# Presentation: 283518

## Discharge in Kansas

- Cathy Hausheer, Re-entry Housing Specialist

## Reentry in Kansas

- Shawnee County Re-entry Program (SCRP)
- 1st program
- Originally funded by SVORI
- Program 3 years old
- Now funded by State General Funds & some SVORI money
- Works with 150 of highest-risk offenders
- Recidivism rate under 20% for this group
- Program has:
- Case Managers
- Housing Specialist
- Teaches classes in facility on how to be good tenant
- Works one-on-one with inmate to locate housing
- Cognitive Specialist
- Teaches cognitive skills in facilities
- Police Officer

## Statewide Reentry Housing Specialist

- Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) met Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Re-entry Director through Interagency Council on Homelessness
- Reentry Director went to Secretary of Corrections with idea of adding Housing Specialist at KHRC
- Secretary of Corrections went to President of KDFA/KHRC with idea
- KDOC & KHRC entered into MOU in November of 2005 for this position
- KDOC pays salary & benefits with State General Funds
- KHRC pays travel & office expenses with CSBG admin fees
- Duties:
- Design & implement training program for inmates on how to be good tenant
- Class taught to corrections staff, who in return deliver it to inmates
- Certificate of completion issued by KHRC if inmate completes pretest, posttest, & survey
- RHS issues another survey to offenders 6 months after release to check on housing status
- Work with landlords & developers to find or develop housing
- Educating landlords/management & PHAs on regulations & housing offenders
- Designed brochure for housing providers
- Created Rental Reference Form for KDOC to give housing providers
- Attends Mental Health Housing Specialist meetings quarterly

## Sedgwick County Reentry Program (SgCRP)

- Started January 2006
- Funded two-thirds by State General Fund & one-third by county
- Program added Business & Job Developer
- This position is working on building relationships with employers
- Designed brochure for employers
- Housing Specialist
- Located at Wichita Housing Authority

## Partnerships

- Two employees working with SRS under MOU with KDOC
- Forensic Director
- Funded by State
- Liaison between KDOC & Community Treatment Resources
- Mental Health & Substance Abuse Specialist
- Funded 1st year by Private Foundation Funds & will be funded by State in years to come
- Works with offenders on obtaining treatment needed after release
- Two partnerships with Law Enforcement Agencies
- One Police Officer in Wichita PD
- One Police Officer in Topeka PD
- Funded through County Re-entry Programs
- Duties:
- Officer goes into facility to talk with Offender about expectations
- Works on resolving any detainers offender might have once they are out
- Liaison between Community & KDOC
- Checks out housing plan for criminal activity in area

## Reentry Housing Policy Council

- Formed from 3Rs committee
- Kansas Criminal Justice Recodification, Rehabilitation & Restoration Project
- Formed by Legislature to address growing problems within Kansas criminal justice system regarding offenders
- Members are:
- Secretary of KDOC
- President of KDFA/KHRC
- Kansas Parole Board
- Vice Chair of Legislative 3Rs committee
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of SRS
- Secretary of KS Department of Health & Environment

## City of Wichita – Transforming Neighborhoods Project

- Highest number of offenders release to Sedgwick County
- Reentry Director got funding from CSG & State for Self-Help Network to draw up plan for Wichita area
- This plan would revitalize neighborhoods where large numbers of offenders return
- Which includes:
- Physical rebuilding – to remove boarded up homes & vacant lots
- Establish multi-income residents
- Attract retailers & develop entrepreneurial spirit to develop jobs
- Use corrections resources, including inmate labor
- Address needs for neighborhood schools
- Council of State Governments (CSG) came in to give advice on plan including bringing in national experts to learn how to blend funding

## In Progress for KDOC	

- Currently working on adding another re-entry program in Wyandotte
- Working on relocating SCRP Housing Specialist at KHRC, so they can cover Shawnee & Wyandotte
- Use State & private foundation dollars to provide vouchers for everything from housing to bus/travel
- KDOC discussing using funds allocated for community housing to leverage Tax Credits & HOME dollars for increase housing stock in FY 2008
- Working on getting funding for KDOC Liaisons in all major CMHCs
- Already have one in place with private funding resources
- LISC – Housing for a Second Chance training schedule to start in October 2006
- Training brings together housing providers, corrections, & law enforcement to discuss safe reintegration

## CMHC Housing Specialist

- Housing & Homelessness Subcommittee made recommendation to Governors' Mental Health Planning Council that all CMHCs have Housing Specialist
- Housing Specialist is now written into SRS contract
- No dedicated funding stream
- Duties:
- Assist with local or regional Continuum of Care (CoC) efforts to gain homeless assistance funds from HUD
- Coordinate/gather data from consumers/agency & other partners for local or statewide CoC
- Assist in application process for funds that CMHC might apply
- Act as liaison with local Housing Authority & CMHC
- Outreach to strengthen or establish relationships with developers, landlords, property managers & owners
- Conduct “Tenant Rights & Responsibilities” or other housing training to support housing goals
- Be champion for supportive housing for people experiencing mental illness in community & within agency
- Be member of local/regional homeless &/or housing task forces or coalitions
- Assist consumers/case managers, State Hospitals Liaisons & NFMH Liaisons as they search for housing or maintain housing if consumer is at risk of becoming homeless
- Act at liaison between CMHC & any other housing programs
- Monitor various media resources to collect, organize & disseminate information about community resources, housing options, emergency assistance & entitlement programs to consumers & staff
- Seek & apply for local, State, & Federal funds to secure rental assistance subsidies &/or create affordable housing stock to decrease rent burden for CMHC consumers
- Attend quarterly statewide Homeless & Housing Specialist meetings/training sponsored by SRS-MH Central Office or Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition

## Funding Streams for Housing Mentally Ill

- Currently nine transitional housing projects funded by SRS
- Stay up to 6 months
- Goal is to get permanent housing before 6 months are up
- SRS-MH has $600,000 in State general funds that are used to assist individuals with SPMI or young adults with Serious Emotional Disturbance obtain or maintain housing in least restrictive environment

## Rural vs. Urban

- Limited homeless services are available in rural areas
- Limited social services available in rural areas
- Lack of affordable housing in rural areas
- Lack of jobs in rural areas
- Lack of public transportation in rural areas