# Presentation: 549409

## THE 10-YEAR PLANNING PROCESS TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS IN YOUR COMMUNITY 

- A Step-by-Step Guide

**United States Interagency Council on Homelessness**
- 451 7th St. SW, Suite 2200  Washington, D.C. 20410Phone (202) 708-4663  www.ich.gov  Fax (202) 708-1216

## SUPPORT FOR 10-YEAR PLANS

- – *Resolution passed unanimously by the ****U.S. Conference of Mayors****, June 2003*

- “We have to do more than just manage homelessness. Our objective [is] to prevent homelessness, and ultimately end it. [That is the] intent of this plan.”
- – ***Mayor Richard Daley****, on Chicago’s 10-Year Plan  *

- “Five years ago the notion of cities having 10-year plans to end homelessness was naïve and risky. No one thought it was possible. But the new research and new technologies have created such movement and innovation on this issue that it may now be naïve and risky _not_ to have such a plan.”
- – ***Executive Director Philip Mangano****, US Interagency Council on Homelessness*

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**SUPPORT FOR 10-YEAR PLANS**

- “NACo endorses the Bush Administration’s national goal of ending chronic homelessness in ten years...NACo encourages counties to develop 10 Year Plans incorporating the latest research...to prevent and end chronic homelessness.”
- – *Resolution adopted by the ****National Association of Counties****, July 15, 2003*.

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- The Council’s work with federal departments and agencies promises new collaborative approaches and new funding opportunities at the national level. Our encouragement of Governors to create state interagency councils on homelessness will create new state level opportunities.
- Most importantly, the new research and new technologies offer performance based, results oriented strategies to reduce and end homelessness. We have prioritized people on the streets and in long term stays in shelters, those experiencing “chronic homelessness.” They are the most vulnerable, costly and visible.
- This document is designed to guide your community through the steps of developing and implementing           a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness.
- We are indebted to the U.S. Conference of Mayors for their assistance in creating this document, to the National Alliance to End Homelessness for their innovative work in developing the 10-year planning template, and to HUD Secretary Mel Martinez and his staff for their support in endorsing and promoting 10-year plans.
- Homelessness is a national problem with local solutions. Working together, we can end this national disgrace.
- All the best,
- Philip F. Mangano
- Executive Director
- U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

## TABLE OF CONTENTS

- What Is Chronic Homelessness?
- What Are Characteristics of Individuals Experiencing Chronic Homelessness?
- Why Focus on Chronic Homelessness?
- Why Focus on Chronic Homelessness Now?
- How Can You End Chronic Homelessness In Your Community?
- What Are the Elements of a Successful 10-Year Plan?
- What Results Can Your Community Expect?
- Where Can You Find Additional 10-Year Planning Resources?

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## WHAT IS CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS? 

- The most visible form of homelessness; often people on the streets of our neighborhoods and communities
- Experienced by 150,000 Americans each year
- A subgroup that constitutes 10% of the homeless population
- A condition found in counties, cities, suburbs, and rural areas

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## WHAT ARE CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS? 

- Unaccompanied individuals
- Homeless for a year or more or multiple times over a several year period
- Disabled by addiction, mental illness, chronic physical illness or disability, or developmental disability
- Frequent histories of hospitalization, unstable employment, and incarceration
- Average age in the early 40s

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## WHY FOCUS ON CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS? 

**Chronic  Homelessness**

- This group consumes a disproportionate amount of costly resources*

- Chronic homelessness  has a visible impact on your community’s safety and attractiveness

- This group is in great need of assistance and special services

- It is a finite problem that can be solved

- Addressing this group will free up resources for other homeless groups, including youth / families

- * Described in more detail on following page

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- Effective new technologies exist to engage and house this population

## INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS CONSUME A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES

- Chronically homeless

- Other homeless subpopulations

*10% of the homeless population consumes over 50% of the resources*

- Emergency medical services
- Psychiatric treatment
- Detox facilities
- Shelters
- Law Enforcement / Corrections

- Individuals experiencing chronic homelessness are heavy users of costly public resources, including :

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- Burt, Martha R., Laudan Y. Aron and Edgar Lee.  2001.  Helping America's Homeless: Emergency Shelter or Affordable Housing?  Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press. Kuhn, R. & Culhane, D.P. (1998).  Applying cluster analysis to test of a typology of homelessness:  Results from the analysis of administrative data.  The American Journal of Community Psychology, 17 (1), 23-43. Community Shelter Board.  Rebuilding Lives:  A New Strategy to House Homeless Men.  Columbus, OH:   Emergency Food and Shelter Board.

