Thank you for the opportunity to meet again and to review where our Commission is in working toward successful implementation of the housing vision presented to you at the June, 2007 study session.
Since that meeting, many have continued to work with us to advance the vision for housing the homeless and the following is a brief update on what has transpired.
First, it is with much appreciation that we acknowledge the work of many of the CCH members who have taken time over the last 10 months to speak to many service organizations, church groups, social organizations and others regarding the housing vision and the framework in which the entire homeless population can be served.
Special thanks go to Hub Collingsworth, Katherine Dinsdale, & Loring Henderson for their outreach efforts.
The presentations have generally been well received and many have indicated their appreciation of having the overview presented to them, as well as the comprehensive approach the City is trying to take in addressing the needs of the entire homeless population.
In October 2007, the CCH held a public meeting with the social service agencies to review the Housing Vision. The purpose of the meeting was to encourage support and to identify agencies who wanted to work within the Housing Vision framework, and become part of the changes we were making in the way homeless people were served and housed. It was our hope that agencies would step forward to declare what part of the housing vision they would want to be part of.
In October 2007, we also presented the Housing Vision to the Douglas County Commission and believe that they do have an interest in our efforts. The Re-Entry program that has been implemented by the County stands to gain positive benefit for many of those they serve who are in the homeless population we are trying to serve through the Housing Vision.
As a result of the work of many in meetings and other work groups, the following update on the Housing Vision is provided for your information.
Emergency Shelter
In December 2007, The Lawrence Community Shelter declared
their intent to be the one Emergency
Shelter to serve
Emergency Temporary Housing
Over the years, many private individuals and the Ecumenical Community
have provided Emergency Temporary Housing. More is needed, and more is being
developed. Adequate Emergency
Temporary Housing is critical to the concept of only one emergency shelter.
Developing community support in growing emergency temporary housing units is critical to ensuring adequate housing for many in the homeless community, including homeless families with children. This piece of the Housing Vision requires the ability to work with private individuals in this community who want to donate available apartments, houses, and other short term housing options until transitional or permanent housing is available.
The Emergency Temporary Housing component requires case management to work with the perspective tenant(s) during their stay in Emergency Temporary Housing. Case managers will be the liaison to the landlord or donor of the property. It is important to those who will donate their space to have assurance that the property will be taken care of and that the donor can access case management if needed to resolve concerns on property maintenance and/ behavioral concerns.
Currently there is a work group focusing on the responsibilities of the case managers and how their work will change when accessing Emergency Temporary Housing.
If a local agency, working with a homeless individual, wishes to access available emergency temporary housing then case management must be provided by the agency. This expectation is the result of talking with many individuals, landlords and others who might donate property, and addresses their concerns regarding their investment in this component of the Housing Vision.
The key addition to our housing vision as presented in June 2007 is the need to add what we now call the “Housing Connector”. Someone must collect and manage the information about available units, the contact information for accessing the units, and the case manager who would be the liaison for the tenant and the landlord.
As a result of many public meetings to identify an agency who would take on this challenge, the Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority stepped up to the plate to propose that they would consider managing this data base.
The LDCHA Board of Directors reviewed the proposal to the CCH to be the “Housing Connector”. They approved the proposal, and while there are still some details to be worked through, the CCH is in 100% support of the proposal.
Being the “Housing Connector” means being the resource through which a homeless family or individual secures a temporary housing assignment. The Housing Connector is not another housing program. It is intended to register available units and to manage cash contributions from donors who want to assist in funding the cost of a unit, or other homeless needs pertaining to housing.
The community is responding to the Housing Vision since the City Commission adopted the vision last summer.
An example of an emergency temporary housing solution currently underway is the Family Promise Lawrence. This program from the faith based community will accommodate up to 4 families (14 persons maximum). Host congregations are coming together to provide safe shelter, food, transportation, training, counseling, medical care (through Heartland Medical Clinic) and other assistance necessary to move into transitional or permanent housing.
Transitional Housing
In January 2008, the CCH approved the essential components of a successful Transitional Housing program, and is part of the housing vision.
The Salvation Army has declared their intent to provide
Transitional Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing in the years ahead. While
we do not represent the Salvation Army, it is important to acknowledge their
desire to continue their mission in
The details of plans in these housing components are still to be finalized. But it is helpful to know that the Salvation Army is considering a program that provides up to 24 months of shelter in transitional housing.
Their work in Permanent Supportive Housing will serve homeless single adults with physical, mental or chemically related disabilities. The project offers a full range of support, including social services, education, employment services, and comprehensive case management.
Permanent Supportive Housing
In February 2008, the CCH approved the essential components of a successful Permanent Supportive Housing Program.
This piece of the housing vision is the most challenging and most costly. It is not without wide community discussion and effort to expand this important housing need. We look forward to expansion of Permanent Supportive Housing Units in the year ahead.
A project currently underway in the faith based community is
the Five Loaves House. Founded in 2008 by a ministry team of Grace Evangelical
Presbyterian Church, this program will provide permanent supportive housing for
two residents by mid-May. Professional service support comes from collaboration
with
The Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority is currently pursuing a grant to house up to an additional 25 homeless.
In closing:
The community has responded to the housing vision in many ways this past year. New programs such as the Home-Makers program and Family Promise are part of the vast interest and effort of the faith based community to help individuals and families until they can identify available emergency temporary, transitional or permanent housing. It has been very encouraging to see the public effort on behalf of the homeless.
The faith based community continues to put significant effort into helping one family/ one individual at a time; never giving up their commitment to do all they can to achieve their own mission of service.
In 2009, we are
asking the
1. Continue funding the Homeless Outreach
Team that began their work in 2006
2. Continue funding of needed bus passes
3. Consider support of the “Housing
Connector” which allows us to move forward
with a pilot project for Emergency Temporary Housing, with the help of the
4. Consider meeting with the
5. Expanding appointments to the CCH to
include the Director of the Re-entry Program
at the
6. Be actively involved in helping to
identify and support the efforts of the
Pilot Project Funding Request
Throughout the past 10 months we have communicated to the community that there is no new funding to address the homeless needs in this community. The support and interest in helping has been there nonetheless.
It was my understanding that the outside funding would be reviewed and some funding might possibly be reallocated to assist in achieving the Housing Vision adopted by the City Commission in June 2007.
While I have not been part of that funding review, I am hopeful that the City Commission can identify available funding within current resources to establish the “Housing Connector”. With this resource in place and some landlords and available units to provide Emergency Temporary Housing, we hope to pilot a project that could be a model for other such efforts going forward. There are a few landlords interested in helping, and we will continue to pursue more landlords and others interested in providing Emergency Temporary Housing units.
To proceed with a pilot project, a resource for accessing available units must be in place.
The cost of implementing and managing the Housing Connector is $55,000 per year. For your information we have included the proposal from the LDCHA regarding their plan for managing the housing database.
As always we welcome your questions regarding our report and the request for support of our pilot project.
Thank you for your sincere interest in the Housing Vision to serve the entire homeless population.
Shirley Martin-Smith
Chair
Community Commission on Homelessness