Foster Youth Housing Initiative Final Evaluation Report Funder and Grantee Convening May 2009.

Foster Youth Housing Initiative

Final Evaluation ReportFunder and Grantee

Convening

May 2009

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3FYHI Final Evaluation ReportMay 2009

Goals of the Web Seminar

Review findings of the FYHI evaluation Direct services Capacity building Systems-change

Discuss strategies to utilize information Program improvement Fundraising

Review policy implications Assembly Bill 12: California Fostering Connections to

Success Act Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program


FYHI Goals

Direct Services ($1,425,000) Provide grants to nonprofit organizations for direct services and

housing assistance to former foster youth. At least 150 youth will receive direct housing and supportive services

through the grantee projects.

Capacity Building ($350,000) Provide financial and technical assistance to seven capacity building

projects through a grant to the Corporation for Supportive Housing. These projects are designed to result in at least 40 new housing units

for former foster youth and increased housing development capacity for the grantees.

Systems Change ($150,000) Convene stakeholders and identify key policy priorities. Provide financial assistance to the Burton Foundation’s THP-Plus

Statewide Technical Assistance Project, which assists counties, housing developers, and housing providers access and utilize THP-Plus funds.


Direct ServicesResearch Questions and MethodsKey Questions

What changes over time (in terms of education, employment, income, parenting, community integration, life skills, and behavioral health) do youth participants experience?

What predictions of future success do service providers have for former foster youth?

What successes and challenges in program implementation have service providers encountered?

What financial impact to the public does the intervention have over time?

Methods Baseline (186) and final follow-up (130) surveys from

youth participants. Almost three quarters of these surveys come from First

Place (36%); Center for Venture Philanthropy (21%); and Tri-City (16%).

Focus groups: Held focus groups with youth from two programs.

Key informant interviews with each direct service grantee


Direct ServicesKey Findings: Housing Stability

Programs have provided 586 youth with stable housing at a stage in their lives when former foster youth are at risk of homelessness.

The youth had an average housing tenure of 16 months, and are now more able to afford stable housing; 83% of the youth either currently have sufficient monthly income for stable housing, or are on a path to having sufficient monthly income.


Direct ServicesKey Findings: Educational Attainment

For those who had a high school degree, GED, or less, 68% of them completed additional schooling while in the program.

Youth devoted more hours to being in school while in the program, increasing the average number of hours spent in school per week from 3.8 to 11 hours.

Improvement in Educational Attainment From Baseline to Final Data Collection

(n=112)

Youth are more engaged in education and increasing their educational attainment.

Attained higher

education beyond high

school or GED 43%

No school attainment

32%

Attained high school or GED

degree25%

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Direct ServicesKey Findings: Income

FYHI Final Evaluation ReportMay 2009

Participants’ total income increased almost 50% from intake to final data collection. For those in the program six months or more, monthly income rose 44% from $706 to $1,013.

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Direct ServicesKey Findings: Health and Well-Being


Youth are meeting their physical and mental health needs more effectively.

For youth who were in the program for at least six months, 19% of increased access to health care services and 25% have increased access to mental health services. This is especially true for youth who have children.For youth facing serious mental health issues, providers reported that 61% are sufficiently connected to mental health services to be able to maintain their housing and thrive.

Youth reported decreased depression and a more positive overall outlook on life.

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Direct ServicesKey Findings: Parenthood

The proportion of youth living with their children rose from 51% to 90%, indicating an increase in custodial rights.


Youth who have children are helping to break the cycle of foster care by regaining parental custody of their children.

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Direct ServicesKey Findings: Juvenile Justice Involvement

Relatively few youth had contact with the criminal justice system during the program, and providers expect that even fewer of them will have contact after exit.

Providers reported that 15% of the youth had contact with the justice system during the program, and providers expect 11% to have contact in the future.


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Cost Benefit Key Findings: Financial Benefits of FYHI


The cost-benefit analysis of the FYHI program shows that the original investment in one youth is paid off sometimes between 10 and 15 years.

In over 40 years, the net benefit to the public sector for one youth is almost $90,000.

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Cost Benefit Key Findings: Financial Benefits of FYHI


Cost Benefit Analysis for the Average FYHI Youth:Projected net benefit over a 40-year career

Average Cost for 2-Year FYHI Program

$43,857

One-Time Program Costs

After: Benefit Cost Net Benefit

40 Years: (40 x $3,346) - $43,857 = + $89,983

Cost / Benefit

Avoided Costs to Public Sector AnnuallyAverage

Average Cost Avoided CostFYHI FFY FFY-FYHI

Contact with Criminal Justice System: $8 $63 $55Emergency Shelter Utilization: $375 $517 $142Public Assistance Receipt: $2,257 $3,432 $1,175 Total: $2,640 $4,012 $1,372

Benefits to PublicAverage

Average Taxes Additional TaxesYearly Tax Revenues: FYHI FFY (FYHI-FFY)

40-year projection: $3,304 $1,330 $1,974

Total Annual Benefits

40-year: $1,372 + $1,974 = $3,346

Annual Benefits


Capacity BuildingResearch Questions and Methods

Key Questions What progress are grantees making on their

projects to develop housing units for former foster youth?

