SPRINGFIELD-HAMPDEN COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE

Board of Directors and Membership MeetingMHA, 995 Worthington St., Springfield

July 28, 2017, 1:30-3:30 pm

Minutes

Present: Emily English (Gandara Center), Cheryl Fasano (MHA), Janette Vigo (Way Finders), Janice Humason (FOH/CSO), Ann Lentini (Domus), Keith Rhone (FOH/CSO), Cheryl LaChance (Way Finders), Paul Bailey (Springfield Partners for Community Action), Maria Perez (New North Citizens Council), Linda Cruz (River Valley Counseling Center), Marianne Polmatier (River Valley Counseling Center), Rebecca Muller (Gandara), Kathryn Buckley-Brawner (Catholic Charities), Charlie Knight, Doreen Fadus (Mercy Medical Center), Pamela Schwartz (Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness), Alvina Brevard (MA Department of Housing and Community Development), Karen Dean (Hampden County Sheriff’s Dept.), Terry Maxey (Open Door/SMOC), Peter Miller (City of Westfied), Gerry McCafferty (City of Springfield).

1. Approval of Minutes . The Board reviewed the minutes from the June 9, 2017 meeting, Charlie Knight moved to approve, Maria Perez seconded the motion, and the board voted unanimously to approve the minutes.

2. Continuum of Care FY17 Competition Gerry McCafferty provided an update on the FY17 CoC competition. HUD released the NOFA on July 17, 2017, and applications are due September 28, 2017. HUD is using the two tier funding model again, where the CoC can expect to receive 94% of our renewal grant for projects we place in Tier 1, and our remaining projects in Tier 2 will only be funded if there are sufficient funds available. The CoC’s renewal amount is $3,279,746, and the CoC is eligible to apply for $339,807 in Permanent Housing Bonus funds. [Note added after the meeting: the originally cited bonus amount, which was published by HUD, was incorrect; our actual bonus allowance was $225,057.]

Gerry provided a prepared report, CoC Performance and Policy Issues – Report in Advance of the 2017 CoC Competition, which is attached to these minutes. The group reviewed and discussed the report. On some of the performance issues, there was discussion of whether results that were not as good as expected could be due to data quality issues, and renewed intention to improve data quality.

The Application and Ranking Committee had reviewed and updated the proposed ranking selection and reallocation process for the 2017 competition, set out in the attachment entitled CoC Application Ranking, Selection and Reallocation Process 2017, The Board reviewed the proposed process. Charlie Knight moved that the Board approve the proposed process, Kathryn Buckley Brawner seconded the motion, and the Board voted unanimously to approve.

1

In the discussion about the FY17 competition, the Board recommended that the Application and Ranking Committee prioritize projects that would provide: 1) assistance for youth 18-24; 2) low demand PSH is Holyoke, 3) PSH for families, and 4) assistance for non-EA families, especially those who are domestic violence victims, not citizens, and over income for state assistance..

3. Reports on CoC Initiatives

Unaccompanied YouthGerry McCafferty reported that HUD has offered the CoC technical assistance to support us in creating a plan to end youth homelessness. The TA has been offered to communities that scored above a certain threshold in the 2016 Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program but were not selected for funding. The goal of the TA is to improve our likelihood of being funded in the 2017 YHDP round. The Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Committee will work with the TA provider.

Built for ZeroThe CoC sent a team of 6 to the first of four nation-wide Community Solutions Learning Sessions in April 2017. These team did strategic planning around ending chronic homelessness, focusing on two key drivers: 1) Increasing the number of monthly placements of chronically homeless persons into housing (by increasing available housing units and speeding up housing processes) and 2) preventing people from “aging in” to chronic homelessness (by focusing case management on those at risk of becoming chronic). The team set an ambitious goal of reducing the number of people on our chronic by-name list by 40% in 4 months.

The team will attend the next Learning Session in Denver in September.

Family Resource FairPamela Schwartz reported on the June 8, 2017 Family Resource Fair organized by the Family Services Committee of the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness. The fair was a huge success, with over 70 participating agencies, and feedback from participants that it was great information, great energy, and great way to meet people and discover resources. The group has already decided to do it again next year – June 7, 2018.

4. Board of Directors Recruitment The continued conversation on recruitment of Board members was postponed due to time.

5. Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness Pamela Schwartz reported that the Governor vetoed the earmark for the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness, which eliminates the Network’s primary source of funding for the upcoming year. The Network is seeking agency contributions to sustain its critical work.