## WHY FOCUS ON CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS NOW?

- New technologies exist to move people off the streets and keep them housed (e.g. Housing First Strategies, Assertive Community Treatment)

- A new spirit of partnership on this issue that trumps partisanship

- New federal funding

- A new commitment by the President and his Administration to end chronic homelessness

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- Solution-oriented strategies offer alternative to expensive police/court interventions

## HOW CAN YOU END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS IN YOUR COMMUNITY? 

- Step 1: 	Commit to Developing a 10-Year Plan
- Step 2: 	Identify Stakeholders
- Step 3: 	Convene a Working Group
- Step 4: 	Gather Research and Data on Homelessness
- Step 5: 	Define Your Community’s Homeless Problem
- Step 6: 	Develop Strategies to Address these Problems
- Step 7: 	Solicit Stakeholder Feedback and Finalize Strategic 	Plan
- Step 8: 	Create an Action Plan to Implement Strategies
- Step 9: 	Announce and Publicize the Plan
- Step 10: Implement the Plan

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## STEP 1: COMMIT TO DEVELOPING A 10-YEAR PLAN

- A strong commitment from the mayor or county executive is critical, although many parties can initiate the process

- The 10-Year Planning Process Requires:
- Long-term commitment from the first planning steps to full implementation
- Staff time and energy
- Willingness to engage diverse stakeholders and forge new partnerships
- Ability to think creatively about old problems and existing resources

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## STEP 2: IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDERS

**Agency / **
**Department Heads**

**Housing Developers & Service Providers**

**Business & Civic Leaders**

**Mayor/**
**County Executive**

**Non-profits / foundations**

- The most successful efforts have broad support and participation from the public, private, and non-profit sectors

**Individuals experiencing Chronic Homelessness **

**Faith-based Organizations**

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**Law Enforcement                       Officials  **

## STEP 3: CONVENE A WORKING GROUP

- The working group coordinates the planning process and should include representation from different stakeholders

- The working group should create forums to facilitate broader community input and participation throughout the process
- Individuals chosen for the working group should:
- Have authority to make funding and resource decisions
- Have relevant expertise or experience
- Be committed to the planning process
- Be well respected by stakeholders and the larger community
- Chair and co-chair should report directly and  regularly to Mayor or County Executive

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## STEP 4: GATHER RESEARCH AND DATA ON HOMELESSNESS

- Accurate, timely data and research will create a solid foundation for your community’s plan

- Existing research on homelessness (local/national)
- Local homeless counts
- Service and housing capacity
- 10-Year Plans from other communities
- Availability of funding resources

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## STEP 5: DEFINE YOUR COMMUNITY’S HOMELESS PROBLEM 

- Identify and assess the root causes of chronic homelessness in your community

- Difficulties in engaging this population
- Inadequate service capacity
- Lack of appropriate supported, permanent housing
- Poor discharge planning from public systems
- Inaccessibility of mainstream resources
- Fragmented systems of care
- Historical leadership vacuum on issue
- Investment in stop-gap measures rather than permanent solutions

- Problems identified by other communities include:

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## STEP 6: DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS

**PREVENTION**
**“****Close the Front Door”**

*Reduce the number of people who become chronically homeless *

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**INTERVENTION**
**“****Open the Back Door”**

*Increase placement into supported housing of people who are currently experiencing homelessness*

- Strategies to end chronic homelessness fall into two major categories: Prevention and Intervention

