# SLIDE 1

# Characteristics and Service Needs of Families with Children Experiencing Homelessness

# 

SLIDE 2

### Overview

## What do we know about family homelessness? {#what-do-we-know-about-family-homelessness .bullet}

## What are the risk factors for family homelessness? {#what-are-the-risk-factors-for-family-homelessness .bullet}

## What do we know about interventions that work for homeless families? {#what-do-we-know-about-interventions-that-work-for-homeless-families .bullet}

# 

SLIDE 3

### How Many Families Are Homeless in the United States?

## Up to 800,000 people are homeless each week {#up-to-800000-people-are-homeless-each-week .bullet}

## 2-3 million people are homeless each year {#million-people-are-homeless-each-year .bullet}

## 11% are parents with children {#are-parents-with-children .bullet}

## 23% are children under 18 with a parent {#are-children-under-18-with-a-parent .bullet}

##  Together, parents and their children comprise 34% or more of the homeless population {#together-parents-and-their-children-comprise-34-or-more-of-the-homeless-population .bullet}

^1^Burt et al., 2001

# 

SLIDE 4

### What Do We Know About Family Homelessness?^\*^

## 50% are homeless for first time {#are-homeless-for-first-time .bullet}

## 25% are homeless more than a year {#are-homeless-more-than-a-year .bullet}

## Half in transitional housing  {#half-in-transitional-housing .bullet}

## 29% homeless for first time before age 18 {#homeless-for-first-time-before-age-18 .bullet}

## 25% experienced out-of-home placement before age 18 {#experienced-out-of-home-placement-before-age-18 .bullet}

## Family homelessness is expensive Average annual cost of shelter for a homeless family in NYC is \$25,000 per year (NYC Master Panel Report, 2003, p. 51) {#family-homelessness-is-expensive-average-annual-cost-of-shelter-for-a-homeless-family-in-nyc-is-25000-per-year-nyc-master-panel-report-2003-p.-51 .bullet}

## 32% of family requests for shelter went unmet in 2004 (U.S. Conf. of Mayors, 2004) {#of-family-requests-for-shelter-went-unmet-in-2004-u.s.-conf.-of-mayors-2004 .bullet}

\*Unless otherwise indicated data is from Burt et al., 2001. Based on
women with children.

## 

SLIDE 5

### What Do We Know About Homeless Families?

## 84% are single mothers {#are-single-mothers .bullet}

## Average age - late 20s {#average-age---late-20s .bullet}

## Average 2-3 children, most under age 6 {#average-2-3-children-most-under-age-6 .bullet}

## 66% are women of color (African American, 44%; Latina, 16%; Native American, 6%) {#are-women-of-color-african-american-44-latina-16-native-american-6 .bullet}

# 

SLIDE 6

### Health Care Needs^\*^

## 27% have no insurance; 67% have Medicaid {#have-no-insurance-67-have-medicaid .bullet}

## 27% needed, but not able to get medical treatment in past year {#needed-but-not-able-to-get-medical-treatment-in-past-year .bullet}

## 45% had one or more chronic health conditions {#had-one-or-more-chronic-health-conditions .bullet}

## In one study, 48% had at least one family member with a disability or chronic illness (Beyond Shelter, 2003) {#in-one-study-48-had-at-least-one-family-member-with-a-disability-or-chronic-illness-beyond-shelter-2003 .bullet}

\*Burt et al., 2001, unless otherwise noted. Based on women with
children.

# 

SLIDE 7

### Behavioral Health Needs^\*^

## 23% Problems with alcohol {#problems-with-alcohol .bullet}

## 27% Problems with drugs {#problems-with-drugs .bullet}

## 44% Mental health problems (primarily depression, anxiety, PTSD) {#mental-health-problems-primarily-depression-anxiety-ptsd .bullet}

## 58% One or more of the above {#one-or-more-of-the-above .bullet}

\*Burt et al., 2001. Based on women with children; self-report of
problems within past year.

