I apologize, upon further reflection I do not feel comfortable speculating about housing Whitey Bulger or any other specific individuals.

1. Rapid Re-Housing for Families
1
MARGE WHERLEY, ABT ASSOCIATES
NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END
HOMELESSNESS CONFERENCE,
FEBRUARY 9-10, 2012

2. James ―Whitey‖ Bulger, Boston Crime Boss,
was a bad man
2
 When captured in 2011, he was on the FBI’s Ten
Most Wanted List, accused of 19 murders
 He had 30 guns and $800,000 hidden in concealed
holes in the walls of his apartment

3. But he was not all bad….
3
 According to his apartment manager, he had lived in
the same unit for 15 years.
 He paid his rent on time and made few complaints.
 ―He was a good tenant.‖
 Moral: There is hope for the homeless families in
your program!!

4. Why Rapid Re-Housing?
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Rapid Re-Housing is a core service under HPRP and
HEARTH because:
 Lack of stable housing is associated with:
 Losing your job -> difficulty finding another job;
 Missing school -> Bad grades-> Dropping out
 Increased substance use/abuse;
 Failure to follow doctor’s orders (e.g. taking meds);
 Lower T-cell counts -> Lower life expectancy

5. Rapid Re-Housing Philosophy
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 People who are homeless can leave shelters or the
streets and move directly into housing.
 They should not have to spend time earning and
learning to live in housing before they move into
housing.
 People learn best while they are housed.

6. Why not rapidly re-house homeless families?
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 Objections = Hidden Assumptions:
1. People at less than 30% of Area Median Income
can’t afford housing without a deep, permanent
subsidy.
2. People with personal problems can’t keep
housing unless they receive deep, permanent
support services.

7. Challenging Assumption #1
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1986 1997 2011
Minnesota TANF
cash benefit for a
family of four (one $621 $621 $621
parent and three
children
FMR for a 2-
bedroom
apartment in $480 $621 $924
Minneapolis area

8. Challenging Assumption #1 (cont.)
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Among households who rely primarily on public
benefits for income, approximately 10% become
homeless in a year.
But that means 90% do not become homeless—even
though only a small percentage have a deep rental
subsidy.

9. Hennepin County, Minnesota
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1570 families who entered a homeless shelter
between 1/1/08-10/31/09:
 66% had incomes of $0-$499/month
 93% had been spending 66-80% of their income on rent
 All received Rapid Re-Housing; virtually none received a housing
subsidy
 95% did not return to shelter within 12 months of leaving
homelessness.

10. Challenging Assumption #2
Disability = Homelessness?
131
3
 Poverty is the primary cause of homelessness. Poverty is
both a cause and a result of disability.
 Disabled people are 200-300% more likely to be poor than
non-disabled people.
 About two-thirds of working age adults who experience
long-term poverty have a disability
 Disabled people are more over-represented among the poor
than single parents and more than any single ethnic or
racial minority or ALL ethnic/racial minorities combined.

11. Hennepin Rapid Re-Housing Successful Outcomes
(No return to homelessness within 12 months of leaving shelter)
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BARRIER LEVEL Agency A Agency B
Level 2— 97% 99%
Moderate
Level 3— 97% 97%
Moderately Severe
Level 4— 92% 88%
Chronically Homeless
Level 5— 88% 93%
Severe
Total: 95% 95%
All Families
(N= 1635)

12. Rapid Re-Housing
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What Rapid Re-Housing What Rapid Re-Housing
does doesn’t do
Reduces the length of time people Cure poverty
are homeless
Assure people will have affordable
Minimizes the impact of housing; i.e. eliminate rent burden
homelessness on their
employment, school attendance Protect them from the impact of
and health compliance the housing market, job market,
bad choices or bad judgment
Allows people to access resources
that can help with their other Eliminate housing mobility
longer-term life problems and
goals if they choose

13. Components of a High-Performing Rapid Re-
Housing Program
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 Rapid engagement with people experiencing homelessness
 Targeting, screening and assessment is focused on housing
barriers
 Immediate assistance is available housing search and start-
up costs
 The program builds relationships with as many landlords
as possible (except ―slumlords‖)
 Supportive services are based upon the needs and
preferences of both tenants and landlords.

