SB: How did you use data to shape the improved program?
MH: According to national researchers and the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there is no ideal system to model ourselves after.
We’ve been working on this for nearly three years, using our own local data, national research and the insight and professional knowledge of our partners. We engaged the services of Abt Associates, a national research firm on homelessness that studied many programs and service models across the country to give input and direction to the planning process.
We conducted, analyzed and vetted extensive cost modeling and scenario planning for the new system, and the solution we came up with provides the greatest ROI by solving the problem.
The new model will result in greater numbers of people exiting homelessness to stability, significantly reduce street homelessness and assure everyone has a safe place to sleep, while receiving the services necessary to break the cycle of homelessness.
SB: What does the new model do differently, and where is the implementation?
MH: The most innovative element of the new model is the use of case managers called navigators, who will provide consistent, comprehensive care and work with a person throughout their shelter stay, providing intensive services focused on ending the homeless crisis quickly and stabilizing the person in housing.
They also can link people to specialty services like employment and job training, medical care, mental health and housing resources when needed to assure housing stability. Navigators will continue to work with people after they are housed to provide support to maintain stable housing.
A pilot program operating since last fall is showing promising results. Full implementation across the system will begin in October.
SB: How will you know whether this effort is working?
MH: The goal to end homelessness for single adults will be achieved by focusing on four outcomes:
- Increasing diversion: Helping people identify and secure an option other than a shelter bed if possible, to preserve resources for those whose only option is shelter. The diversion rate will increase from 14 to 30 percent.
- Decreasing length of stay in shelter: Reducing the average number of days spent in shelter from 45 to 30 days.
- Increasing housing outcomes: Getting more people to housing, increasing the successful housing outcomes rate from 28 to 40 percent. Over 10 years, this means 1,273 more people will be stably housed, compared to the results we are getting now.
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Decreasing returns to shelter: Breaking the cycle of homelessness.
