[Slide 1]{.underline}

**Improving Access to Mainstream Services for Families with Children
Experiencing Homelessness**

John A Wagner, Commissioner

Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, Welfare

PA9 on Family Homelessness, Anaheim, California

Creative Uses of Tanf

November 2^nd^, 2005

[Slide 2]{.underline}

**Background**

Massachusetts historically generous

> Emergency assistance, EA, equals family shelters, 73 million dollars
>
> Individual shelters, 35 million dollars

Since mid 1990s, increasing demand for shelter

> Significant growth in caseload
>
> Significant growth in expenditures

Tough housing market

> Massachusetts one of least affordable States for housing
>
> 2002 freeze in Section 8's

[Slide 3]{.underline}

**Caseload slash Spending Growth, SFY 1999 to 2003**

On the left bar graph, the x-axis represents fiscal years and the y-axis
shows numbers of shelters and hotels. Shelters numbered 848 in fiscal
year 1999, 885 in 2000, 934 in 2001, 1,009 in 2002, and 1,029 in 2003.
Hotels numbered 0 in fiscal year 1999, 17 in 2000, 89 in 2001, 296 in
2002, and 521 in 2003.

On the right bar graph, the x-axis represents fiscal years and the
y-axis shows millions of dollars. The spending was 36.8 million dollars
in fiscal year 1999, 39.3 million in 2000, 47.5 million in 2001, 61.9
million in 2002, and 72 million in 2003.

[Slide 4]{.underline}

**Reform, Three Levels: Front Door, System, Back Door**

Implementation plus training on self-sufficiency plans, SSP's

Assessment center pilot

> Not shelter
>
> Purchased outside clinical slash case management

Intensive case managements, ICM's; State staff

Pilots for those with behavioral slash mental health needs

[Slide 5]{.underline}

**Reform, continued, Three Levels: Front Door, System, Back Door**

Shelter to Housing, S2H, incentive payments

> Voluntary, for those with work history
>
> One-time 6,000 dollar payment to HAP vendor
>
> 207, all in private apartments in month 10

Local housing authority, LHA, pilots

> SYF 2004: 10 units; FY 2005: 100 units
>
> FY 2006, EA quote, toolbox, unquote

[Slide 6]{.underline}

**Services to Homeless Families**

At the far left is an arrow labeled Eligibility Determination and
Assessment Process. It points rightward to a pie graph titled Homeless
Families Receiving Emergency Shelter. The graph indicates 28 percent
Non-Tanf Recipient Families and 72 percent Tanf Recipient Families. To
the right of the graph is a box containing the following lists:

> Resources and Supports Available
>
> 1: Emergency shelter
>
> 2: Intensive case management services
>
> 3: Housing search and placement
>
> 4: Primary health care
>
> 5: Other medical assistance: substance abuse, psychological services,
> et cetera
>
> 6: Education and training
>
> 7: Job search and placement
>
> 8: Transportation
>
> 9: Housing subsidies: Section 8, public housing
>
> 10: Housing and employment stabilization services
>
> Funding Sources
>
> 1: Tanf slash MOE: EA, cash, child care, transportation
>
> 2: Food Stamps, E and T
>
> 3: Medicaid
>
> 4: State-funded programs: general assistance, public housing
>
> 5: Federal housing: HUD, Section 8
>
> 6: SSA slash SSI

To the right of the box is a rightward arrow labeled Path to
Independence. At the lower right corner is a box with the following
information:

> EA: 70 Million-dollar Funding
>
> 1\. HAP: 77 percent Tanf, 23 percent State slash MOE
>
> 2\. Shelter Services: 97 percent MOE, 3 percent State

[Slide 7]{.underline}

**Impacts**

Daily census down dramatically, from about 1600 per night to 1200 per
night

Lengths of stay fairly constant, about 6 to 7 months on average

All families have SSP's, ICM's used in addition to shelter staff to
quote circuit ride unquote system

FY 2006 Legislative changes

> Eligibility from 100 percent FPL to 130 percent FPL
>
> Presumptive eligibility for 30 days
>
> Six-month extensions for those, quote, over income, unquote

[Slide 8]{.underline}

**Lessons**

Control of front door important

Significant resources within system or systems, access often an issue

Case management is key

Better services for those truly in need

Better monitoring once in system

Internal slash external, quote, innovators, unquote, are essential

Don't underestimate, quote, industry, unquote, and competing goals