In what ways has participating in FYHI built grantee capacity to develop housing for this population?

Methods Baseline and follow-up survey completed by all

grantees Review of grant documentation Key informant interviews with all grantees


Capacity BuildingKey Findings: Benefits of FYHI Participation

Organizations found high-quality consultants, freeing up staff time

Some organizations hired additional staff with housing development backgrounds

Association with Corporation for Supportive Housing imparted legitimacy

Grantees were well positioned to take advantage of THP-Plus funding


Capacity BuildingKey Findings: Increased Capacity for Providers

Service providers have learned about housing development

Developers have learned about how to design housing for this particular population

Both types of grantees have learned a great deal about how to navigate funding sources


Capacity BuildingKey Findings: Development of Housing Units

Number of Units Coming Online 2006-2009

Capacity Building Grantee Location Number of Units

Unity Care San Jose

Lutheran Social Services Northern CA

Greater New Beginnings Oakland

Total

Number of Units Coming Online 2010-2011

Capacity Building Grantee Location Number of Units

Affordable Housing Advocates and Fred Finch Berkeley/Oakland

Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center San Francisco

Bill Wilson Center Santa Clara

Booker T. Washington San Francisco

Abode Services (formerly Tri-City Homeless Coalition)

Fremont

Total

Number of Units

11

10

24

45

Number of Units

15

8-10

20-25

12+

15-20

70-82


Capacity BuildingGrantee Perspective

Capacity Building Grantee Experience:Abode Services

(formerly Tri-City Homeless Coalition)


Systems ChangeResearch Questions and Methods

Key Questions What benchmarks have been reached that

indicate progress made toward systems change?

What policy and budgetary changes have occurred that indicate success around systems change?

Methods Key informant interviews with Burton staff and

other stakeholders. Review of monthly activity reports from the

Burton Foundation.

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Systems ChangeActivities and Accomplishments

Advocated for an increase in the state THP-Plus budget from $10M to $35M

Counties implementing THP-Plus grew from 5 to 44 Children participating in THP-Plus grew from 200 to

1,300 Statewide survey of youth in THP-Plus that received

500 responses Served as convener through statewide and regional

trainings Developed a list and distributed information

regularly to over 600 people


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Next Steps for Evaluation Dissemination

Professionally designed executive summary

Opinion piece in the SF Chronicle AB12 advocacy Possible journal article


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Possible Uses for FYHI Evaluation Information

Internal Uses• Share results with management team and

program staff: congratulate them!• Compare outcomes of group to your

organization External Uses• Send the published report to funders• Write about the results in a letter to major

donors• Include in your newsletter, website and annual

reportFYHI Final Evaluation ReportMay 2009

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AB 12: California Fostering Connections to Success Act

Eligibility Court oversight and child welfare

services Implementation date Placement types• Foster Family Home• Kinship• Group Home• THPP• THP-Plus• Supervised Independent Living Placement

(SILP)

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Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program

$1.5 billon available nationally In California: • $144 million to entitled jurisdictions• $44 million to State of California HCD

Eligible Activities:• Financial Assistance• Housing Relocation and Stabilization• Data Collection and Evaluation • Administration

Contracts with Sub-Grantees: September 30th

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HPRP Allocations of Jurisdictions of FYHI Grantees

ALAMEDA $552,208

ALAMEDA COUNTY $802,915

BERKELEY $1,332,952

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY $1,421,551

DALY CITY $510,070

FREMONT $682,331

OAKLAND $3,458,120

RICHMOND $559,735

SAN FRANCISCO $8,757,780

SAN JOSE $4,128,763

SAN MATEO COUNTY $1,166,526

SANTA CLARA COUNTY $717,484

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Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program Financial Assistance

• Rental assistance (may be full or shallow subsidies and may be graduated/declining)

• security deposits • utility deposits• utility payments (for up to 18 months and up to 6 months

arrearages)• moving cost assistance –includes truck rental, moving

assistance and up to 3 months storage• motel and hotel vouchers

Housing Relocation and Stabilization• Case management –arrangement ,coordination, monitoring and

delivery of services related to meeting the housing needs of program participants

• Outreach and engagement • Housing search and placement – assistance locating, obtaining

and retaining housing• Legal services – legal services to help people stay in their

rental homes • Credit repair –budgeting, money managements and resolving

credit issues

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HPRP: What You Can Do

Review substantial plan amendment for your jurisdiction

Identify point person in your jurisdiction

Educate other homeless youth providers

Attend planning meetings Make the case for homeless youth Apply for funding Stay informed about state process

More information about HPRP on June 10th Web Seminar

Foster Youth Housing Initiative Final Evaluation Report Funder and Grantee Convening May 2009.

Documents

Transcript of Foster Youth Housing Initiative Final Evaluation Report Funder and Grantee Convening May 2009.