2

CoC Performance and Policy Issues – Report in advance of FY17 CoC CompetitionJuly 24, 2017

System Performance

√ Reduce the Number of Homeless Individuals and Families

Point-in-Time Count – sheltered and unsheltered people counted on the last Wed. in Jan.Sheltered Unsheltered Total

2016 PIT 2350 35 23852017 PIT 2258 53 2311Change 4% decrease 45% increase 3% decrease

Annual Homeless Assessment Report - persons in HMIS over the course of one yearFY15 AHAR 6607FY16 AHAR 5998Change 9% reduction

The Cod will not earn full points on this measure because the number of unsheltered persons increased.

Almost the entire reduction for the point-in-time count was in the family shelter system.

√ Reduce the Number of First-Time Homeless

FY15 3218FY16 3125Change 3% reduction

≈ Reduce the Length of Time Homeless

Average LOT homeless (bed nights) Median LOT homeless (bed nights)FY15 210 141FY16 210 129Change 0% -8.5%

The CoC’s average length of time homeless stayed the same, but the CoC did have a reduction of 8.5% in the median length of time homeless

≈ Successful Permanent Housing Placement or Retention

Persons in ES, TH, SH and RRH who existed to permanent housing

Persons in PSH who remain or exit to other permanent housing

FY15 32% 96%FY16 40% 92%Change 8% -4%

There are 2 metrics for this factor – the CoC increased the rate for the first metric, but decreased the rate for the second.

3

? Reduce Returns to Homelessness

Return in less than 6 months

Return in 6-12 months

Return in 13-24 months

Total returns in 2 years

Exit from ES 1% 1% 8% 10%Exit from TH 0% 0% 0% 0%Exit from PH 0% 0% 1% 2%Total exits 1% 1% 6% 8%

Factor looks for reduction in this measure, but HUD measured for the first time in FY16, so we do not yet have comparison data; other indications show that HUD expects this rate to be less than 15%, and our CoC meets this standard.

× Increase Jobs and Income for Adult Participants in CoC-Funded Programs Points are awarded for an increase from FY15 to FY16, but the CoC experienced a decrease.

System StayersSystem Leavers

Earned income

Non-employment

income

Total income Earned income

Non-employment

income

Total income

FY15 3% 29% 31% 14% 26% 40%FY16 2% 22% 23% 4% 35% 39%Change -1% -6% -8% -10% 9% -1%

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

√ HMIS Data Quality Report

Report was required to be included with System Performance Measures report, and ours was included.

≈ HMIS Bed Coverage

Total HIC beds

Beds dedicated for DV

Total beds in HMIS

HMIS bed coverage rate

Emergency Shelter beds 2318 61 2217 98.23%Safe Havens beds 7 0 7 100.00%Transitional housing beds 125 84 18 43.90%Rapid Rehousing beds 1295 0 1295 100.00%Permanent Supportive Housing beds 951 0 590 62.04%Other Permanent Housing beds 162 0 87 53.70%TOTAL BEDS 4858 145 4214 89.41%

4

HUD seeks bed coverage rate of at least 84%, which the CoC meets, but CoC will lose points because it doesn’t meet the 84% level for every housing type.

5

Population Performance and Strategic Planning

√ Ending Chronic Homelessness

Number of chronically homeless individualsSheltered Unsheltered Total

2016 PIT 154 16 1702017 PIT 115 17 132Change 25% decrease 6% increase 22% decrease

Number of beds dedicated to chronically homeless individuals or families2016 HIC 4922017 HIC 402Change 18% decrease

This measure includes both chronically homeless individuals and families. The CoC will not get full points for this measure because there was an increase (of 1) in the

number of unsheltered chronically homeless persons, and because the total number of PSH beds dedicated to chronically homeless persons decreased.

√ Ending Homelessness Among Households with Children

Total Number of Homeless Households with Children at PIT count2016 5522017 513Change 7% decrease

Total Number of Rapid Rehousing Units for Families (at HIC)2016 3152017 385Change 22% increase

√ Ending Youth Homelessness The application does not ask about this data; it is provided here for informational purposes.