### 

### SLIDE 8

### Experience of Violence^\*^

## 67% severe childhood physical abuse {#severe-childhood-physical-abuse .bullet}

## 43% childhood sexual abuse {#childhood-sexual-abuse .bullet}

## 63% severe violence by adult intimate partner(s) {#severe-violence-by-adult-intimate-partners .bullet}

## \*Bassuk et al., 1996. Based on women with children.

### 

SLIDE 9

### Needs of Children

## Homeless children go hungry at twice the rate of other children {#homeless-children-go-hungry-at-twice-the-rate-of-other-children .bullet}

## Nearly 25% have witnessed acts of violence in their families, usually against their mother {#nearly-25-have-witnessed-acts-of-violence-in-their-families-usually-against-their-mother .bullet}

## They experience physical and sexual abuse at 2-3 times the rate of other children {#they-experience-physical-and-sexual-abuse-at-2-3-times-the-rate-of-other-children .bullet}

## 22% of homeless children spend some time apart from their family in a typical year, with 12% placed in foster care {#of-homeless-children-spend-some-time-apart-from-their-family-in-a-typical-year-with-12-placed-in-foster-care .bullet}

# 

SLIDE 10

### Needs of Children

#### Educational and Learning Difficulties 

## At least one-fifth of children who are homeless do not attend school  {#at-least-one-fifth-of-children-who-are-homeless-do-not-attend-school .bullet}

## More than one-fourth have attended 3 or more schools in a year {#more-than-one-fourth-have-attended-3-or-more-schools-in-a-year .bullet}

## 18% of homeless children have developmental delays -- four times the rate for other children {#of-homeless-children-have-developmental-delays-four-times-the-rate-for-other-children .bullet}

## Children who are homeless are diagnosed with learning disabilities such as dyslexia or speech and language impediments twice as often as other children {#children-who-are-homeless-are-diagnosed-with-learning-disabilities-such-as-dyslexia-or-speech-and-language-impediments-twice-as-often-as-other-children .bullet}

## Children who are homeless are twice as likely to repeat a grade as other children {#children-who-are-homeless-are-twice-as-likely-to-repeat-a-grade-as-other-children .bullet}

# 

SLIDE 11

### Needs of Children

#### Emotional and Behavioral Problems

## 12% of preschoolers and 47% of school-age children who are homeless have anxiety, depression, withdrawal, and other clinical problems {#of-preschoolers-and-47-of-school-age-children-who-are-homeless-have-anxiety-depression-withdrawal-and-other-clinical-problems .bullet}

## 16% of preschoolers have behavior problems including severe aggression and hostility {#of-preschoolers-have-behavior-problems-including-severe-aggression-and-hostility .bullet}

## 36% of school-age children exhibit aggressive or delinquent behavior {#of-school-age-children-exhibit-aggressive-or-delinquent-behavior .bullet}

### 

SLIDE 12

### What are the Structural Risk Factors for Family Homelessness?

## Extreme poverty {#extreme-poverty .bullet}

## Availability and cost of housing {#availability-and-cost-of-housing .bullet}

## Race and ethnicity {#race-and-ethnicity .bullet}

### 

SLIDE 13

### Extreme Poverty^\*^

## \$437 per month \-- median income for homeless women with children; this is 43% of the federal poverty level if she has two children {#per-month----median-income-for-homeless-women-with-children-this-is-43-of-the-federal-poverty-level-if-she-has-two-children .bullet}

## Only 22% had a job lasting or expecting to last at least three months {#only-22-had-a-job-lasting-or-expecting-to-last-at-least-three-months .bullet}

## 46% of homeless women with children compared to 17% of low-income housed women had annual incomes below \$7,000 (Bassuk et al., 1996) {#of-homeless-women-with-children-compared-to-17-of-low-income-housed-women-had-annual-incomes-below-7000-bassuk-et-al.-1996 .bullet}

\* Extreme poverty is defined as 50% or less than federal poverty level
(ex. For a family of three, FPL is \$15,260; 50% is approx. \$7,630).
Unless otherwise indicated, bulleted statistics are from Burt et al.,
2001, p. 79.

