2.1 A Blueprint for Ending Family Homelessness Speaker: Michelle Flynn The recent recession and continued economic downturn have negatively impacted families more than any other homeless population. This workshop will explore local program innovations and discuss what systems changes and other efforts are needed to stem the rising tide of family homelessness. Presenters will offer a big-picture look at family homelessness across the nation and what it will take to end it.

1. A Blueprint for Ending Family
Homelessness
NAEH CONFERENCE ON ENDING FAMILY
HOMELESSNESS
LOS ANGELES
FEBRUARY 2012
Michelle C. Flynn
The Road Home
mflynn@theroadhome.org

2. The Road Home and Salt Lake County
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 Mission: Help People Step out of Homelessness and
Back into the Community
In 2011:
 Emergency Shelter – 7,000 individuals including 615
families (1,063 children), 4,387 men, 740 women
 Housing – 1,661 households housed in our programs
 Salt Lake County –9,038 Annual homeless count
(5% increase)
Blueprint for Ending Family Homelessness

3. Rapid Rehousing
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 Centralized community referral
 Targeting literally homeless families with children
 Housing-focused shelter stay
 Identifying and mitigating immediate HOUSING
barriers
 Landlord relationships
 Partnerships
Blueprint for Ending Family Homelessness

4. Progressive Engagement
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 Initial Assessment
 Monthly re-assessment
 Permanent housing focused
 Progressive engagement: Increase subsidy and case
management as needed
 Transitional (medium term) Housing
 Limited Permanent Supportive Housing
Blueprint for Ending Family Homelessness

5. Rapid Rehousing Flow Chart
The Road Home
Shelters Intake & Basic
Needs Assessment
Other Agency Family Meets with DWS
Referrals Employment Counselor
Rapid Rehousing
Assessment
Housing Placement
Approved
2-4 Months
Assistance
Reassessed monthly for
Additional Assistance
Blueprint for Ending Family Homelessness 5

6. Lessons Learned
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 You can start small
 Pilots provide a lot of good information
 Partnerships are key
 Negotiation – with housing authorities, landlords
 We still need an emergency shelter – one that is truly
short term and serves as safety net
 You can house families that have no/little income
 Families graduating from the program will still
struggle
Blueprint for Ending Family Homelessness

7. Where We are Headed and Why
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 Serve the largest number of families with a small
amount of assistance
 Only a small percentage of families need the most
expensive kinds of housing
 Identify and target many streams of funding for
rapid rehousing. More streams=increased
flexibility.
Blueprint for Ending Family Homelessness

8. Wrap Up
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 Shelter staff must change activities and mindset to
be housing focused
 883 families Rapidly Rehoused since October
1, 2009. 87% success - have not returned to
homelessness
 41% of sheltered families move out without any of
our housing assistance
 54% of sheltered families utilize Rapid Rehousing
 5% enter transitional or permanent supportive
housing
Blueprint for Ending Family Homelessness

9. Wrap Up Page 2
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 Rapid Rehousing for us takes six weeks
 Average cost per family - $5,300
 Funding mostly from HPRP, TANF
 Funding also from County General Funds, HOME
program, Emergency Solutions Grant
Even with reduced funding, our service strategy
remains solid. Rapid Rehousing will continue!
Blueprint for Ending Family Homelessness