Total Number of Youth at PIT CountIndividual Youth Parenting Youth Total Youth

2016 44 111 1552017 35 106 141Change 20% decrease 5% decrease 9% decrease

√ Ending Veteran Homelessness

Number of homeless veterans at PIT countSheltered Unsheltered Total

2016 25 0 252017 12 2 14Change 52% decrease 200% increase 44% decrease

6

Policy Items to Address

Addressing the Needs of Victims of Domestic Violence

CoC Board of Directors should include a Victims service provider. (Outreach) The CoC should provide training to CoC providers and CES operators on best practices in serving

survivors of domestic violence. (Schedule training) CoC must use statistics and other available data about domestic violence to assess the scope of

community needs related to domestic violence and homelessness. Coordinated assessment must include safety planning protocols. (Research, meeting to discuss) Within project review and ranking, include a specific method for evaluating projects submitted

by victim service providers that utilize data generated from a comparable database and considered the unique circumstances of these providers and the population they serve.

Addressing the Needs of LGBT Individuals

LGBT organizations or advocacy groups should be included in CoC membership. (Outreach) CoC should train providers on HUD rules re Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity. (Schedule

training) The CoC should adopt and implement a CoC-wide anti-discrimination policy. (9/22 Annual

Meeting)

Coordination with Public Housing Authorities (5 largest housing authorities in our geographic area)

The responses for this question on our FY16 application:

Housing Authority % homeless at entry PreferenceSpringfield 11% Yes-HCVHolyoke 0% NoChicopee 72% Yes-Public hsgWestfield 34% NoWest Springfield 0% No

CoC should meet with HHA, WHA, and WSHA prior to application submittal. (Outreach)

Street Outreach

CoC should implemented outreach procedures to ensure that all persons experiencing homelessness are aware of the housing and services providers within the CoC’s geographic area. Specifically, must demonstrate that the CoC’s street outreach covers 100 percent of the CoC’s geographic area, is conducted on a regular basis, and is tailored to reach those that are least likely to request assistance. (Meetings, draft outreach plan)

Affirmative Outreach

CoC and providers use procedures to market housing and supportive services to eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, familial status, or disability who are least likely to apply in the absence of special outreach. (Research, provide info on those least likely to apply, craft marketing)

7

CoC provides effective communication to persons with disabilities and to ensure meaningful access to persons with limited English proficiency. (Check providers for RA and LEP policies)

Chronic Homelessness

CoC must adopt order of priority in HUD Notice CPD 16-11. To be addressed at 9/22 Annual Meeting.

Families with Children

CoC should have a policy that prioritizes households with children based on need. (CoC will point to use of Family VISPDAT.)

CoC should have a strategy to rapidly rehouse families within 30 days of when they become homeless.

CoC must demonstrate that youth and families are informed of and receive access to services through programs such as Public Pre-K, Head Start, Child Care and Development Fund, and home visiting. Maximum points where there are written agreements in place between the CoC or its HUD-funded projects and educational services, including those for children ages 0-5.

Unaccompanied Youth

CoC should prioritize unaccompanied youth based on need. (CoC will point to use of TAY-SPDAT.)

CoC must demonstrate that it is addressing unsheltered homelessness, trafficking, and other forms of exploitation experienced by homeless unaccompanied youth.

CoC should demonstrate the strategies used by the CoC, including additional funding secured, to increase the availability of housing and services for youth, especially those experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

CoC must show collaboration with youth education providers, McKinney-Vento local educational authorities, and school districts- maximum points where there are formal partnerships with these entities.

Veterans

CoC must demonstrate that it identifies, assesses, and refers homeless veterans who are eligible for VA services and housing to appropriate resources. (Regular case conferencing and BNL)

8

SPRINGFIELD HAMPDEN COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE

CoC Application Ranking, Selection and Reallocation Process 2017

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the Continuum of Care (COC) FY2017 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on July 14, 2017. The NOFA is available at https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/FY-2017-CoC-Program-Competition-NOFA.pdf.

The Springfield Hampden County CoC will submit a collaborative application to HUD for competition funds by September 28, 2017. The application may include renewal and new projects in the following categories:

1. Grantees with current FY16 projects seeking renewal of those same projects2. Grantees with current FY16 projects seeking to expand the existing project3. Applicants seeking funds for the following types of new projects:

Permanent Supportive Housing for chronically homeless individuals or families, Rapid Rehousing programs that will serve homeless individuals and families who enter

directly from the streets or emergency shelters, youth up to age 24, and persons who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, and

Joint Transitional Housing-Rapid Rehousing programs, in which a single provider operates both transitional housing and rapid rehousing programs, and makes both types of assistance available to eligible homeless individuals or families.

