Prevention

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HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION - INTERVENTION
Metro Detroits Community Summit To End
Homelessness
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WHAT IS PREVENTION

• Broadly, it means that someone who is threatened
  with homelessness does not become homeless.
• (National Alliance to End Homelessness)

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• Who Is the Target for Prevention
• Those most at risk are those who
• Have been homeless before
• Have no support networks (family or friends) that
  can help them with housing or finances

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Target for Prevention Contd

• Have an institutional history (prison, jail,
  hospitals, etc.)
• Have been in foster care or
• Are victims of domestic violence.

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• Amongst people who fall into any of the above
  categories, the people most likely to become
  homeless are
• Single men
• Female-headed households, particularly ones with
  no experience of independent living
• People with chronic mental illness
• People with substance or alcohol abuse illness
  and
• People with serious health problems.

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• Benefits of Prevention Programs
• They can be cost effective.
• They prevent people from entering the
  homelessness system.
• Make it easier for people to maintain steady
  employment and self-sufficiency.
• Avoids the human and social costs of homelessness.

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• Recommendations
• Implement preventive programs, ie, intervention,
  stabilization and infrastructure
• Intervention Programs
• Rental assistance
• Mortgage assistance
• Tenant/landlord mediation
• Domestic violence counseling
• Family counseling

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Recommendations Contd

• Legal aid
• Case management
• Emergency utility payments

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• Recommendations Contd
• Stabilization Programs
• Institutional transition (prisons, hospitals,
  jails, etc.)
• Drug/alcohol treatment
• Domestic violence programs
• Budgeting assistance
• Tenant education

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• Recommendations Contd
• Infrastructure Programs
• Housing Assistance
• Section 8
• Single Room Occupancy

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Infrastructure Programs Contd

• Housing and mortgage insurance
• Public housing
• Supported housing

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• Income Assistance
• Veterans benefits
• Family Independent Agency
• Emergency assistance
• General assistance
• Food stamps

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Infrastructure Programs Contd

• Service Assistance
• Health care
• Case management
• Counseling
• Job training and placement
• Drug/alcohol treatment
• Mental health care