1.9 HPRP: Youth Strategies and Family Reunification (Erdmann)
-
Upload
national-alliance-to-end-homelessness -
Category
News & Politics
-
view
782 -
download
0
description
Transcript of 1.9 HPRP: Youth Strategies and Family Reunification (Erdmann)
HOPE STREET’S HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM
Saleha Erdmann, Homelessness Prevention Specialist
July 2010
Hope Street Shelter for
Homeless and Runaway Youth
Shelter—20 youth
Transitional Living Program—8 males
Street Outreach
Independent Living Skills
Aftercare Services
~1,800 homeless youth in Minnesota on any given night (according to the Wilder Survey)
48 shelter beds in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area
HPRP School Outreach
•Prior to HPRP a few Hope Street staff had built relationships with 2 local high schools, mostly to make shelter referrals
•HPRP started in October 2009 with 2 full time staff
• Contracted with the Minneapolis Public High Schools to identify youth at “imminent risk of homelessness”
• HPRP funding pays for staff salaries, rental assistance and mileage reimbursement
•Much of initial effort to create the program guidelines and paperwork and meeting with school staff
Who qualifies?
• High school students at imminent risk of homelessness• going to be kicked out• going to run due to family conflict/abuse• about to be evicted or exited from a housing program• couch hopping (with new definitions of homelessness this is
changing)
• Households containing high school student that are at imminent risk of homelessness (usually a family)• typically facing eviction or domestic violence• often have a recent loss of income
Hope Street’s
School Outreach Homelessness Prevention Program
Hope Street is part of Catholic Charities and is most well known for its youth homeless shelter. It is located inside of St. Joseph’s Home for Children off of 46th & Chicago. We also have a transitional living program for 8 young men on site and staff who do street outreach.
The school outreach program is funded with federal HPRP funds (from the stimulus package). Our mission is to identify youth who are imminent risk of homelessness and prevent them from becoming homeless. However, we are able to work with youth who are already homeless or at risk of homelessness, but can’t use HPRP funds on those youth.
While our focus is on youth I can also work with families. Additionally, I am fluent in Spanish.
Saleha Erdmann (612) 237-2615—can receive text messages [email protected]
I will prioritize youth at imminent risk of homelessness: those who are couch hopping, are going to be kicked out, who are going to be evicted, or are about to run away.
I am able to work with 7 youth at each school. You can refer anyone who is having housing issues to me, but I will prioritize those who are at imminent risk of homelessness.
I help with the following things:
Finding independent housing Referrals to transitional housing Eviction prevention funds* First month’s rent and deposit* Landlord mediation Family mediation
Accessing benefits (e.g.
foodstamps) Obtaining vital documents & ID Occasional bus passes, toiletries,
clothing Referral to other services like
employment counselors, foodshelves, clinics, etc.
*HPRP eligible clients only
homeless youth are staying in shelter or on the street (e.g. camping outside or sleeping in a car).
at risk of homelessness: those who were kicked out but have found a long term place to stay, who are having major conflict at home , are in an overcrowded living space, those who anticipate a major loss of income, etc.
As I am able, I can also work with homeless youth, who are staying in shelter or on the street (e.g. camping outside or sleeping in a car).
Youth at risk of homelessness: those who were kicked out but have found a long term place to stay, who are having major conflict at home , are in an overcrowded living space, those who anticipate a major loss of income, etc.
Explanation I gave the social workers this fall
The Process
1. School social workers make a referral
The Process
1. School social workers make a referral* Ideal since SW’s can prescreen, introduce the youth, and provide a safe/consistent meeting space
The Process
1. School social workers make a referral* Ideal since SW’s can prescreen, introduce the youth, and provide a safe/consistent meeting space
2. Intake with the youth
The Process
1. School social workers make a referral* Ideal since SW’s can prescreen, introduce the youth, and provide a safe/consistent meeting space
2. Intake with the youth
3. Start services
The Process
1. School social workers make a referral* Ideal since SW’s can prescreen, introduce the youth, and provide a safe/consistent meeting space
2. Intake with the youth
3. Start services * Meet at least weekly (depending on school attendance) in school, or home visits with households
Numbers (approximately)
~100 youth screened since October 2009
39% minors (14-17 years)/61% adults (18-22 years)
69% female/31% male 85% individuals/15% households (e.g.
