Statement of Problem/Need Being Addressed

City of Lawrence

Outside Agency Funding

APPLICATION

General Information: Each year, the City Commission considers requests for the allocation of dollars to a number of agencies that provide services benefiting the Lawrence community. The decision on funding a request will be made during the City’s annual budgeting process. The decision will be based upon the availability of funds, the need demonstrated through the agency’s application, the stated objectives of the applicant’s program, past performance by the agency in adhering to funding guidelines (as appropriate), and the ability to measure progress toward the program objectives.

Instructions: Applications for 2008 funding must be complete and submitted electronically to the City Manager’s Office at cliebst@ci.lawrence.ks.us by the deadlheyine of 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2007.

Questions? Contact Casey Liebst, Budget Manager at cliebst@ci.lawrence.ks.us or at 785-832-3409.

Section I. Applicant Information

Legal Name of Agency:		Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center
Name of Program for Which Funding is Requested:			City Homeless Outreach Team
Primary Contact Person:		Lynn Amyx, LSCSW
Address:	200 Maine Suite A, Lawrence KS 66044
Telephone:	785-830-1706		Fax:	785-843-8413
Email:	lamyx@bertnash.org

Section 2. Request Information

A.	Amount of funds requested from the City for this program for calendar year 2008:	$164,000
B.	Will these funds be used for capital outlay (equipment or facilities) in 2008? If so, please describe: Yes, approximately $3000.00 would be used for computer/printer equipment.
C.	Will these funds be used to leverage other funds in 2008? If so, how: Funds may be used as leverage dollars in the Continuum of Care applications- as yet to be determined
D.	Did you receive City funding for this program in 2007? If so, list the amount and source for funding (i.e. General Fund, Alcohol Fund, etc.): General fund $164,000
E.	If you are requesting an increase in funding over 2007, please explain exactly how the additional funds will be used: Per application directions no increase will be requested

Section 3. Agency and Program Budget information

A.	How many paid full time employees work for your agency?	150	Volunteers?			0

B.	What percent of your total 2007 budget goes to employee salaries and benefits?				84%

C.	What percent of your total 2007 budget is used for operating expenses?			16%

D.	What is the total estimated cost to provide the program in 2008?			$176,380

E.	What percent of 2008 program costs are being requested from the City?			93%

F.	List other anticipated sources of funding and funding amount for this program in 2008:
Anticipated Funding Source				Dollar Amount
NA				$






TOTAL 2008 PROGRAM BUDGET				$176.380

Section 4. Statement of Problem/Need to Be Addressed By Program

A. Provide a brief statement of the problem or need your agency proposes to address with the requested funding and/or the impact of not funding this program. The statement should include characteristics of the client population that will be served by this program. If possible, include statistical data to document this need.

The request for funding would serve to continue to provide support for the recently developed City Wide Homeless Outreach Team. The Outreach Team was developed following recommendations of the Mayor’s Task force. The current funding supports four (4) full time Outreach Specialists who provide one on one supportive services to the City’s homeless population. These Outreach Specialists are co-located at Lawrence Open Shelter, Salvation Army, ECKAN and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. In addition to working with homeless individuals who seek services at these community service agencies, the Outreach Specialist also provide assertive outreach on the streets and locations where homeless individuals are known to congregate. The last point in time count completed by the City for the Continuum of Care (CoC) indicated there were 262 homeless individuals, and 79 homeless families with children comprised of 192 members at one point in time. This is a fluid number and a fluid population, making exact count difficult. We do know there is a definite need identified by the community, downtown businesses, and service providers to intervene on a one to one basis, and to have one point of entry to decrease duplication of services and create a more effective service delivery system to this at risk population. Community service agencies have verbalized a noticeable improvement in how homeless individuals are accessing services, keeping appointments and following through with service agency recommendations. These improvements has been directly attributed to the Outreach Team’s supportive interactions with homeless individuals, facilitating keeping appointments, complete applications, and provide necessary documents to procure services and the development of direct open lines of communication with the community service agencies. The Outreach Team provides the necessary structure, support, and reminders to ensure an effective flow through the service agency systems, decreasing duplication of services, failed appointments, and the repeated “starting from scratch” that many homeless individuals experience regularly. In addition to supportive services and facilitation of obtaining housing, the Outreach Team also provides ongoing support increasing the individual’s potential to maintain housing. Without continued funding many of these homeless individuals and families would fall through the cracks due to their inability to negotiate the various systems of community service providers and manage the ongoing daily responsibilities of maintaining housing.

