“Moore” Homes Bringing “housing first” to Charlotte to end chronic homelessness.
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“Moore” Homes Bringing “housing first” to Charlotte to end chronic homelessness
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Transcript of “Moore” Homes Bringing “housing first” to Charlotte to end chronic homelessness.
“Moore” HomesBringing “housing first” to Charlotte to end chronic homelessness
Who We AreServing Charlotte’s homeless for 20 years
The Urban Ministry Center (UMC) is an interfaith organization dedicated to bringing the community together to end homelessness, one life at a time.
A Continuum of Care from Streets to HomesBasic Services: Soup kitchen, showers, laundry, mail, counseling , access to medical services
Enrichment Programs: Building relationships through soccer, art, music, gardening,and advocacy.
Room in the Inn: Emergency winter shelter program coordinating 130+ congregations and organizations. Provided over 17,000 beds in 2012-2013 season. SABER: Substance abuse treatment and transitional housing program
HousingWorks: Permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless at Moore Place and in scattered site apartments.
Different Types of Homeless NeighborsSituationally HomelessA household who becomes homeless after one or more life changes Majority end homelessness relatively quickly.
Episodically HomelessMultiple episodes of homelessness over a long period of time. Episodes become shorter with time. Chronically HomelessHomeless continuously 1 year or longer OR at least 4 episodes of homelessness in the past 3 years. Also living with a disabling condition.
Research shows that the chronically homeless make up approximately 10 – 15% of the homeless population, yet use up 50% of crisis response services while remaining in homelessness year after year.
“Housing First” – A Proven ModelBegan in NYC in 1990s
Belief that everyone is “housing ready” and housing is a basic human right
Key = Supportive Services
Recognized by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as an evidence-based practice. HUD attributes the national reduction in chronic homelessness to the housing first approach
Once the chaos of homelessness is eliminated from a person's life, clinical and social stabilization occur faster and are more enduring.
How it StartedPilot Project: Homeless to Homes
• Charlotte’s first “Housing First” program - 2008
• Perfect storm of inspiration, research, & funding
• May 2008: First 14 moved into community-based apartments with wrap-around support
• Immediate results – 11/14 remain housed 5 years later
• Program grew to 45 through a combination of Shelter Plus Care vouchers, CoC dollars, and private support.
• 93% retention rate
How it GrewMoore Place: Building on Results• Successfulpilot led to vision for Moore
Place. Capital campaign begins 2009.
• Single site with secured entrance allows those needing higher level of care (mental illness, domestic abuse) a safer environment than scattered site. On-site case management and health services.
• Coalition of public, private and faith donors. Partnerships with Charlotte Housing Authority, Mecklenburg County, & Carolinas HealthCare System.
• Capital financing from NCHFA, CHA, FHLB, Charlotte Housing Trust Fund, foundations, faith, and private donors.
How it GrewUsing a Targeted ApproachVulnerability Index
807 chronically homeless individuals identified
48% vulnerable
128 interviewed in jail - 2nd most common location after UMC
84% respondents had been in jail – misdemeanors related to homelessness common
291 (32%) reported being a victim of a violent attack since becoming homeless
Average length of homelessness = 5.2 years; 2 respondents had 35+ years of homelessness
How it GrewMoore Place: Finally Home
• Moore Place Grand Opening - February 1, 2012.
• Residents have primary healthcare, access to psychiatric care, and on-site case management.
• Residents contribute 30% of income to rent. Collection rate 99%.
• Community has been created through holiday dinners, BBQ’s, Bingo, movie nights, Bible studies, art, gardening and wellness groups.
• Peer support & on-site security enhance resident success.
How it HelpsResidents: The Results• 85 men and women living with
disabling conditions no longer at risk of dying on streets.
• 50% previously had no healthcare. All now connected to coordinated primary care and psychiatric care.
• Number of residents obtaining a source of income increased from 50% to 82%.
• Quality of life improvements as residents reconnect with family, learn new skills, attend classes, and participate in therapeutic activities.
• 94% housing retention after 18 months
• Average length of homelessness = 7 years.
How it HelpsCharlotte: The BenefitsUNCC study comparing two years prior to move-in versus one year housed:
• 78% reduction in ER visits (449 fewer)
• 79% reduction in hospitalizations (377 fewer)
• $1.8 million cost savings in hospital usage
• 84% reduction in days spent in jail
Community Savings Housing the Chronically Homeless:
$25,000 per Person
$39,458 $13,998
Total ER/Hospital Bill 1 Year Prior to Moore
PlaceTotal ER/Hospital Bill 1 Year After Moore Place
$2,562,916
$760,767
A Community ResponseMoore Place builds on UMC’s strong history of collaborating with community partners
Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Providers
Mecklenburg County, NCCommuni ty Suppor t Serv ices
Faith Community
In Their Own WordsWhat Housing Means to Me
“I was homeless for 2 ½ years now, and now I have my own place. If I was still on the streets I probably be dead.”
“Housing is having my own. It’s a beginning, it’s hope, it’s a gift. I no longer worry from day to day, night to night, minute to minute who, what, where, when, how, or/and why.”
“Housing means being able to take care of my health and support from people that care.”
“Housing to me means no more sleeping from pillow to post. It means that someone cares, and people like myself are not forgotten.”
“Regaining a certain amount of independence through housing has been important to my self-confidence. Not living by somebody else’s schedule is also a blessing. In the shelter I was always living by their schedule. Also, having chronic illness I have taken a more pro-active approach to my health. Housing really means peace of mind.”
“I have a sense of being in a place that is safe, and I can feel responsible. I can work towards getting my life back to normal and feeling that I’m a part of society again and I can make a difference.”
“Housing means hope.”
In Their Own Words:Phillip
“I was homeless for a good many years. It was very difficult without a place to stay.I would stay on the streets most of the time. You would have to be alert at all times. The stress would be very hard on the body. Having no place to go was the most difficult problem to face. It was like a merry-go-round, wandering in circles.
Getting into Moore Place became life-saving for me. There needs to be more places likethis to end homelessness. It almost feels like a miracle to have a place to go to. I wonder why ending homelessness is not a higher priority in the community. No one should have to experience this lifestyle.”
Philip is an example of the power of housing. Prior to being housed at Moore Place, he was homeless 17 years suffering from significant mental illness and alcohol problems. He was also identified by the city’s criminal justice system as one of their highest users. In the two years prior to being housed Phillip was:
• Arrested 31 times• Jailed for 217 days at an average cost of $110 per night
Phillip has been stably housed for more than sixteen months. He had one arrest just after moving in. Since then, he has had no further arrests.
“Moore” HomesSaving Lives and Money
Success of UMC’s HousingWorks hasled to:
• Plans to add an additional 35units of permanent supportive housing, maximizing existing prop-erty and resources on the site.• 45 new units of scattered site housing for chronically homeless who are frequent users of the jails(contract with Mecklenburg County)
“A measure of a city is not how we care for the greatest among us but how we care for the least.”
Left: Ronnie on the day he moved into Moore Place in February 2012 after more than eighteen years on
the streets. Today on right after more than a year in stable
housing.
To learn more about Urban Ministry Center or our supportive housing programs,
contact:
Caroline ChambreUrban Ministry Center
