Housing Based Case Management Linking Services to Housing Stability

1
Housing Based Case Management Linking Services
to Housing Stability

• Roanoke, VA
• April 30 May 1, 2007

2
HOPWA Regulations

• 574.310 The Grantee shall assure that
  qualified service providers in the area make
  available appropriate supportive services to the
  individuals assisted with housing under this
  subpart.

3
HUD Notices STRMU

• Grantees are required to conduct an ongoing
  assessment of the housing assistance and
  supportive services required by participants
• To meet this requirement, Grantees may direct
  Sponsors to develop housing services plans for
  all beneficiaries

4
New 2006 Emphasis

• Unique Housing Resource
• Transparent Results
• Understood by public
• Transformative
• Changing peoples lives
• Improving program

5
HOPWA Outcome

• Assisted households will
• Have been enabled to establish or better maintain
  a stable living environment in housing that is
  decent, safe and sanitary
• Reduce risk of homelessness
• Improve access to health care and supportive
  services reduce disparities

6
Benefits to Clients

• A better housing situation more appropriate to
  needs
• Impact on health status through improved housing
  and access to care
• Reduce disparities in access to care

7
HOPWA Performance Goal

• By 2008 over 80 of HOPWA program clients will be
  in stable housing
• For competitive grantees, HUD expects at least
  half of beneficiaries will have stable housing
  during operating year

8
Funding Sources for Service Planning

• Two potential sources through HOPWA
• Housing Information Services (574.300(b)(1))
• Case Management Services (574.300(b)(7))

9
Key Components of Housing Plan

• Determine housing needs and preferences
• Identify eligibility for housing assistance
• Supportive services needs to maintain housing
  stability
• Eligibility for mainstream assistance
• Establish access to care
• Decrease risk of homelessness

10
Housing Focused Case Management

• Educate on all available housing options
• Identify skills and support needed to maintain
  chosen housing options and access to care
• Housing stability is key service goal

11
Responsibility for Plan

• Developed jointly by participant /case manager
• Participant develops own goals and commits to
  accomplishing them
• CM identifies resources including other
  providers, housing programs, benefits
• Plan is updated on regular basis or when
  participant s condition/needs change

12
How Plan Assists HOPWA Program Components STRMU

• Documents risk of homelessness
• Documents temporary nature of the crisis
• Creates a framework for addressing conditions
  that gave rise to emergency
• Establishes time frame to achieve stability
  within 21 week assistance period
• Allows time to plan for and arrange longer term
  housing assistance, if needed
• Can avoid repeated 21 week cycles of assistance
• Shows relationship of assistance to access to
  care

13
Rental Assistance

• Document need for assistance
• Assure that supportive services needs are met
• Identify any resources, skill deficits or
  services needs that could lead to lack of housing
  stability or interfere with access to care.
• Identify mainstream rental assistance
  opportunities for long term support

14
Facility Based Housing

• Identify need for specific assistance
• Address program requirement that adequate
  supportive services be provided
• Help to develop plans to leverage supportive
  services and health care
• Maintain stability in housing by addressing
  resident needs

15
Supportive Services Only

• Ensure a connection between HOPWA funded services
  and housing stability access to care and
  homelessness prevention.
• Plan can assist in leveraging services, allowing
  HOPWA to be directed toward housing assistance

16
Stages in Developing Housing Services Plan

• Engagement /Needs Identification
• Assessment
• Goal Setting and Housing Planning
• Evaluation and Plan Updating

17
Engagement

• Establishing clear communications
• Active listening
• Non-judgmental
• Meeting client where they are
• Capitalize on interest in housing provide
  information, encourage client to make the choice
• May require multiple encounters to develop
  working relationship

18
Assessment

• Emergency needs
• Homeless?
• Medical/mental health crisis
• Domestic violence
• Risk of family separation
• Child care/safety

19
Assessment 2

• Housing needs
• Currently homeless
• Cannot afford current housing
• Inappropriate or sub-standard housing
• Not accessible or presenting other health related
  problems

20
Assessment 3

• Housing Preferences
• Immediate needs
• Household size/composition
• Location considerations
• Long term goals
• Homeownership?
• Named tenant on lease
• Family reunification

21
Assessment 4

• Housing History
• Ever been homeless
• History of eviction or problems with tenancy
• Ever had lease in own name
• Positive references from prior landlord
• Experience of living independently