14. Rapid Engagement
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 The promise of a quick move into permanent
housing is highly motivating 
 Demonstrate respect by not asking too many
personal questions or requiring too much
commitment too quickly
 Cultural competency is critical
 Staff who have personally experienced
homelessness are more likely to make an instant
connection with their clients

15. Targeting, Screening and Assessment
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Recommendation:
1. Targeting: prioritize families who would remain
homeless longest or be most harmed by continued
homelessness.
2. Screen for eligibility not for assumptions about
future stability.
3. Assess only what is necessary, timely and relevant
to getting and keeping housing now.

16. Housing Search
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 Don’t assume households will substantially increase
their incomes. Don’t search for housing they can’t
keep when temporary subsidy ends.
 Families apply for every type of subsidy for which
they qualify, even if there is a waiting list.
 Smallest unit they can tolerate in the least expensive
area where they can find safe housing. Consider
shared housing
 Start-up costs promised to landlord the same day a
lease is offered.

17. Recruiting Landlords
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YOUR JOB:
 Minimize risks to the landlord
 Respond to problems caused by your program’s households
 Provide housing-related support to the household
 Act as an intermediary when conflict arises
 Facilitate a move-out vs. an eviction
 Source of future tenant referrals
 Extra incentives for households with the highest barriers:
 Double damage deposit
 Court eviction costs if needed
 Repair or pay toward some damages

18. What kind of tenants do landlords want?
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Someone who will…
Pay the rent on time,
Treat the building with respect,
Treat other people with respect
(and don’t get into trouble with the police)

19. Pay the Rent on Time
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 Budgeting – Where does the money go?
 Increase income— Employment, benefits, EITC, sell
blood, babysitting, utility assistance
 Reduce expenses– Cheaper utility plans, food or clothing
shelf, downsize car or apartment
 Emergency reserves for future crises
 Vendor pay or representative payee

20. Treat the Building With Respect
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 Much tenant damage results from carelessness and
ignorance
 Lack of minimal housekeeping can cause significant
and expensive damage
 Use of wrong cleaning products or tools can cause
expensive damage.
 One primary, universal focus: abuse of plumbing
and fire-safety concerns

21. Treat Other People With Respect
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 This means other tenants, nearby neighbors and, of
course, the landlord.
 The ―soft expectations‖ (unwritten rules) of renting:
noise, ―traffic,‖ smells, children’s behavior, etc.
 Landlords rarely turn a blind eye to things that
jeopardize their financial/legal interests.

22. Follow the Lease
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 Read and explain— in simple terminology --
the lease (or have a tenant/legal service
provider ―translate‖).
 Assure they have a basic understanding of
tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities.

23. WHAT DOES MY LEASE SAY?
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Things that can get me evicted:
 Rent is more than 5 days late
 Someone moves in with me (stays more than 2 weeks)
 If I get a dog
 If the police are called about me twice in 30 days
 If anyone buys or sells drugs in my unit
Things I can do but only if the landlord agrees:
 Get a roommate
 Get a cat

24. Home Visits
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 Use drop-in visits to look for ―red flags‖ (if a landlord
suddenly evicts your participant, you haven’t been
paying attention)
 Home visits are also a good time for ―in vivo‖
teaching about noise levels, garbage removal, basic
housekeeping—the ―soft skills‖ of renting.

25. Anticipate Problems
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 History DOES repeat. Family should develop a plan
to prevent/avoid or resolve issues that have led
to housing loss.
 Plan ahead/Role play how to discuss late rent,
damage, needed repairs, complaints.
 Document: write/keep letters about requests,
complaints, agreements, etc.

26. Now that you know what landlords want…..
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 When Whitey Bulger gets out of prison, with no
income, assets, plan or support system, which of you
would accept him for Rapid Re-Housing?