B. How was the need for this program determined?

This program was developed as a direct result of recommendations by the Mayor’s Task Force

C. Why should this problem/need be addressed by the City?

Homeless individuals are a part of the community, of the City of Lawrence, who, for what ever reason, are unable to help themselves or successfully function in the present social structure. Addressing the needs of the homeless population with direct homeless outreach has proven to be an effective tool in reaching a challenging population that has little trust of service providers. The city, through the Mayor’s Task force, as well as through numerous committees and boards, has indicated that addressing the needs of the homeless population is of significant importance to the community at large.

Section 4. Description of Program Services

A. Provide a brief description of the service you will provide and explain how it will respond to the need you identified in Section 3. The description should include how many clients will be served, and should describe as specifically as possible the interaction that will take place between the provider and the user of the service. The service is a community based outreach team, designed to seek out homeless individuals, assess needs, provide support and/or facilitate acquiring necessary supportive services, housing, employment, medical treatment, mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, dental care, and other basic needs. The outreach team provides services similar to what is thought of as traditional case management services-which is a “Medicaid” term- with significant difference, that this team is designed to be co-located at service agencies in the community as well as provide direct service on the street and at locations where homeless individuals are known to congregate. The outreach team will provide one on one, face to face interactions with homeless individuals as well as collateral contacts with service providers. The homeless team is available to provide support to staff of local shelters assisting with crisis situations. During the first year of the program 555 homeless individuals were contacted and received some form of outreach from the team. For the first quarter in 2007, 424 service contacts were made, culminating in over 1200 hours of services provided. These direct service hours translate into an increase in appointments kept with service providers, accurate completion of applications for LDCHA, Social Security and SRS benefits, facilitation of medical, dental and substance abuse treatment, improved housing, and increase access to employment and financial resources for homeless individuals, or individuals who would become homeless without the support of the Homeless Outreach team.

B. Describe any efforts your agency has made to explore the community to determine if there are any other agencies providing similar types of services. What efforts have you made to coordination services? Community service providers have limited staff designated to serve the homeless populations, but they do not have the flexibility to be “on the streets”. The Outreach team was designed to be co-located at the various services agencies, but to provide the bulk of their service in the community, in an “office without walls” environment. Being on the streets rather than behind a desk decreases barriers to services for the homeless individuals who may not feel comfortable coming into a center for assistance. The Outreach Team supervisor holds weekly meeting with the outreach team and representatives from the co-located agencies, to staff cases, identify gaps in services and share information. The Outreach Team supervisor meets monthly with directors of shelters and service agencies to assess service provision of the outreach specialist, identify areas of concern and develop effective strategies for correcting issues. The Outreach Team supervisor also sits on various boards and committees addressing housing and homeless concerns which facilitates communication and coordination of services. The Outreach Team has worked effectively to open lines of communication among all community service providers.

Section 5. Program Objectives

Please provide three specific program objectives for 2008. Objectives should demonstrate the purpose of the program and measure the amount of service delivered or the effectiveness of the services delivered. A time frame and numerical goal should also be included. Examples include, “75% of clients receiving job training will retain their job one year after being hired,” “increased fundraising efforts will result in a 15% increase in donations in 2008,” “credit counseling services will be provided to 600 clients in 2008,” “new digital arts program will serve 275 students in 2008” etc. Applicants will be expected to report their progress toward meeting these objectives in their six month and annual reports to the City.

	Program Objectives

1.	75% of individuals enrolled and or receiving services will successfully complete and submit necessary applications for: State issued Identification and Social Security Cards to enable the individuals to make desired applications for community resources within six months of enrollment in outreach services. * enrolled =individuals who are seen 3 or more times for assertive outreach and/or ongoing supportive outreach services

2.	75% of eligible individuals enrolled and/or receiving services will complete and submit applications for; Social Security and SRS benefits (if applicable); Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Programs; employment or Vo-Rehab within six months of enrollment in outreach services. * enrolled =individuals who are seen 3 or more times for assertive outreach and/or ongoing supportive outreach services* ** Current wait for LDCHA housing choice vouchers is 18+ months, City HOME/TBRA are not available until 8/07, and CSS HOME /TBRA are fully obligated a this point.

3.	60% of all individuals who identify housing as a goal and successfully obtain housing, will maintain housing for one year.

Please return completed application electronically to cliebst@ci.lawrence.ks.us by

5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2007.

Office Use Only