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## STEP 6: DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS (continued)

**PREVENTION**
**“****Close the Front Door”**

**INTERVENTION**
**“****Open the Back Door”**

- Effective strategies used by other communities can help guide and inform your community’s approach

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- Centralization of funding and service delivery to increase coordination 		           *[C**ommunity Shelter Board, Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio]*
- Dedicated resources to house individuals discharged from psychiatric care institutions      *[**Special Initiative to House the Homeless Mentally Ill, State of Massachusetts]*
- Discharge planning protocols that prevent homelessness

- Assertive Community Treatment (ACT): multi-disciplinary, clinically-based teams that engage people experiencing chronic homelessness on the streets and in shelters
- Permanent supported housing with low threshold access for homeless mentally ill people                 [*Pathways to Housing, New York City]*
- Direct access to permanent supported housing for frequent users of acute health systems           *[D**irect Access to Housing, San Francisco]*

## STEP 7: SOLICIT STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK AND FINALIZE STRATEGIC PLAN

**DRAFT**
**PLAN**

- Input from stakeholders is particularly critical at this point to ensure support for and consensus on the final plan

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## STEP 8: CREATE AN ACTION PLAN TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES 

- Translate high-level strategies and goals into concrete, actionable steps to achieve them

- The Action Plan Should Include:

- Specific activities and the person(s) responsible for executing them
- Costs and funding sources
- Timelines
- Performance metrics

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## STEP 9: ANNOUNCE AND PUBLICIZE THE PLAN

- Plans should be publicly endorsed and announced by the Mayor / County Executive to ensure maximum visibility

- Host a special press conference where Mayor/County Executive announces     10-year plan
- Leverage print, TV, and radio media to maximize press coverage
- Encourage participating stakeholders and organizations to actively promote plan
- Enlist the support of community leaders and local celebrities to spread the word

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## STEP 10: IMPLEMENT THE PLAN 

- The final step is to execute the identified strategies and action steps to begin ending chronic homelessness in your community

- Use the plan to guide your activities, but recognize that it is a living document and should be updated as situations change
- Regularly track your community’s progress using the identified metrics
- Continue to innovate and stay informed of activities in other communities
- Encourage ongoing stakeholder and community input
- Continue to build new partnerships

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## WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL 10-YEAR PLAN?

- Collaborative Planning Process
- Research and Data-Driven Approach
- Performance and Outcome Orientation
- Innovation and Creativity
- Endorsement by Top City / County Officials
- Involvement of Stakeholders In Resource Enhancement
- Planful Implementation Strategy

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## WHAT RESULTS CAN YOUR COMMUNITY EXPECT?

- Significant savings from reduced use of public services
- A recent city study demonstrated $16,282 savings in emergency service costs _per person_ placed in supported housing
- Cleaner, safer streets
- Supported housing retention rates of 80% or greater
- More resources to address other homeless subpopulations, including youth and families
- Inspiration and energy from working together to help your neediest neighbors

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## WHERE CAN YOU FIND ADDITIONAL 10-YEAR PLANNING RESOURCES?

**United States Interagency Council on Homelessness**
- Regional Coordinators have specific local expertise and are based in ten regions nationwide (see map on next page)
- Website (**www.ich.gov**) has links to 10-year plans and information  on interagency and agency-specific activities and funding opportunities
**National Alliance to End Homelessness**
- Website (www.endhomelessness.org)
- “Ten Essentials Toolkit” – comprehensive set of resources to help communities prevent and end homelessness
**United Way **(http://national.unitedway.org/)
**Other Cities and Counties with 10-Year Plans**
- Lists and plans on Council’s website (www.ich.gov)
**Foundations and Non-Profits**

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## The federal United States Interagency Council on Homelessness                develops and implements comprehensive national strategies to end homelessness through interagency, intergovernmental, and intercommunity collaborations. 

- The federal United States Interagency Council on Homelessness                develops and implements comprehensive national strategies to end homelessness through interagency, intergovernmental, and intercommunity collaborations.