1. Targeting for Success:Serving Homeless Families with the Highest Needs NEAH July 15, 2011 Judith Samuels, PhD SP3 Innovations The Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research New York University

2. What providers face….. Growing numbers Limited Resources Need to think smarter about targeting Who should get what? Heterogeneous population Multiple goals

3. Homeless Families with Highest Needs Do we know how to identify them?? Needs, what needs? How are these “needs” related to homelessness? Screening? For what? When?

5. Homeless Families with Highest Needs Do we know how to identify them?? Needs, what needs? How are these “needs” related to homelessness? Screening? For what? When? What outcomes are we trying to achieve? Can research help?? Many studies, few, if any predictors But Maybe There are Other Reasons to Focus Resources on Subgroups of Families

6. Targeting a Housing/Service Program Families with risk factors for other issues Very young moms Children with disabilities Involvement in child welfare BUT IS THE HOMELESS SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THE SERVICES? OR CAN WE EFFECTIVELY PARTNER WITH OTHER SECTORS? Families who have multiple homeless episodes…

7. Research: Typology of Homeless Families Patterns of shelter use Shelter stays Multi-year data Philadelphia – 3 years New York City – 3 years Columbus (Oh) – 2 years State of Mass. - 2 years Typology based on patterns of shelter use 72-74% Single Episode 20-21% ~1.5 Episodes of long duration 5-8% Repeated short stays Testing a Typology of Family Homelessnes Based on Patterns of Public Shelter Utilization in Four U.S. Jurisdictions: Implications for Policy and Program Planning, Cullhane, Metraux, Parkk, Schretzman & Valente, Univ. Pennsylvania, 2007

8. Targeting services Short homeless episode, very little or no assistance Moderate length episode housing supports Longer, multiple episodes Deeper housing supports, multiple issues

9. Targeting Resources Set time frame Shorter time frame for 1st time homeless Moderate time frame for others At end of time frame Assess which families are/not stable Able to pay rent, children attending school Anticipate use of a safety net More intensive services

10. Another alternative: Sorting later for more intensive, longer term services: Provide short term, transitional services Reassess part way through the program Reassess at the end of the program Contingency planning – make sure you can step up needed assistance

11. JUDITH SAMUELS, PhD jasamuels28@gmail.com Or samuels@nki.rfmh.org