ORGANIZING THE FRONT DOOR: COORDINATED ASSESSMENT

Emily Carmody & Corey RootNCCEH

Rebecca PfeifferCity of Charlotte

CoC 101

12 Continua of Care (CoC) in North Carolina

NC Balance of State CoCRegional Committees

Continuums of Care are backbone of homeless service system

Continuum of Care (CoC) Regional planning body that coordinates

Housing and services Funding for homeless programs

Wide range of agencies and organizations Promotes community-wide commitment to

ending homelessness Required to apply for HUD homeless

funding

HEARTH 101

The homeless service system has evolved over the past 20 years

1990’s Continuum of Care created

Based on Housing Ready model

2000’s New Permanent Supportive Housing emphasis Move from managing homelessness to ending

homelessness Congress mandates HMIS Local Ten-Year Plans to End Homelessness

2010’s Use of evidence-based practices New RRH & Prevention emphasis in addition to PSH Federal Strategic Plan & HEARTH

HEARTH changed the game for homeless services and funding

President Obama signed the HEARTH Act on May 20, 2009.

It was the first significant reauthorization of HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Programs in nearly 20 years.

It required the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to create a federal plan to end homelessness.

USICH created the Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness in 2010

FOUR GOALS 1. End chronic homelessness by 20172. End veteran homelessness by 20153. End family & youth homelessness by

20204. End all homelessness

www.usich.gov

Programs

Activities

Transitioning

Systems

Outcomes

Housing First

HUD is shifting priorities and funding in response to data and best practices

Rare Brief Non-recurring

Coordinated Assessment 101

LowNeed

Less Intense

More Intense

HighNeed

Need a flexible system able to triage high need households

CoCs can do a number of different things to create system change

Conversions Transitional housing Shelter beds to rapid re-

housing Expand capacity

Rapid Re-housing Shelter diversion Targeted prevention Permanent Supportive

Housing

Innovations Exits from Permanent

Supportive Housing Coordinated Assessment

(Intake/Entry) System Common Barrier

Assessment and Targeting Tool

Performance Improvement Process

Progressive Engagement Mainstream Employment

Partnerships

Coordinated Assessment: Access Defined entry into homeless services Covers entire geographic area of CoC Easily accessible

Phone process Outreach Safety concerns

Well-advertised

North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

Coordinated Assessment: AccessModels Single location 2-1-1 hotline No wrong door

Coordinated Assessment: Assessment

Only necessary info Eligibility Assessment

Service needHousing barriersRetention barriers

Assessment happens step-by-step Prevention/Diversion screening Shelter eligibility Housing program eligibility Mainstream benefits eligibility

Coordinated Assessment: Assessment

Models VI-SPDAT Community-created assessments Progressive engagement

Coordinated Assessment: Referrals

Effectively match households to services Accurately address eligibility Real-time coordination

Between referral and availability Seamless “warm” transfers

Coordinated Assessment: Referrals

Models Program placement Referral Committees Community referral protocols: What

happens when a program does not accept a referral?

Coordinated Assessment means big changes for communities

Shift from program-centric decisions Should we accept this household? Agency-specific assessments Ad hoc referrals

Shift to system-level/client-centric decisions How can our system best serve this

household? Standard forms & assessments Coordinated referral system

Coordinated Assessment part of stronger system

Better serve those in crisis Minimize time and frustration in accessing help Close the cracks in the system

Informs CoC Who accessing homeless programs?

What are their needs? What are current system gaps? What programs under-utilized?

Informs how to invest and prioritize system resources

How Coordinated Assessment works in Balance of State

Steering Committee is governing body for BoS; CAC is technical referent for Coordinated Assessment

BoS Steering Committee

Regional Committee

Regional Committee

Regional Committee

Coordinated Assessment

Council

Different groups have different roles and responsibilities for CA in BoS

Governance Systems designed and administered by

Regional Committees Standards and governance by NC BoS

Steering Committee Coordinated Assessment Council (CAC)

review and approve plans CoC reps State-level experts and partners

Coordinated Assessment: NC BoS Standardized elements

Governance, structure 3-part assessment tool Reporting and CoC-wide oversight

Customized elements Triage and referrals Wait Lists Local grievance process Local oversight

Same Same Same

What Works and What’s Available Locally

Local prioriti

es

Customize

How Coordinated Assessment works in Charlotte - Mecklenburg County

Housing Advisory Board

Continuum of Care

Committee

Coordinated Assessment Oversight

Working Group

Community Engagement &

Advocacy Committee

Research & Evaluation Committee

Organization of Governing Board

Role of Oversight Working Group Members selected by community Activities

General oversight and management Information and feedback to community Investigate and resolve complaints or

concerns Evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of

process Review Performance Data Recommend changes or improvements

Coordinated Assessment: Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Standardized assessment tool at every location, including Prevention/Diversion screen Focused evaluation for a high volume

community Housing Barrier Assessment System standards around prioritization Dynamic waitlist

Before Coordinated Assessment

Charlotte–Mecklenburg Now

Coordinated Assessment

(3 Locations + Outreach)

Emergency Shelters

Permanent Supportive

Housing Programs

Rapid Re-

Housing Programs

Transitional Housing

Programs

Discussion & questions

Mecklenburg: What have we learned so far

Impacts client seeking housing assistance Provides opportunities to pay more attention

to details Engaging in diversion activities can positively

impact system Creates coordination and dialogue within

system Allows for transparency with funders This is hard work!

BoS: What have we learned so far

Mapping exercise shifted perspective from agency to system performance

Working on coordinated assessment strengthens and empowers Regional Committees

There’s no done Embrace the freak-out

Discussion Topics

How coordinated assessment has impacted work in the community

What the vision is for going forward

Want to help?

For more information, look up your CoC/Regional Lead contact Come to meetings Get involved with the work

Educate others about the current state of homeless service system Community-level responsibility Coordinated assessment

Advocate for affordable housing

Contact Info

Emily Carmody & Corey Root bos@ncceh.org ncceh.org

Rebecca Pfeiffer rpfeiffer@ci.charlotte.nc.us