From September 2013 through June 2014, Steady Family, a coordinated homeless prevention and rapid-rehousing program for the community of Brevard County, Florida, funded principally by BB&T Bank and the Space Coast Association of Realtors through the Brevard Schools Foundation, housed 62 homeless families consisting of 223 people and 142 children.
This report highlights program results and lessons learned.
2. Steady Family 2013-14
Made possible by
• Lorraine Allen, Director of the Homeless
Education Program at the Florida Department of
Education, & her raising awareness of the child
homeless situation in Brevard County
• BB&T Bank, & their generous gift to the Brevard
Schools Foundation in the amount of $125,000
for Brevard County child homeless prevention
3. Steady Family 2013-14
Made possible by
• The Brevard Association of Realtors, & their
consistent support lead by Louise McLean
(over $40,000 raised in 2013)
• The Brevard Schools Foundation, & their trust
in Steadytown Inc. as a new contract partner
to put the funds to work
4. Steady Family 2013-14
Made possible by
• Brevard Public Schools, & the support of their
School Board for the amazingly dedicated team of
Child Homeless Liaisons led by Dr. Sally Shinn
– 2,202 homeless children identified in 2013-14
– 7 direct Program Partner Schools
• Apollo, Coquina, Cambridge, Roy Allen, University Park,
Riviera, and Jupiter (all Title 1 Elementary Schools)
– This team works tirelessly to ensure these kids have
equal opportunity
5. Steady Family 2013-14
Made possible by
• Steadytown Inc., & their pledge to cover
– 100% of assessment and housing case manager
staff salaries
– 100% of administration costs
• H/R, Accounting, equipment, software, payroll taxes
• “Effective case management is the difference
between a hand up and a hand out”
7. Steady Family 2013-14 Results
September 2nd, 2013 through June 30th, 2014
• 155 families referred (511 people, 327
children)
• Rehoused 62 families of 142 children
– Achieved 87% housing stability success rate
• Prevented 27 evictions involving 70 children
• Invested a total of $202,294.03, an average of
$1,476.60 per family
8. What We Invested In
• Basic Needs
– Emergency food, health and hygiene items, prescription medication,
assistance obtaining identification
• Emergency Housing
– Motel stay, storage, rent subsidy for temporary home
• Eviction Prevention
– Rent, essential utilities (power, water, gas), late fees, attorney fees
• Rehousing Assistance
– Security deposit, first-month rent, bedding, other essential household goods
• Education Sponsorship
– Tutoring, after-school programs, school activities, child care, adult ed., text
books, computers, college readiness, vocational training and certification
• Transportation
– Bus passes, gas, insurance, license reinstatement, car repair, repo prevention
• Housing Case Management
– Needs assessment, housing navigation, home visits, financial coaching, career
coaching, resource connection, resource development, advocacy, mediation
9. Investment by Category
• $62,060.02 in Rehousing Assistance (30%)
• $46,922.10 in Housing Case Management (23%)
• $32,944.60 in Eviction Prevention (16%)
• $29,267.43 in Emergency Housing (14%)
• $14,354.72 in Education Sponsorship (7%)
• $10,521.57 in Transportation (5%)
• $5,262.09 in Basic Needs (2%)
12. Rehousing Assistance Breakdown
Subcategory Total Cost
Instances
of Service Families Children
Move in Costs : Security Deposit $17,973.00 48 43 102
Move in Costs : First Month's Rent $17,656.58 34 30 76
Rent $15,664.00 31 13 29
Utility Deposits : Power $2,695.30 11 11 26
Utilities : Power $1,387.39 9 6 16
Utility Deposits : Water $1,259.15 9 8 29
Household Goods : Beds $1,107.31 5 3 8
Storage $816.02 4 4 13
Move in Costs : Last Month's Rent $650.00 1 1 4