## 

SLIDE 14

### Receipt of Benefits\*

### This slide includes a bar graph. 

### The Y axis runs from 0 to 60 percent.

The bars show: AFDC\*\* 58%; SSI 10%; SSDI 3%; GA 8%; VA less than 1%

### \*Burt et al., 2001, p. 79, for women with children. 

### \*\*AFDC in 1996; fewer expected today on TANF

### SLIDE 15

### Availability and Cost of Housing^\*^

## 1990's rent increases double the rate of inflation {#s-rent-increases-double-the-rate-of-inflation .bullet}

## 1 in 4 renter households reported by HUD as paying more than 50% of their income for rent {#in-4-renter-households-reported-by-hud-as-paying-more-than-50-of-their-income-for-rent .bullet}

## Waiting list for Section 8 now over 2 years {#waiting-list-for-section-8-now-over-2-years .bullet}

## A worker would need to earn \$15.37, or \$31,970 a year, to rent a 2-bedroom unit at no more than 30% of their income (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2004) {#a-worker-would-need-to-earn-15.37-or-31970-a-year-to-rent-a-2-bedroom-unit-at-no-more-than-30-of-their-income-national-low-income-housing-coalition-2004 .bullet}

\*(Unless otherwise noted, HUD, 1999, 2000)

### 

### SLIDE 16 Race and Ethnicity

## African American women at greatest risk for family homelessness {#african-american-women-at-greatest-risk-for-family-homelessness .bullet}

## Once homeless, African American and Latino families experience longer shelter stays than other families  {#once-homeless-african-american-and-latino-families-experience-longer-shelter-stays-than-other-families .bullet}

## Clear interaction with poverty and other factors {#clear-interaction-with-poverty-and-other-factors .bullet}

### 

SLIDE 17

### Individual Risk Factors for Family Homelessness^\*^

## Young head of household {#young-head-of-household .bullet}

## Pregnant or recent childbirth {#pregnant-or-recent-childbirth .bullet}

## History of domestic violence {#history-of-domestic-violence .bullet}

## Household with absent children or involvement with child welfare system {#household-with-absent-children-or-involvement-with-child-welfare-system .bullet}

## Non-leaseholder/Never having apartment in one's own name {#non-leaseholdernever-having-apartment-in-ones-own-name .bullet}

## Frequent moves (\> once a year) {#frequent-moves-once-a-year .bullet}

## Crowded living conditions (\>2 persons per bedroom) {#crowded-living-conditions-2-persons-per-bedroom .bullet}

\*Consistent across multiple studies, including Shinn et al., 1998;
Metraux & Culhane, 1999; Wong, Culhane & Kuhn, 1997; Bassuk et al.,
1996, 1997; NYC Master Panel, 2003. First four are also risk factors for
repeated and prolonged bouts of family homelessness (Metraux & Culhane,
1999).

# 

SLIDE 18

### Key Predictors of Residential Stability

## Having one's own apartment^1^ {#having-ones-own-apartment1 .bullet}

## Access to subsidized housing^1\ ^In one study (Shinn et al., 1998), residential stability was 20 times greater for those with rent subsidies than for those without  {#access-to-subsidized-housing1-in-one-study-shinn-et-al.-1998-residential-stability-was-20-times-greater-for-those-with-rent-subsidies-than-for-those-without .bullet}

## Receipt of subsidized housing dependent upon:^2\ ^Being in shelter that provided housing-related services Staying in shelter long enough to come to top of waiting list {#receipt-of-subsidized-housing-dependent-upon2-being-in-shelter-that-provided-housing-related-services-staying-in-shelter-long-enough-to-come-to-top-of-waiting-list .bullet}

## Findings raise questions about need for transitional housing {#findings-raise-questions-about-need-for-transitional-housing .bullet}

## ^1^Shinn et al., 1998; Rog et al., 1995; Metraux & Culhane, 1999; Bassuk et al., 1997.

## ^2^Shinn et al., 1998

# 

SLIDE 19

### Evidence-based and Promising Practices

## Evidence-based practices {#evidence-based-practices .bullet}

## Housing subsidies {#housing-subsidies .bullet}

## Increasing the supply of permanent affordable housing {#increasing-the-supply-of-permanent-affordable-housing .bullet}

## Promising practices {#promising-practices .bullet}

## Rapid Re-housing and Housing First approaches {#rapid-re-housing-and-housing-first-approaches .bullet}

## Transition-in-Place housing {#transition-in-place-housing .bullet}

## Prevention strategies {#prevention-strategies .bullet}

# 

SLIDE 20

### Housing Subsidies... Examples

## Section 8 (improving access, setting priorities, increasing retention/use of vouchers/certificates) {#section-8-improving-access-setting-priorities-increasing-retentionuse-of-voucherscertificates .bullet}