New applications will be considered for reallocation (replacing all or part of existing project (s) which will no longer be funded) or as part of new bonus funding.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Project applications for NEW, EXPANSION, and RENEWAL projects must be submitted to the CoC in the electronic esnaps system no later than 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 25, 2017.

Scoring of applications will be completed by the CoC Scoring and Ranking Committee, which will be made up of CoC members who are not employed by or associated with any of the project sponsors applying for funds. The sole exception to this rule is the City of Springfield, which is a recipient of the HMIS grant, but is permitted to serve on the CoC Ranking and Scoring Committee because HMIS grants are automatically prioritized by the CoC in order to meet HUD HMIS requirements.

The CoC Scoring and Ranking Committee will score submitted proposals according to objective criteria provided as part of the application process, and will rank proposals in order according to scores. The committee will then consider overall CoC priorities and strategy to determine a final list of projects to be submitted to HUD, and the amounts of funding to be requested for each project. Proposers will be notified in writing no later than September 13, 2017 of whether they will be included in the application to HUD and the amount to be allocated for each project. The list and rationale for selection shall be

9

posted on the website of the Springfield-Hampden County Continuum of Care (https://springfieldhampdencoc.wordpress.com/) on that date. Applicants not selected may appeal directly to HUD.

Funding Amounts are as follows:

Tier 1: 94% of Renewal Amount $3,082,961

Tier 2:

6% of Renewal Amount $196,785

Permanent Housing Bonus Amount $339,807

Total competitive funds for which the CoC may apply $3,619,553

Projects submitted to HUD in Tier 1 are expected to be funded, provided that the project meets HUD eligibility and threshold requirements. Tier 2 projects will be awarded funds by HUD based on a comparative score computed using: the CoC ‘s FY2017 application competitive score (up to 50 points), the rank the CoC gives to the project (up to 40 points), and commitment to Housing First/low-barrier entry (up to 10 points).

COC PRIORITIES FOR THE 2017FY COMPETITION

The CoC has identified the following populations and/or housing types as priorities for new projects in this competition:

Youth aged 18-24o Particularly appropriate for TH-RRH model

Non-EA eligible families (including families who are over-income for EA, and non-citizen families), emphasis on DV families

o Particularly appropriate for TH-RRH model Chronically homeless individuals

o The need is very low-barrier permanent supportive housing, and for units in Holyoke Chronically homeless families (both EA-eligible and non-EA eligible)

NOTE CONCERNING PROJECTS THAT SERVE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The CoC does not have any existing projects designed to serve victims of domestic violence. It encourages agencies that serve this population to apply for new funds. The CoC competition and operations are modified for projects designed to serve victims of domestic violence, in order to accommodate the particular need for privacy and safety required by these programs. The following modifications apply:

While all CoC-funded programs are required to participate in coordinated entry into housing and services, the CoC is creating policies and procedures to address privacy, confidentiality and

10

safety for victims of domestic violence, which will be in place before new grants are awarded and will make exceptions the coordinated entry requirement for these programs.

The performance of CoC programs are evaluated annually, and part of the performance evaluation includes review of measures in reports pulled directly by the CoC from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). However, domestic violence entities are prohibited from using the CoC’s HMIS, but must use a comparable data system. To accommodate the different data-keeping requirements, the CoC will request that DV programs submit their own aggregated data reports for the performance evaluation.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR RENEWALS AND NEW PROJECTS

The FY2017 CoC competition is open to renewal and eligible new projects, which will be scored competitively. The highest scoring projects will be included in the CoC application submitted to HUD.

Applicants will need to log in to esnaps to complete a renewal or new application.

Renewal. The City of Springfield will create renewal application files in esnaps for each existing project. Renewal applicants must open the renewal application, fill in missing information, update existing information, and upload any required supporting documents. Once complete, applicants must submit the renewal application in esnaps.