Move in Costs : Application Fee $563.23 14 14 32
Housing Maintenance : Air Duct Cleaning $472.00 1 1 4
Moving Assistance : Movers $429.00 3 3 5
Household Goods : Washer and Dryer $340.00 1 1 3
Utilities : Water $218.00 2 2 5
Moving Assistance : Truck $197.03 3 3 5
Household Goods : Other $80.19 1 1 3
Household Goods : Furniture $77.00 1 1 4
Household Goods : Cleaning Supplies $59.01 1 1 2
Household Goods : Kitchen Items $43.46 1 1 3
Moving Assistance : Boxes $38.48 2 1 1
Household Goods : Keys $8.66 2 2 3
Other $325.21 4 2 4
Grand Total $62,060.02 188 152 377
13. Rehousing Assistance Top 10 Payees
Subcategory Total Cost Instances Families
Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless $5,100.00 22 16
Sentinel Holdings $4,480.50 10 2
Reynerio Sanchez (Landlord) $4,086.00 7 1
Florida Power and Light $3,917.18 19 14
Brevard MyHomes LLC $3,751.61 7 1
Children's Home Society $3,480.00 8 4
Jamie or Keith Rutkowski (Landlord) $3,000.00 5 1
Old Fort Trailer Park $2,835.00 8 3
Rich Levine (Landlord) $2,600.00 4 1
George L. Morris (Landlord) $2,475.00 4 1
14. Eviction Prevention Breakdown
Subcategory Total Cost
Instances of
Service Families Children
Rent $26,823.22 40 19 41
Utilities : Power $4,014.17 16 11 33
Utilities : Water $788.31 6 5 14
Rent : Attorney Fee $720.00 2 2 5
Rent : Late Fee $303.00 4 2 7
Utilities : Gas $295.90 3 2 5
Grand Total $32,944.60 71 41 105
• Average rent: $650 2 Bedroom, $800 3 Bedroom, $900 4 Bedroom
• Rehousing rents were typically lower: $575 2 BR, $725 3 BR, $800 4 BR
15. Eviction Prevention Top 10 Payees
Payee Total Cost Instances Families
Malabar Cove Apartments $8,382.81 10 4
John Sessa (Landlord) $4,540.00 6 1
Florida Power and Light $4,014.17 16 11
All County Preferred Property Management $2,943.60 5 1
Lunders Joseph (Landlord) $2,400.00 4 1
Keith Devine (Landlord) $1,700.00 2 1
Florida Property Management & Investments $1,685.00 7 1
Wickham Village $1,146.00 2 1
Lighthouse Pointe Apartments $841.88 1 1
Lake Pointe Apartments $792.93 1 1
16. Emergency Housing Breakdown
• Average motel stay $225 per week
• Best price in County: $159 per week, $550 per month (Cocoa Affordable
Living Center)
Subcategory Total Cost
Instances
of Service Families Children
Motel $27,634.66 127 38 83
Storage $1,232.77 5 5 14
Rent $400.00 1 1 1
Grand Total $29,267.43 133 44 98
17. Emergency Housing Top 10 Payees
Payee Total Cost Instances Families
Econolodge Melbourne $6,893.88 41 10
Americas Best Value Inn Cocoa $4,912.01 28 11
Candlewood Suites Viera $3,900.00 12 1
Cocoa Affordable Living Center $3,300.78 11 6
Dixie Motel Cocoa $1,894.20 8 2
Palm Bay Hotel and Conference Center $1,651.00 6 5
Quality Inn Palm Bay $1,239.00 3 1
Tropical Inn Resort Palm Bay $1,086.80 2 1
Uncle Bob's Storage Indialantic $805.84 1 1
River Palm Motel Melbourne $750.00 5 2
18. Education Sponsorship Breakdown
Subcategory Total Cost
Instances of
Service Families Children
Child Care $5,189.60 24 8 23
Vocational Training : Work Sponsorship $3,750.99 2 2 5
Vocational Training : Certification Program : Tuition $1,517.30 2 2 2
Computer : Laptop $805.62 3 3 6
School : Sports $505.00 3 2 2
Vocational Training : Registration Fees $468.19 1 1 1
Music and Arts : Clarinet $347.26 1 1 1
Vocational Training : Conference : Travel Assistance $338.58 1 1 4
Court-Ordered School : Driver’s School $319.50 1 1 3
School : Program Fees $250.00 1 1 0
Vocational Training : Certification Program : Registration Fee $185.00 1 1 5
Computer : Accessories $170.89 2 2 4
Computer : Repair $106.00 2 2 6
Headstart $99.00 1 1 1
Employment Assistance : Background Check $81.50 1 1 4
Other $65.39 2 2 5
Post-Secondary School : Application Fee $60.00 2 2 7
Internet $33.70 1 1 4
Financial Coaching : Budget Envelopes $28.09 5 5 16
Summer Camp $13.00 1 1 1
Financial Coaching : Calendar $10.99 1 1 1