## Family Unification Program -- HUD-funded partnerships between public housing authorities and public child welfare agencies provides housing vouchers and support services to families in the child welfare system {#family-unification-program-hud-funded-partnerships-between-public-housing-authorities-and-public-child-welfare-agencies-provides-housing-vouchers-and-support-services-to-families-in-the-child-welfare-system .bullet}

## TANF Block Grant funds can be used to provide emergency assistance, including a short-term housing subsidy and/or transitional case management services, to eligible families for up to 4 months (ex. Columbus, Ohio; Minnesota; Illinois; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). {#tanf-block-grant-funds-can-be-used-to-provide-emergency-assistance-including-a-short-term-housing-subsidy-andor-transitional-case-management-services-to-eligible-families-for-up-to-4-months-ex.-columbus-ohio-minnesota-illinois-philadelphia-pennsylvania. .bullet}

## State-funded bridge subsidies  {#state-funded-bridge-subsidies .bullet}

## Work with landlords to increase willingness to rent to people using subsidies {#work-with-landlords-to-increase-willingness-to-rent-to-people-using-subsidies .bullet}

## Work with public housing agencies to overcome barriers to housing for vulnerable families {#work-with-public-housing-agencies-to-overcome-barriers-to-housing-for-vulnerable-families .bullet}

### 

SLIDE 21

### Increasing Permanent Affordable Housing... Examples

## CO Division of Housing set aside \$2 million in CDBG to develop scattered site transitional housing for families - permanent housing made available through Section 8 Homeownership Program. {#co-division-of-housing-set-aside-2-million-in-cdbg-to-develop-scattered-site-transitional-housing-for-families---permanent-housing-made-available-through-section-8-homeownership-program. .bullet}

## WA's Seattle Housing Authority partners with non-profit agencies to provide Section 8 vouchers to homeless families in exchange for services to help families find and maintain housing.  {#was-seattle-housing-authority-partners-with-non-profit-agencies-to-provide-section-8-vouchers-to-homeless-families-in-exchange-for-services-to-help-families-find-and-maintain-housing. .bullet}

## Illinois Department of Health and Human Services became authorized as a public housing authority so they could direct Section 8 vouchers to TANF families statewide. {#illinois-department-of-health-and-human-services-became-authorized-as-a-public-housing-authority-so-they-could-direct-section-8-vouchers-to-tanf-families-statewide. .bullet}

## Kentucky reprogrammed HOME funds for tenant-based rental assistance and are using Housing Trust Fund dollars to provide the supportive services. {#kentucky-reprogrammed-home-funds-for-tenant-based-rental-assistance-and-are-using-housing-trust-fund-dollars-to-provide-the-supportive-services. .bullet}

### 

SLIDE 22

### Rapid Re-Housing/Housing First

## Alternative to current system of emergency shelter/transitional housing which tends to prolong the length of time that families remain homeless {#alternative-to-current-system-of-emergency-sheltertransitional-housing-which-tends-to-prolong-the-length-of-time-that-families-remain-homeless .bullet}

## Premise \-- vulnerable and at-risk homeless families are more responsive to interventions and support after they are in their own housing {#premise----vulnerable-and-at-risk-homeless-families-are-more-responsive-to-interventions-and-support-after-they-are-in-their-own-housing .bullet}

## Programs facilitate move into permanent housing and connection to mainstream services to help prevent them from entering or help them rapidly exit the homeless service system {#programs-facilitate-move-into-permanent-housing-and-connection-to-mainstream-services-to-help-prevent-them-from-entering-or-help-them-rapidly-exit-the-homeless-service-system .bullet}

### 

SLIDE 23

### Rapid Re-Housing/Housing First Programs...

## Conduct in-depth screening, assessment and planning to build on strengths and address family needs {#conduct-in-depth-screening-assessment-and-planning-to-build-on-strengths-and-address-family-needs .bullet}

## Provide housing-related services: {#provide-housing-related-services .bullet}

## Helping families overcome barriers to permanent housing, including obtaining rental subsidies, addressing poor credit, prior eviction issues, etc. {#helping-families-overcome-barriers-to-permanent-housing-including-obtaining-rental-subsidies-addressing-poor-credit-prior-eviction-issues-etc. .bullet}