Expansion and New Projects. New project applicants must provide notice to Gerry McCafferty, gmccafferty@springfieldcityhall.com, of the intent to submit a new application and whether the new project being created is 1) permanent supportive housing, 2) rapid rehousing, or 3) joint transitional housing-rapid rehousing. Within 24 hours of notification, the new project application will be set up in esnaps and ready for entry of application information. Expansion and new project sponsors must open the new project application, fill in application information, and upload required supporting documents. Once complete, applicants must submit the expansion or new application in esnaps.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) for renewal, expansion, and new projects will be posted to the website of the Springfield-Hampden County CoC on August 2, 2017. This RFP will provide additional details regarding the application process.

ESNAPS GUIDANCE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Esnaps is available at www.esnaps.hud.gov. Any applicant that does not already have the ability to log in to the CoCs esnaps account must request access from Deborah Merkman, dmerkman@springfieldcityhall.com or 413-787-7746. Deborah Merkman can also provide technical assistance regarding esnaps use throughout the application process.

THRESHOLD REVIEW

In order to be considered for inclusion in the CoC’s consolidated application to HUD, projects must meet the following minimum thresholds:

11

Application is complete and data are consistent The project or proposed project uses a Housing First and/or Low Barrier model The applicant has provided documentation of secured minimum match A renewal project participates in coordinated entry, and a proposed new project commits to

participate in coordinated entry The project is financially feasible The applicant provides documentation of organizational financial stability

SCORING, RANKING, REALLOCATION AND SELECTION

All eligible applications which pass threshold review will be scored by the CoC Scoring and Ranking Committee, using the scoring rubrics attached to this guidance. Scores will determine each project’s rank in the CoC’s application to HUD, and rank will be the primary determinant of placement into Tier 1 and Tier 2. Scores may also be used to reject applications or to reduce budgets for low-scoring projects or over-funded projects.

Scoring and Ranking. The scoring rubric evaluates past performance (of renewal applicants) and promotes best practices or practices that will improve our local response to homelessness and align our response with national policies and best practices. These include:

Fidelity of commitment to a Housing First/Low-Demand service model; and Projects that promote geographic diversity of programs throughout our CoC.

Reallocation. Reallocation is the process of removing funding (in whole or in part) from a renewal project to fund a new project. There are several types of reallocation that may happen:

Renewal projects that are ranked below all other renewal and new projects and fall below the cut-off for Tier 2 will not be included in the application.

Low-scoring applications placed in Tier 2 may be reduced by the CoC Scoring and Ranking Committee in order to enable the CoC to fall within the Tier 2 limit.

Projects which consistently do not draw down 90% or more of funds may have budgets reduced by the CoC Scoring and Ranking Committee to conform to actual spending.

Selection. Once the committee completes the scoring and ranking, the committee may consider the CoC’s overall funding priorities, whether the initial scoring is likely to result in any critical service gaps, and strategy related to Tier cut offs and HUD’s selection process, and may make adjustments to budgets and produce the final ranking of projects to be included in the CoC application. The Committee’s rationale for any adjustments must be recorded and made public with the published rankings.

Because HMIS is required for the CoC and must be funded, HMIS grants will receive the maximum score. The CoC’s Coordinated Entry project, which has only been operational since August 1, 2016 and is not comparable to any other projects, will receive the maximum score this year. In addition, several projects which are eligible for renewal are new projects which have not yet completed an initial year of

12

operation. For this competition only, these projects will be placed at the top of Tier 1, because they reflect updated priorities for CoC prioritized funding, but have not yet been able to demonstrate performance.

Project selections, rankings and tier allocations will be provided to proposers by written notice and published on the following website no later than 4:00 pm on September 13, 2017:

Springfield-Hampden Continuum of Care

https://springfieldhampdencoc.wordpress.com/

Applicants not selected by the CoC to be included in the CoC submission to HUD may appeal by submitting their esnaps Solo Application directly to HUD no later than September 28, 2017, 7:59:59 p.m. eastern time.

