5.2 Services Optional: Using a Voluntary Services Approach Programs increasing rely on voluntary services and harm reduction strategies to successfully work with vulnerable families and youth. This workshop will examine how providers have made the transition to a voluntary-services approach and how it has impacted their program outcomes.

1. Services Optional: Using a Voluntary
Services Approach
Presentation to National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference
February 10th, 2012
Deanne Pearn, Co-Founder and VP of Policy
www.firstplaceforyouth.org

2.  First Place was founded in 1998 to end poverty and
homelessness among transition age youth (age16-24)
 We are a statewide organization serving over 1,200 youth
and providing housing and intensive services to over 350
youth and 100 children annually.
First Place Mission

3. A continuum of transitional support services for youth ages
16-24 that includes:
 Access to permanent, safe affordable housing with a transitional
rental subsidy
 Employment training, employment
case management, and job
development
 Education assessment and
academic support
 Adult guidance, emotional support
and positive peer relationships
Program Overview

4. My First Place Service Model
Housing
•Scattered site,
master lease,
permanent
•Graduated rental
subsidy
•Move-in assistance
•Strategic
partnerships with
developers
•Separate property
management arm
Connections
•Weekly check-ins with mobile Youth
Advocate
•Case loads ≤ 15
•Healthy connections with family, friends
and others
•Cohort model
Education &
Employment
•EE Specialists:
one-on-one
•EE Manager:
develops
partnerships with
employers
•“Next Generation”
EE services
LONG TERM GOALS: 1) 2 years of PSE 2)Living wage employment 3)
Permanent housing 4) Avoidance of risky behaviors, such as incarceration or
early pregnancy

5. Housing Options
Scattered Site 85% Youth are placed in 1 and 2-bedroom
apartments throughout the community
with intensive support services.
Host Home 8% Youth identify a Permanent Adult
connection and live with that person
in the family home
Clustered 7% Sites in which we partner with
affordable housing providers to obtain
set aside units for youth in larger
housing developments (i.e. 20 units
for youth in a 80 unit building).

6. My First Place Intake Process
Eligibility/
Orientation
•Age 18-23
•In foster care at 18
•Probation
placement at 18
•Shelter stay within
2 yrs
Assessment
• Screens for risk
factors such as
homeless, no GED,
disconnected
• Prioritize highest
risk youth for
services
Step it Up
•Complete 2 week
economic literacy
training
•Budgeting, goal
setting, circles of
support, CASAS
exam
•Must complete or
can come to next
class
Waitlist
•Youth moved in
housing as it
becomes available
•Single youth
replace single
youth, parents
replace parents
•PRIORITY TO
HIGHEST RISK
YOUTH

7. Measures of Success
Stable Housing Up to 65% of former foster
youth are at risk of
homelessness
84% of our youth maintain
stable housing
Employment advancement Over 50% of former foster
youth are unemployed
77% of First Place participants
are employed
Education advancement 64% of former foster youth do
not complete high school and
only 10% enroll in post
secondary school
76% First Place participants
earn a diploma/GED and 71%
enroll in college
Healthy Living 25% of former foster youth
will be incarcerated before
their 20th birthday and 60% of
females will give birth before
their 22nd birthday
Less then 6% of First Place
participants are incarcerated
and less then 5% give birth

8. Longer Stays Drive Success
RISK FACTOR Overall
Success Rate
<17 Months > 17 Months
Overall success 50% 26% 71%
Unemployed 44% 21% 67%
No HSD/GED 30% 10% 55%
4 or more placements 41% 27% 63%
Homeless since
leaving care
47% 28% 68%
Pregnant/parenting 35% 21% 50%
Probation history 31% 22% 43%
Multiple risk factors 38% 22% 57%
Definition of “Successful” graduation:
Transitioned from MFP to Stable Housing AND at least ONE of the following:
Employed for at least 9 months while in program OR Achieved HSD/GED while in program
OR Completed at least 2 semesters of Post Secondary Education while in program (with
passing grades) OR Achieved a vocational certificate OR college degree

9. Engaging Youth While Allowing for
“Consequences”
 Housing first, with a focus on permanent housing, allows for
emphasis on education, employment and other interpersonal
gains
 Youth development/harm reduction approach allows us to
meet youth where they are at and keep in program
 Partnership model where youth sets goals for
education/employment and personal life and views YA and
EE specialist as resources
 Performance management system puts onus on staff to meet
with their youth- and they are creative in making contacts
 Mobile case management, mobile technology supports the work
 Flexible with rent payment

10. Are Youth Ever Asked to Leave
Program?
 YES- primary reason is for repeated tenancy
violations and the landlord issues notice
 Depending on circumstances, we may relocate
youth
 If we don’t relocate, we will work out a plan for
youth to re-enter program after they
demonstrate some changes
 Overall involuntary exit rate is less than 10%
(compared to 45% among similar providers)