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CalWORKs Housing Support
Program (HSP) Seminar
Rapid Re-housing Overview
September 24, 2014
PRESENTERS
Riley Wilkerson, Alameda County
Housing & Community Development Department
Vivian Wan, Abode Services
Alameda County Overview
• Population: 1.5 million
(831 sq. mi.)
• 14 cities, several
unincorporated communities
• Urban, suburban, rural
communities
• Largest cities —
Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont
• High cost area — Avg. Rent $2,000
(up 12% from 2013)
Alameda County Homeless
• Point in Time Count - 4,264
• Half of homeless population is unsheltered
• 32% are families (56% in 2003)
• 26% have mental illness
Before Rapid Re-housing
• All rental subsidies=deep subsidies (30% tenant income)
• Permanent housing--subsidies provided for indefinite
period
• Transitional housing (including TBRA)--24 month program
Rapid Re-housing—Key Components
• Move directly from homelessness to housing
• Focus is housing—assessing/overcoming barriers
• Focus on increasing income or long term subsidy
• Flexible funding—minimal amount of assistance needed
• Flexible term—three months to two years
Homelessness Prevention and
Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP)—2009-2012
• ARRA Program
• All jurisdictions served (direct/State funded)
•Priority Home Partnership
•Housing Resource Centers
• $10 million total funding
• 3,000 households assisted
• Worked with SSA to coordinate funding
Rapid Re-housing in Alameda County
Post HPRP
• Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
a. 40% must be dedicated to rapid
re-housing/prevention
b. Activities patterned after HPRP
c. Not all jurisdictions covered
d. Approximately 200 households served annually
Rapid Re-housing in Alameda County
Post HPRP
• Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF)
a. Funded by Veteran’s Administration
b. Supportive services and rental subsidies to low and
very-low income veterans and families
c. Projected to serve 700 households with current
grant
Rapid Re-housing in Alameda County
Post HPRP
• Family Housing Reunification Project
a. Funded by Title IV Waiver funding
b. Supportive services and rental subsidies to families
reunifying with children
c. Projected to serve 100 households with current
grant
Program Spotlight—Linkages
• Predates HPRP
•Originally HUD funded as Tenant Based Transitional Housing
•80% permanent housing placement/retention rate
• 45-60 households served annually
• Major changes due to convert to Rapid Re-housing
a. 12 month target
b. Graduated rents
c. 80-120 households served annually
Basics of Housing Case Mgmt
• Assessments based on housing need
• Not a full bio-psycho-social assessment
• Key housing barrier questions
a. Utility debt
b. Involvement with the Criminal Justice System
c. Income & desire to
d. History of homelessness
Services are voluntary… being a good tenant is Not.
How to Make Subsidy Decisions
• Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility
• 3 month assessments (at minimum)
• Multiple layers of approval, preferably across agencies
• Pushing perceptions of “stability”
• Households will continue to struggle, AND most will not
re-enter the system
Reassessments
• Family must supply income documentation.
• Households with sufficient income to pay rent graduate.
• Subsidy Extended if…
a. Specific plan to increase income
b. Recent DV, “new” mental health barrier, other issues that
can be mitigated.
• Family can always “return” if in crisis.
Landlord Engagement- 2 clients
• Landlord relationships … a balancing act!
Tensions…
•All concerns & “violations” through a HOUSING lens
Example- a tenant is smoking “something” in his
unit…Neighbors are complaining.
• “Mission” of agency/ sector
Issues/Challenges
• Flexibility of program = Infinite variety of program designs
• Need for strong policy and procedures
• Target Population (families, income level, none?)
• Term—two year minimum
CalWORKS Housing Support Program
• CalWORKS homeless families
• Major Components:
a. Housing Identification
b. Rent and Moving Assistance
c. Case Management and Services
Resources:
National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)
http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/rapidrehousing1
HUD Rapid Re-housing Brief
https://www.onecpd.info/resources/documents/Rapid-Re-Housing-Brief.pdf
CWDA CalWORKS Housing Support
http://cwda.org/tools/calworks.php
Questions?