Housing First: The First 30 Days Presenters: Aaron Criswell-Director of Supportive Services- Step Up on Second Arely Vasquez-Regional Manager-Barker Management Inc.
Vision Step Up envisions that all individuals, families, and communities affected by mental illness will have the opportunity to experience recovery and a sense of belonging, and that permanent supportive housing will be available to everyone who needs it. Mission Step Up delivers compassionate support to people experiencing serious mental illness to help them recover, stabilize, and integrate into the community. Through dynamic partnerships, we provide positive social and learning environments, vocational training, permanent supportive housing opportunities, and recovery services to empower individuals to cultivate lives of hope and dignity. We exercise innovative leadership and advocacy to increase public understanding, support and acceptance of all people living with mental illness. Toward achievement of our mission, Step Up delivers: Comprehensive support services and programs leading to self-sufficiency, harm-reduction and recovery for individuals with mental illness. Meaningful opportunities for members and their families to achieve self-determined goals, experience community, and support advocacy to reduce discrimination. Exemplary permanent supportive housing, associated services, and infrastructure that are member-focused, outcomes-based, economically and environmentally sustainable, aligned with the Housing First model, and developed through longstanding, trusted partnerships. Step Up on Second: Mission and Vision
All permanent supportive housing projects have on-site services called Life Skills Coordinators Life Skills staff provide supportive services on-site and coordinate with mental health provider to assist the tenant in increasing their independent living skills Life Skills and provider staff work to problem-solve when tenant is behaving in ways that violate the lease Service Model
Our Permanent supportive Housing projects have Resident Managers supervised through a 3 rd party organization. The relationship between services and Resident Management is critical. Communication can be tricky: RM can tell services everything they observe. Services can receive this information but need to maintain a boundary around mental health information How do we effectively move forward with these restrictions? Services and Property Management
Connection to on-site services Planning for appointments/preparation Stuff – What to keep/discard? How to minimize infestation/exposure? View unit Services and PM coordinate to identify dates and time-frames Pre Lease Up
Move-in Services present at lease-signing New projects: make it an event. Have food, strong staff support, keep it exciting. Be prepared for many hiccups in the process. Orient to Building, unit, equipment. Does the tenant know how to control the thermostat? Laundry machines? Garbage disposal? Review food and basic living requirements. Make sure the basics are covered. Day 1
Daily contact in unit Review lease/house rules Assist in establishing utilities/cable/phone Services interfaces with PM to learn about behaviors Orient to community resources ◦ Welcome packet that includes: Local emergency service information Grocery store Bank Services and groups Utilities for phone, cable, power, water, etc. Volunteer opportunities Week 1
Complete Life Skills Assessment tool Should cover domains: ◦ Money Management ◦ Food Management ◦ Personal Appearance and Hygiene ◦ Health ◦ Housekeeping ◦ Housing ◦ Transportation ◦ Educational Planning ◦ Vocational Skills ◦ Emergency and Safety Skills ◦ Knowledge of Community Resources ◦ Interpersonal skills ◦ Legal Skills Week 2
Begin establishing Life Skills goals/complete goal sheet Daily contact in unit or office Orient to on-site group activities Review tenant benefits and eligibility. Assist in application for maximum benefits Week 2 cont’d
Minimum of weekly contact. Services should see condition of the unit Orient to Tenant Advisory Committee (TAC) TAC – ◦ Gives a voice to tenants so they may participate in the process…not just recipients ◦ Coordinate events & activities, provide feedback on tenant satisfaction and provide input on policy/rules ◦ Elected representatives with offices: President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Week 3
Problem identification and solutions ◦ (Soft Points for support) ◦ Lease/house rules violations Housekeeping Volume Increased substance use/abuse Decreased engagement with treatment Guests/overnight guests/homeless shelter syndrome Pets/No pets policies – ADA law and compliance Desire for privacy – Door & Lock Money management Week 3 cont’d
Continue weekly contact and review of housekeeping Preparation for rent and bill payment ◦ Money management ◦ Transition to new responsibilities ◦ Avoid late/non-payment of rent – the most time- sensitive housing issue! Review initial behaviors and issues Receive information from PM Solidify/complete goal sheet and treatment plan moving forward Harm Reduction Week 4
Everything is perfect now…right?! Milestones such as 30 days housing retention will be passed. Successful Permanent Supportive Housing involves ongoing services to support the individual tenants as they encounter challenges. Our goal should be to empower each tenant to navigate the housing process so they can retain their housing as long as they CHOOSE. Week 5 – Moving forward
List of typical tasks for a resident manager ◦ Collect rent from the residents in accordance with company guidelines ◦ Deposit the rents collected ◦ Provide each resident with a receipt ◦ Post rents ◦ Inform supervisor of any residents delinquent in their payment of rent or damages ◦ Serve non-payment of rent notices ◦ Inspect interior common areas of development ◦ Walk grounds in and around development ◦ Ensure all service requests submitted by the residents are accomplished in a timely manner ◦ Address resident complaints ◦ Support the social services program operating within the development ◦ conduct unit inspections ◦ Ensure vacant units are being cleaned and prepared for new residents in timely manner ◦ Conduct annual recertification’s ◦ Attend meetings, schedule vendors Property Management
Patience, understanding and communication Mission and goal – Not to generate revenue but to keep special populations housed Work together to communicate rules, guidelines, lease Each tenant has unique needs. Find the best approach for each tenant Positive and realistic attitude and expectations for tenants Interventions with tenants are generated through meetings where the goal of housing retention is the top priority. Property Management and Services working together
The work to keep our populations housed is challenging, never boring and critical to help people transcend the weight of homelessness and suffering. We are in the business of participating in changing lives and providing hope. Thank you
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