22
Assessment 5

• Issues that could impact ability to be housed
• Criminal justice background
• Prior offenses
• Currently on parole/probation
• Credit problems
• Poor credit history
• Bankruptcy

23
Assessment 6

• Other issues related to housing instability
• Co-Occurring disorders
• Mental health issues
• Connection to care/services
• Able to manage care
• Able to manage symptoms

24
Assessment 7

• Other issues (continued)
• Substance use/abuse
• Use history and how it interferes with
  maintaining housing
• Awareness of relapse patterns
• Interest in treatment/sobriety
• Problem solve as to how to reduce harm

25
Assessment 8

• Other issues (continued)
• Illness/disabilities
• HIV confidentiality
• Special housing needs related to disability
• Equipment/furnishings
• Live-in personal care attendant
• Location requirements related to accessing health
  care/services

26
Assessment 9

• Family or Social Network
• Positive contributions
• Counter loneliness
• Financial support
• Other assistance
• Negative contributions
• Drug use
• Violence
• Anti-social behavior

27
Assessment 10

• Daily living skills and resources for housing
  stability
• Self-Care
• Transportation
• Negotiation and Mediation Skills
• Maintaining an Apartment
• Financial Literacy
• Managing Nutrition

28
Assessment 11

• Income and access to benefits
• Sources of income
• Receiving any benefits
• Eligible for any mainstream programs
• Expect to receive benefits in the future

29
Assessment 12

• Family and social supports
• Connections to family
• Other significant people
• Intent to reunify with children or family

30
Assessment 13

• Domestic Violence
• Any history (survivor or perpetrator)
• Orders of protection (current or in the past)
• Any special housing needs arising from DV
  concerns?

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Assessment 14

• Histories that might exclude from housing
• Fire setting /Arson
• Criminal History for Violence
• Sex Offender
• History of Eviction
• Bad Credit

32
Assessment 15

• Employment
• Work history
• Currently employed?
• Skills/education for potential employment
• Prior job training experience
• Likely earnings profile

33
Goal Setting/Housing Planning

• Housing Preferences
• STRMU / TBRA / Facility Based
• Unit Size
• Location
• Housing type
• SRO
• Supported housing
• Independent
• Tenure (lease/own)

34
Housing Stability Related Goals

• Income
• Earned income goals
• Benefits sought
• Education/Skills Goals
• Degree related
• Job training

35
Supportive Services Required

• Access to primary care
• Behavioral health needs
• Mental Health
• Substance Use
• Child care/support needs

36
Goal Setting

• Client establishes goals for
• Housing to be obtained
• Maintaining housing / Preventing homelessness
• Income/employment
• Independent living skills an resources
• Health care
• Family and/or community connections

37
Plan for Achieving Goals

• Key Elements
• Time frame
• Specific outcome to achieve
• Support needed to achieve goal
• Tasks to be accomplished by client and CM

38
Role of Case Manager

• Identify assistance needed to accomplish plan
• Skills or Resource
• Budgeting and Income Support
• Negotiating Health Care or Behavioral Health
• Working with Landlords
• Encourage client to develop future oriented goals

39
Evaluation and Plan Updating

• Purpose
• Identify changes in circumstances that could
  impact plan
• Health status
• Family composition
• Income/employment
• Behavioral health needs
• Amended plan also includes time frames and
  client/CM responsibilities

40
Intervals for Updating Plan

• Whenever significant changes occur in clients
  status
• If receiving time limited HOPWA services (STRMU
  or capped TBRA), at least 30 days prior to change
  in HOPWA support
• Otherwise, every 6 months

41
Working with Landlords

• Engagement
• Pro-active outreach (landlord associations,
  newspapers, knocking on doors)
• Introduce yourself and how you can be helpful
• Be persistent and reachable
• Know fair housing law
• Responding to needs
• Recognize that they own the property
• Be patient and persistent

42
Working with Landlords

• Assessment of what is needed
• Rent payment
• Maintaining apartment
• Allowing quiet enjoyment
• Keeping apartments filled
• Assistance with problem tenants

43
Working with Landlords

• Provide Education
• What services do you have available
• Knowledge of tenancy expectations
• Positive experiences with other landlords
• Make a plan
• Try starting slowly
• Re-evaluate