School : Supplies $5.30 1 1 4
Career Coaching : Resume Paper $3.82 1 1 1
Grand Total $14,354.72 60 43 106
19. Education Sponsorship Top 10 Payees
Payee Total Cost Instances Families
South Brevard Sharing Center $3,750.99 2 2
Jelly Bean Junction Child Care $2,656.00 5 2
Wellington Academy Child Care $1,446.60 3 2
Florida Medical Training Institute $1,378.30 1 1
Amazon $639.98 2 2
Space Coast Health $607.19 2 1
Wish Upon A Star Child Care $455.00 9 1
Berri Patch Child Care $432.00 4 2
The Horn Section $347.26 1 1
Hilton Garden Inn $338.58 1 1
20. Transportation Breakdown
Subcategory Total Cost
Instances
of Service Families Children
Gas $4,399.90 84 36 93
Car Repair $1,066.15 6 2 7
Driver License Reinstatement $1,056.15 4 4 14
Bus Passes $1,000.00 100 32 76
Car Purchase : Registration $997.80 3 3 8
Car Insurance $770.88 6 4 19
Bus Ticket Home $498.25 1 1 1
Tow $449.44 1 1 1
Car Parts $283.00 5 4 10
Grand Total $10,521.57 111 57 156
21. Transportation Top 10 Payees
Payee Total Cost Instances Families
7-Eleven $1,769.40 37 21
Brevard County Tax Collector $1,214.54 4 4
Space Coast Area Transit $1,000.00 100 32
Shell Oil $591.26 10 2
Bennett Auto $559.42 3 1
Sally Shinn (Personal Reimbursement) $523.52 6 3
Greyhound $498.25 1 1
Atlantic Towing & Service $449.44 1 1
Windhaven Insurance $432.55 1 1
North Carolina Court System $428.41 1 1
22. Basic Needs Breakdown
Subcategory Total Cost
Instances
of Service Families Children
Household Goods : Furniture $1,391.95 7 7 18
Healthcare : Prescription Medication $653.06 13 7 21
Food $478.80 15 12 33
Other $370.35 12 9 17
Household Goods : Beds $363.79 5 5 17
Clothing $330.83 7 7 16
Identification : Birth Certificate $276.00 4 3 11
Household Goods : Refrigerator $232.00 1 1 5
Household Goods : Furniture : Dining Table $130.00 1 1 4
Clothing : Shoes $120.29 2 2 6
Health and Hygiene Items: Other $99.85 2 2 4
Health and Hygiene Items : Baby Formula $99.54 1 1 2
Medical : Doctor Visit $96.00 1 1 3
Household Goods : Cleaning Supplies $82.84 5 3 8
Healthcare : Doctor Visit $80.00 1 1 3
Gifts : Christmas $76.90 2 2 6
Phone : Minutes $66.20 3 3 7
Healthcare : Drug Test $65.00 1 1 3
Identification : Driver License $55.61 1 1 3
Gifts : Congratulations $50.00 1 1 5
Healthcare : Comfort $50.00 1 1 2
Healthcare : Medical Supplies $29.04 1 1 4
Health and Hygiene Items : Diapers $18.72 2 2 6
Health and Hygiene Items : Toilet Paper $17.16 2 2 6
Healthcare : Insurance $16.50 1 1 1
Health and Hygiene Items : Paper Towels $11.66 1 1 1
Grand Total $5,262.09 93 78 212
23. Basic Needs Top 10 Payees
Payee Total Cost Instances Families
South Brevard Sharing Center $1,389.68 8 8
Walmart $789.13 19 12
CVS Pharmacy $297.09 3 1
Walgreens Pharmacy $275.10 6 5
North Brevard Charities $232.00 1 1
Sally Shinn (Personal Reimbursement) $156.26 2 2
Stephanie Schaefer (Personal Reimbursement) $150.00 1 1
Healthy Living Clinic $145.00 2 1
Central Brevard Sharing Center $137.80 1 1
Publix $135.60 5 3
24. Top 10 Payees Overall
Payee Total Cost Instances Families
Florida Power and Light $8,510.86 37 26
Malabar Cove Apartments $8,382.81 10 4
Econolodge Melbourne $6,893.88 41 10
South Brevard Sharing Center $5,552.34 14 14
Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless $5,100.00 22 16
Americas Best Value Inn Cocoa $4,912.01 28 11
Sentinel Holdings $4,860.50 11 3
John Sessa (Landlord) $4,540.00 6 1
Reynerio Sanchez (Landlord) $4,086.00 7 1
Candlewood Suites Viera $3,900.00 12 1
25. 2013-14 Results in Perspective
• Of the 2,202 homeless children identified, 798
(36%) dropped out of school
– Either left the area for opportunity elsewhere or
dropped out because of their homelessness
• Of the remaining 1,404 children, Steady
Family impacted 327 (23%)
• Of the 327 impacted, Steady Family directly
empowered 212 to achieve long-term housing
stability (65%)