TIMELINE

August 2, 2017 Hampden County CoC FY2017 Competition Opens

August 15, 2017 Bidders Conference (optional)

10:00 a.m. City of Springfield Office of Housing, 1600 E. Columbus Ave., Springfield, MA

August 28, 2017 Deadline for Submittal of Complete Application for Rating and Ranking

4:00 p.m. Complete applications include:

1. Esnaps submittal with following attachments uploaded: Documentation of agency 501(c)(3) status

2. Delivery of CoC Required Documents to the Springfield Office of Housing, 1600 E. Columbus Ave. Springfield. Renewal Applicants must submit:

Completed Housing First/Low Demand Self-Assessment Documentation of required match Current List of Board of Directors with identification of Officers

and termsNew Applicants must submit:

Documentation of required match Agency Articles of Incorporation Current List of Board of Directors with identification of Officers

and terms• Certified Organization Audit/Financial Statements of most

recent year: 1) Copy of OMB A-133 Audit (Required if $500,000 or more in aggregate Federal funds expended); or 2) Financial statements audited by a CPA (if not bound by the requirements of OMB A-133)

13

• Agency Financial Management Policies and Procedures• Agency Procurement Policies and Procedures

The following agency policies (required for federal funding): o Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest; o Drug-Free Workplace; o Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing; o Reasonable Accommodation and Accessibility for

Persons with Disabilities; o Nondiscrimination and Equal Employment; and o Confidentiality Policy.

September 13, 2017 Ranking and Selection Results posted on CoC website and sent to

4:00 pm applicants in writing

Sept. 25, 2017 Full CoC Application posted on CoC website

Sept. 28, 2017 CoC Application Submitted to HUD in esnaps

Any rejected applicants may submit esnaps Solo Application directly to HUD

no later than 7:59:59 p.m. eastern time on Sept. 28, 2017.

14

SCORING FOR RENEWAL APPLICATIONS FOR FY2016 COC PROGRAM COMPETITION

PERFORMANCE – 40 points

Housing Stabilization:Percent of persons who remain in or exit to permanent housing

90% or more - 30 points85-89% - 20 points80-84% - 10 points

Returns to homelessness:Percent of persons who exited program in 2014-2017 that returned to homelessness within 2 years of exit

Less than 15% - 5 points

Increase employment income:Percent of adult participants who increased employment income

8% or more - 2.5 points

Increase non-employment income:Percent of adult participants who increased non-employment income

10% or more - 2.5 points

PROJECT EFFECTIVENESS – 35 points

Utilization:Average number of beds/units filled during the grant period

90% or more - 15 points85-89% - 10 points

Fidelity to Housing First model:Score on Housing First Self-Assessment (on next page)

Score of 10 - 5 pointsScore of 7 to 9 - 1 point

Cost:Project has reasonable cost per permanent housing maintenance/exit

Below $11,000 - 5 points$11,000 to 16,000 – 2.5 points

Monitoring results:Project has no unaddressed monitoring findings or concerns (fiscal/program requirements) in most recent monitoring

No findings or concerns - 5 pointsFindings or concerns which have been fully addressed – 2.5 points

Data Quality:Percent of data points which are complete

95% or above - 5 points

HIGH-NEED POPULATION/TARGETING – 15 points

Zero income:Percent of adult participants with zero income at entry

50% or more – 5 points30-49% - 2.5 points

More than one disability:Percent of participants with more than one disability at entry

70% or more – 5 points40-69% - 2.5 points

Unsheltered:Percent of participants who were unsheltered at entry

30% or more – 5 points10-29% - 2.5 points

LOCAL FACTOR– 10 points

Geographic diversity:Location of project outside Springfield

PSH is located outside Springfield or RRH serves entire county – 10 pointsPSH partially outside Springfield – 5 points

15

SPRINGFIELD- HAMPDEN COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE

Housing First Self-Assessment

Check box if answer is yes:

1. Access to program is not contingent on sobriety, minimum income requirements, lack of a criminal record, completion of treatment, participation in services, or other unnecessary conditions.

2. Program does everything possible not to reject an individual or family on the basis of poor credit or financial history, poor or lack of rental history, minor criminal convictions, or behaviors that are interpreted as indicating a lack of “housing readiness.”

3. People with disabilities are offered clear opportunities to request reasonable accommodations within applications and screening processes and during tenancy, and building and apartment units are or can be modified to accommodate disabilities.

4. Housing and service plans are highly tenant-driven. 5. Supportive services emphasize engagement and problem-solving over

therapeutic goals.

6. Participation in services or compliance with service plans are not conditions of tenancy, but are reviewed with tenants and regularly offered as a resource to tenants.

7. Services are informed by a harm-reduction philosophy that recognizes that drug and alcohol use and addiction are part of some tenants’ lives. Tenants are engaged in non-judgmental communication regarding drug and alcohol use and are offered education regarding how to avoid risky behaviors and engage in safer practices.