## Direct marketing to property owners (including public housing agencies) to help increase housing options for families {#direct-marketing-to-property-owners-including-public-housing-agencies-to-help-increase-housing-options-for-families .bullet}

## Provide home-based case management for 3-12 months *after the move to permanent housing* to help families improve coping and household management skills and linkage to local services and resources {#provide-home-based-case-management-for-3-12-months-after-the-move-to-permanent-housing-to-help-families-improve-coping-and-household-management-skills-and-linkage-to-local-services-and-resources .bullet}

SLIDE 24

Rapid Re-Housing/ Housing First... Examples

## Beyond Shelter, Los Angeles, CA - Families w/children referred from emergency shelter/transitional housing, usually housed within 3 months (targeted Section 8), short-term transitional case management provided {#beyond-shelter-los-angeles-ca---families-wchildren-referred-from-emergency-sheltertransitional-housing-usually-housed-within-3-months-targeted-section-8-short-term-transitional-case-management-provided .bullet}

## Rapid Exit Program, Hennepin Co., MN -- Families & individuals in shelter, Rapid Exit Coordinator assesses housing barriers, refers for assistance to overcome barriers & secure housing {#rapid-exit-program-hennepin-co.-mn-families-individuals-in-shelter-rapid-exit-coordinator-assesses-housing-barriers-refers-for-assistance-to-overcome-barriers-secure-housing .bullet}

## Getting Housed, Staying Housed, Chicago, IL - System-wide shift in the city\'s shelter strategy away from tiered system to Interim Housing and Housing First - short-term housing while accessing permanent housing, services focused on immediate needs, resource acquisition (i.e., public benefits), and housing placement. {#getting-housed-staying-housed-chicago-il---system-wide-shift-in-the-citys-shelter-strategy-away-from-tiered-system-to-interim-housing-and-housing-first---short-term-housing-while-accessing-permanent-housing-services-focused-on-immediate-needs-resource-acquisition-i.e.-public-benefits-and-housing-placement. .bullet}

## 

SLIDE 25

### Transition-in-Place Housing... Examples

## Massachusetts Dept. of Transitional Assistance (DTA) - Shifted response to family homelessness, investment from cost savings included 100 new transition-in-place housing units -- immediate move into public housing unit, eligible to remain in housing permanently after 6 months of successful residency. {#massachusetts-dept.-of-transitional-assistance-dta---shifted-response-to-family-homelessness-investment-from-cost-savings-included-100-new-transition-in-place-housing-units-immediate-move-into-public-housing-unit-eligible-to-remain-in-housing-permanently-after-6-months-of-successful-residency. .bullet}

## Sound Families Initiative, Washington State - Goal of creating 1,500 units of housing for homeless families in 3 counties - families eligible for Section 8 voucher from local PHA and can stay in unit when they "graduate" from the need for services, provider can then shift services to another family.  {#sound-families-initiative-washington-state---goal-of-creating-1500-units-of-housing-for-homeless-families-in-3-counties---families-eligible-for-section-8-voucher-from-local-pha-and-can-stay-in-unit-when-they-graduate-from-the-need-for-services-provider-can-then-shift-services-to-another-family. .bullet}

### SLIDE 26

### Prevention Strategies...Examples 

#### TANF agencies/administrators can...

## Assess the housing needs and resources of TANF recipients and leavers {#assess-the-housing-needs-and-resources-of-tanf-recipients-and-leavers .bullet}

## Implement models to minimize sanctions and maximize program compliance for families that are at high-risk for homelessness {#implement-models-to-minimize-sanctions-and-maximize-program-compliance-for-families-that-are-at-high-risk-for-homelessness .bullet}

## Partner with local public housing authorities and private landlords to help maximize affordable housing for families {#partner-with-local-public-housing-authorities-and-private-landlords-to-help-maximize-affordable-housing-for-families .bullet}

## Develop case management expertise in prevention activities such as landlord mediation and facilitating access to prevention resources including financial assistance {#develop-case-management-expertise-in-prevention-activities-such-as-landlord-mediation-and-facilitating-access-to-prevention-resources-including-financial-assistance .bullet}