31. How Great Was The Need?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Moderate Low High
32. How Is The Need Measured?
• Wellness
– Mental and physical health, cognitive function, medication,
substance use, abuse or trauma
• Risks
– Attempts to harm self or others, involvement in high-risk
activities, legal issues, interaction with emergency services
• Socialization and Daily Functions
– Relationships, meaningful daily activities, personal admin and
money management, self-care and daily living skills
• History of Housing and Homelessness
– Rental history, evictions, previous episodes of homelessness
• Family Unit
– Parental engagement, family size, interactions with child
protective services, needs of the children
33. Role Of Housing Case Manager
• Assist families to find housing through our
affordable housing network
• Facilitate lease signing and move-in
• After re-housing, begin staged case management
focused on achieving and maintaining long-term
housing stability
– Progress measured quantitatively by acuity score
– Performance based on client maintaining housing
– Family exited from system upon stability achieved or
failure to maintain housing
34. Case Management Stages Of Change
1. Housing Stability
– having a home “feels normal again”
2. Individualized Service Plan
– setting and meeting goals, meaningful daily activities
3. Self Awareness
– aware of one’s beliefs, dependence, triggers; social norms
4. Self Management
– exercising control, accountability, optimism; developing
increasing independence
5. Reframe/Rebuild
– has purpose, future orientation, strong support network,
and greater independence (ready for exit from system)
35. Other Demographics
• Parents mostly in their 30’s (50%)
• Parents mostly Working (73%)
– Average income < $1,500 monthly, $18,000 annually
• Parents mostly High School educated (84%)
• Children mostly in Elementary School (56%)
• Mostly White (71%)
• Mostly Female (60%)
• Most receiving Food Stamps (85%)
• Most not receiving other Welfare (78%)
40. Strategic Partners
• Brevard Public Schools (76 referrals)
• Private landlords (rehoused 37 families)
• Housing for Homeless (rehoused 22 families)
• Sharing Centers (basic needs for 33 families)
• Early Learning Coalition (child care assistance
for 16 families)
• CareerSource Brevard (one-on-one
employment assistance for 8 families)
41. Challenges and Lessons Learned
• Absorbed high Emergency Housing costs early on
– Lack of landlord network left families stuck in motels
– Successfully cut average rehousing time down from seven weeks to
two weeks as network developed
• Need for more affordable housing units
– Steadytown Inc. assisted local non-profit Community of Hope to
acquire 12 three bedroom units on June 6th, 2014
• Learned it’s best to separate landlord and case manager roles
(blurring roles is messy)
• Learned if you invest in a team willing to work hard/smart you can
unlock idle funds (and meet the need more efficiently!)
• Local agencies are not currently equipped to serve high need
cases—must develop capability
• Income not best predictor of housing stability
• Having good data essential to measuring impact and performance
42. Future
• Steady Family’s assessment and housing case management
model, based on industry best practice, has been selected
for use in Brevard County’s new Coordinated Access
System for Homeless Individuals and Families
– Alignment with the national 100K Homes Campaign
– Steadytown Inc. selected as principle System Administrator
• $200,000 in additional funds have been recently secured
for Housing Case Management (Eckerd Foundation)
– Enables the addition of five case managers next year!
• Homeless Prevention and Rehousing Direct Assistance
funds are still desperately needed to meet the need in
Brevard, especially for our county’s most vulnerable. We
need your continued support!
43. Steady Family 2013-14 Summary
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Motel Doubled Up Home Under Eviction Home At Risk Of
Eviction
Living At Referral
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Home Home With Supports Motel Home Out Of Area
Living Now
45. Thank You From The Families
“Thank you in the biggest way. Our lives have been turned upside
down, but we are getting back on track and looking forward to the
future. Thank you for such a wonderful program.”
“Without you being there for my family, I wouldn’t know where or how
to start.”
“Thank you for giving me and my son a chance when no one else
would.”
“We have been struggling for many years as victims of domestic
violence feeling afraid, lost, and hopeless. In the short time you have
been working with us we are accomplishing so much and are on the
right path. Thank you so much for the time, referrals, food, clothing,
housing assistance, child care, and being a friend who is true and
understanding.”