8. Substance use in and of itself, without other lease violations, is not considered a reason for eviction.

9. Tenants in supportive housing are given reasonable flexibility in paying their share of the rent on time and offered special payment arrangements for rent arrears and/or assistance with financial management, including representative payee arrangements.

10. Every effort is made to provide a tenant the opportunity to transfer from one housing situation, program, or project to another if a tenancy is in jeopardy. Wherever possible, eviction back into homelessness is avoided.

TOTAL number of boxes checked:

16

SCORING FOR NEW APPLICATIONS FOR FY2017 COC PROGRAM COMPETITION

EXPERIENCE – 25 pointsExperience with proposed population and provision of housing

5 years’ experience with population and 5 years providing housing -10 points5 years’ experience with population or 5 years providing housing -5 points

Experience with using a Housing First/low demand approach Experience operating a Housing First or low demand project - 10 points

Experience effectively using federal funds Experience with federal grants - 5 points

DESIGN OF HOUSING & SUPPORTIVE SERVICES – 25 pointsServicesMatch between proposed participants and services to be provided

Project demonstrates that appropriate services will be made available to participants – 10 points

Housing First DesignPlan to assist participants to rapidly secure and maintain permanent housing

Project design reflects Housing First/ low demand model – 10 points

IncomePlan to assist participants to increase/maintain income and to maximize their ability to live independently

Applicant describes specific services or supports directed toward increasing employment and non-employment income – 5 points

TIMELINESS – 10 pointsPlan for rapid implementation of the program Applicant provides realistic and quick

implementation plan – 10 pointsFINANCIAL – 30 pointsCostProject is cost-effective when projected cost per person served and achieving a successful housing placement is compared to CoC average cost

Under $11,000 – 10 points$11,000 to 16,000 – 5 points

AuditOrganization’s most recent audit 1) found no exceptions to standard practices; 2) identified agency as ‘low risk’; and 3) indicates no findings

No exceptions to standard practices – 3 pointsAgency identified as low risk – 3 pointsIndicates no findings – 4 points

Match Documented match amount meets HUD requirements – 5 points

Budget Budgeted costs are reasonable, allocable, and allowable – 5 points

LOCAL FACTOR– 10 points

Geographic diversity:Location of project outside Springfield

Project is outside Springfield – 10 pointsProject is partially outside Springfield – 5 points

17

DEFINITIONS

Chronically Homeless (1) An individual who: (i) Is homeless and lives in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter; and (ii) Has been homeless and living or residing in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in in emergency shelter continuously for at least one year or on at least four separate occasions in the last 3 years, adding up to a total of 12 months; and (iii) Can be diagnosed with one or more of the following conditions: substance abuse disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability, post-traumatic stress disorder, cognitive impairments resulting from brain injury, or chronic physical illness or disability; or (2) an individual who has been residing in an institutional care facility, including a jail, mental health or substance abuse facility, hospital or other similar facility for fewer than 90 days and has met all the criteria in paragraph (1) of this definition before entering that facility; or (3) A family with an adult head of household (or if there is no adult in the family, a minor head of household) who meets all of the criteria in paragraph (1) of this definition, including a family whose composition has fluctuated while the head of household has been homeless.

Housing First is a model of housing assistance that is offered without preconditions (such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold) or service participation requirements, and rapid placement and stabilization in permanent housing are primary goals. The only real expectations of Housing First, which the individual agrees to prior to starting with the program, is to agree to have support workers visit at home, to pay their rent on time and in full (or agree to third party payment of rent), and to avoid disrupting the reasonable enjoyment of other tenants in the same building that would cause their eviction.

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) means permanent housing in which supportive services are provided to assist homeless persons with a disability to live independently. Permanent housing is community-based housing without a designated length of stay. To be permanent housing, the program participant must be the tenant on a lease for a term of at least one year, which is renewable for terms that are a minimum of one month long, and is terminable only for cause.

Rapid Rehousing (RRH) means short-term (up to 3 month) or medium-term (3 to 24 months) financial assistance to obtain or maintain permanent housing, along with case management during the period of rental assistance.

Transitional Housing (TH) means housing, where all program participants have signed a lease or occupancy agreement, the purpose of which is to facilitate the movement of homeless individuals and families into permanent housing within 24 months or such longer period as HUD determines necessary. The program participant must have a lease or occupancy agreement for a term of at least one month that ends in 24 months and cannot be extended.

18