
Abuse
Any One
Transitional Episodic Chronic

4. Implications
 Transitionally Homeless: Prevention and
Relocation Assistance
 Episodically Homeless: Low Demand Residences
(Safe Havens), Harm Reduction, Transitional
Housing, Residential Treatment
 Chronically Homeless: Permanent Supportive
Housing

5. What has been done?:
Chronic Homeless Initiative
Congress and Bush/Obama have increased
funding $600 million since 2003; 45%
increase
80,000 units created
HUD reported a 30% decline in CH from 05
to 09

6. Typology of Family Homelessness
(Massachusetts)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Transitional Episodic Long-stayers
% of Persons % Days Used
 Transitionals:
 1.0 stays
 105 days
 Episodics:
 2.0 stays
 195 days
 Long-Stayers:
 1.0 stays
 444 days

7. Intensive Service Histories of
Families
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Child Welfare
Placement
Inpt MH Inpt SA Any one
Transitional Episodic Long-Term

8. Income Sources
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Earned Income SSI
Transitional Episodic Long-Term (n=99)

9. The Average Cost of
Shelter Stays by Type
(Massachusetts)
Transitional $11,550
Episodic $21,450
Long-term $48,440
Does not include McKinney-Vento funding or non-DTA public service contracts.

10. Conclusions
 Policies and programs driving long stays
 Characteristics of “graduates” may reflect
selection effects of policies and programs
 Most costly service users are not differentially
service-needy
 Need for reform

11. V
o
l
u
m
e
Cost per Case
Model Service System
for Addressing Housing Emergencies
Prevention Supportive
Housing
Shelter Admission
Diversion,
Relocation, and
Emergency Rental
Assistance
Mainstream systems
Community-
Based programs

12. Shelter
Day Care
Employment
Assistance
Housing
Placement
Family Supt
Services
MH/SA
Services
Prevailing Model Emerging Model
Housing
Stabilization
Day Care
Employment
Assistance
Shelter
Family Supt
Services
MH/SA
Services
Turning the Continuum of Care Inside – Out?

13. Target Population Prevention Objective
Most At – Risk Protocols for Institutional
Discharges
Imminently Homeless Crisis Intervention and
Tenancy Preservation
(Shelter Diversion)
Homeless Emergency Shelter and Rapid
Rehousing

14. Most At-Risk
 Prisoners awaiting discharge
 Patients Exiting Hospital or Detoxification
 Youth Exiting from FC
 Domestic Violence Victims
 Formerly Homeless
Protocols Needed with Standard Screening for Risk,
Tenancy Preservation, and Rehousing Plans

15. Imminently Homelessness
(HH w/ Eviction Notice, Shelter Requestors)
 For Primary Tenants – Landlord Tenant Mediation
and Relocation Grant (if necessary)
 For Those Leaving Family/Friends:
 Home visits
 “Options” counseling
 Family mediation
 Transition planning
 Flexible emergency cash assistance
 Employment coaching

16. Homeless
 Crisis Intervention (same as for “imminently
homeless”) for newly homeless to restore prior
tenancy or provide relocation grant
 At some threshold (3-4 weeks): Rehousing Plan
 Deeper Assessment and Services Screen
 Service Coordination – referral until “touch” is made
 Relocation
 Emergency Assistance - flexible cash assistance, can
provide shallow rent supports, with six month review

17. Shelter admission
Community-
based
Prevention
(Diversion and
Stabilization)
Rapid
Exit:
Relocation
Up to 2-4
weeks
shelter
Housing
Stabilization
Service I
Relocation,
Critical Time
Intervention
CM, Temp
Rental Ass.
1 year shallow
rental subsidy
Housing
Stabilization
Service II
More
intensive
services, 1
more year of
Temp Rent
Ass.
Shelter exit
Transition
to
mainstream
systems
Long-Term
Subsidy and
Service
Engagement
“Progressive Engagement” Approach

18. The English Experience:
Prevention Oriented System
Funded in 2003
 New Ethos: All Cases Can Be Prevented/Rehoused
 50% Decline in Homelessness from 2003-2006
 Keys to Success:
 Flexible resources that could be tailored to client
 Strong agency collaborations with mainstream systems
 Timeliness – intervening as early and quickly as
possible

19. Systems Transformation
 From “the Continuum” to “the Network”
 Creating a New Field of Practice: Housing
Stabilization
 New Service Priorities:
 Tenancy Sustainment
 Service Coordinators
 Benefits Counselors
 Housing Relocation Specialists
 Family Mediation
 Home Visitors

20. Challenges
 Engaging Human Services Systems: Prevention
Concept has to be embraced across systems
 Local Housing Authority Participation – Need for
some permanent subsidies for households with
long-term needs
 New Data Collection and Performance Standards
Needed

21. Issues for Philanthropy
 Engaging and convening community stakeholders
 Supporting “systems change” and “culture
change” activities
 Mobilizing private sector participation into a
housing and jobs network: landlords, legal
services, employers
 “Home” programs – move-in assistance, house-
starter kits, furniture banks, etc.

22. Suggested web resources
 National Alliance to End Homelessness web site:
HPRP Resources section, includes “guides for
good practice”
 Funders Together to End Homelessness:
http://funderstogether.org/