families)
50% already kicked out 75% very little or no income (under
$400/month) 46% currently abused (most emotionally) 45% acknowledge MH issues
Housing Services
Family reunification• Very rare• Most successful
cases have not been due to us
Housing Services
Family reunification• Very rare• Most successful
cases have not been due to us
Family mediation• Keeping a youth
from being kicked out
• Negotiating to let a youth stay until other housing is found
Housing Services
Family reunification• Very rare• Most successful
cases have not been due to us
Family mediation• Keeping a youth
from being kicked out
• Negotiating to let a youth stay until other housing is found
Relocation• Finding another
stable adult youth can live with
• e.g. another relative or friend
Housing Services
Eviction prevention • HPRP funds• Landlord
mediation
Family reunification• Very rare• Most successful
cases have not been due to us
Family mediation• Keeping a youth
from being kicked out
• Negotiating to let a youth stay until other housing is found
Relocation• Finding another
stable adult youth can live with
• e.g. another relative or friend
Housing Services
Eviction prevention • HPRP funds• Landlord
mediation
Referrals to transitional living programs (TLP’s)• Usually have 2-12
month waiting lists• Require youth to
be homeless before move inFamily reunification• Very rare• Most successful
cases have not been due to us
Family mediation• Keeping a youth
from being kicked out
• Negotiating to let a youth stay until other housing is found
Relocation• Finding another
stable adult youth can live with
• e.g. another relative or friend
Housing Services
Eviction prevention • HPRP funds• Landlord
mediation
Referrals to transitional living programs (TLP’s)• Usually have 2-12
month waiting lists• Require youth to
be homeless before move in
Referrals to other supportive housing• Section 8/Public
Housing• Family programs
Family reunification• Very rare• Most successful
cases have not been due to us
Family mediation• Keeping a youth
from being kicked out
• Negotiating to let a youth stay until other housing is found
Relocation• Finding another
stable adult youth can live with
• e.g. another relative or friend
Housing Services
Eviction prevention • HPRP funds• Landlord
mediation
Referrals to transitional living programs (TLP’s)• Usually have 2-12
month waiting lists• Require youth to
be homeless before move in
Independent housing• Housing search • Landlord
referral • HPRP funds
Referrals to other supportive housing• Section 8/Public
Housing• Family programs
Family reunification• Very rare• Most successful
cases have not been due to us
Family mediation• Keeping a youth
from being kicked out
• Negotiating to let a youth stay until other housing is found
Relocation• Finding another
stable adult youth can live with
• e.g. another relative or friend
Housing Services
Eviction prevention • HPRP funds• Landlord
mediation
Referrals to transitional living programs (TLP’s)• Usually have 2-12
month waiting lists• Require youth to
be homeless before move in
Independent housing• Housing search • Landlord
referral • HPRP funds
Referrals to other supportive housing• Section 8/Public
Housing• Family programs
Family reunification• Very rare• Most successful
cases have not been due to us
Family mediation• Keeping a youth
from being kicked out
• Negotiating to let a youth stay until other housing is found
Relocation• Finding another
stable adult youth can live with
• e.g. another relative or friend
Shelter referral• Sometimes the
safest option is to go to shelter
Housing Services
Eviction prevention • HPRP funds• Landlord
mediation
Referrals to transitional living programs (TLP’s)• Usually have 2-12
month waiting lists• Require youth to
be homeless before move in
Independent housing• Housing search • Landlord
referral • HPRP funds
Referrals to other supportive housing• Section 8/Public
Housing• Family programs
Family reunification• Very rare• Most successful
cases have not been due to us
Family mediation• Keeping a youth
from being kicked out
• Negotiating to let a youth stay until other housing is found
Relocation• Finding another
stable adult youth can live with
• e.g. another relative or friend
Shelter referral• Sometimes the
safest option is to move a youth to shelter
Most common:TLP referralsRelocationFamily mediation
Other Support Services
• accessing benefits like food stamps
• resource referrals—clinics, financial assistance, employment
• mental health & disability assessments
• supplies—clothes, toiletries, bus passes, school supplies
• support in exiting/avoiding gangs
• language translation
• vital documents
Other Support Services
• accessing benefits like food stamps
• resource referrals—clinics, financial assistance, employment
• mental health & disability assessments
• supplies—clothes, toiletries, bus passes, school supplies
• support in exiting/avoiding gangs
• language translation
• vital documents
Independent Living Skills!!!!!• Even if a
youth can afford independent housing, they usually don’t know how to maintain it
Mental and Emotional Support• coping skills• addressing
trauma• mentoring
Challenges & Successes
Need for long term case management
Not enough supportive housing for youth
Landlords rarely will rent to minors
Lack of income Immaturity
21 youth received rental assistance (17 through HPRP)
66% are housed/were housed at discharge
New collaboration w/ schools, landlords, legal agencies, employment agencies & immigration assistance
Youth connected to new support services
Challenges Successes
THE END