## 

### SLIDE 27

### Prevention Strategies...Examples

#### Targeting youth in transition:

## Family Unification Program (FUP) Vouchers - Section 8 vouchers to families involved in the child welfare system through local partnerships between PHAs and child welfare agencies; can be used for youth aging out of foster care (Colorado, Philadelphia) {#family-unification-program-fup-vouchers---section-8-vouchers-to-families-involved-in-the-child-welfare-system-through-local-partnerships-between-phas-and-child-welfare-agencies-can-be-used-for-youth-aging-out-of-foster-care-colorado-philadelphia .bullet}

## Collaboration among state agencies to target \$30 million for housing at risk youth including those aging out of foster care (New Jersey) {#collaboration-among-state-agencies-to-target-30-million-for-housing-at-risk-youth-including-those-aging-out-of-foster-care-new-jersey .bullet}

## Pilot effort to use TANF dollars to assist families and youth aging out of foster care (Florida) {#pilot-effort-to-use-tanf-dollars-to-assist-families-and-youth-aging-out-of-foster-care-florida .bullet}

### 

### SLIDE 28

### Other Support Needs

## Access to entitlements (TANF, Medicaid, SSI, etc.) {#access-to-entitlements-tanf-medicaid-ssi-etc. .bullet}

## Food assistance {#food-assistance .bullet}

## Case management {#case-management .bullet}

## Health/behavioral health care for parents and children {#healthbehavioral-health-care-for-parents-and-children .bullet}

## Trauma informed and trauma sensitive services {#trauma-informed-and-trauma-sensitive-services .bullet}

## Education, job training and placement {#education-job-training-and-placement .bullet}

## Transportation {#transportation .bullet}

## Childcare and other parenting supports {#childcare-and-other-parenting-supports .bullet}

## Legal assistance {#legal-assistance .bullet}

## Family reunification {#family-reunification .bullet}

## Comprehensive services to children {#comprehensive-services-to-children .bullet}

## Informal supports {#informal-supports .bullet}

## 

### SLIDE 29

### Mainstream Federal Programs

## Income/Employment {#incomeemployment .bullet}

## Department of Labor programs {#department-of-labor-programs .bullet}

## SSI/SSDI {#ssissdi .bullet}

## TANF {#tanf .bullet}

## Food Stamps/WIC {#food-stampswic .bullet}

## Housing {#housing .bullet}

## Section 8 {#section-8-1 .bullet}

## HOME {#home .bullet}

## HOPWA {#hopwa .bullet}

## Community Development Block Grant  {#community-development-block-grant .bullet}

## Section 811 {#section-811 .bullet}

## Services {#services .bullet}

## Medicaid {#medicaid .bullet}

## Mental Health Block Grant {#mental-health-block-grant .bullet}

## Substance Abuse Block Grant {#substance-abuse-block-grant .bullet}

## Community Health Centers {#community-health-centers .bullet}

## Community Services Block Grant {#community-services-block-grant .bullet}

## Social Services Block Grant {#social-services-block-grant .bullet}

## TANF {#tanf-1 .bullet}

## Head Start {#head-start .bullet}

## Veterans Programs {#veterans-programs .bullet}

## SLIDE 30

#### Creating A Comprehensive Service System for Homelessness

## Support concept of "No Wrong Door" to services {#support-concept-of-no-wrong-door-to-services .bullet}

## Provide services determined by evidence to be effective {#provide-services-determined-by-evidence-to-be-effective .bullet}

## Change ineffective policies or regulations {#change-ineffective-policies-or-regulations .bullet}

## Leverage existing resources {#leverage-existing-resources .bullet}

## Use mainstream resources {#use-mainstream-resources .bullet}

## Pursue new resources {#pursue-new-resources .bullet}

### 

SLIDE 31

#### Steps to Achieving a Comprehensive Service System

## Involve key stakeholders {#involve-key-stakeholders .bullet}

## Establish a formal plan {#establish-a-formal-plan .bullet}

## Build linkages and partnerships from top-down and bottom-up {#build-linkages-and-partnerships-from-top-down-and-bottom-up .bullet}

## Enhance funding and other resources {#enhance-funding-and-other-resources .bullet}

## Streamline the administration of funding {#streamline-the-administration-of-funding .bullet}

## Perform ongoing monitoring and quality assurance {#perform-ongoing-monitoring-and-quality-assurance .bullet}