Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-03-2005-5mORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 3, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. .Cj -,~y~ SUBJECT: Consultant Services -Ten (10) Year Plan to End Homelessness DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Proposal Summary Corpus Christi, Texas Seven Year Plan (under separate cover) INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara L. Fikes, 245-2490 PURPOSE: To consider awarding a contract for consulting services to J-Quad and Associates, LLC far the development of a Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Orange County and authorize the Chair to sign the document contingent upon final review by the County Attorney, BACKGROUND: In March 2005, the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (Partnership) was formed to institute a countywide effort that will culminate in the development and implementation of a Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Orange County. Membership includes Orange County; the Towns of Chapel Hill, Garrboro and Hillsborough; Triangle United Way, Orange Congregations in Mission; the Inter-Faith Council; OPC Area Program; the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce; and UNC, In the intervening months, the Partnership identified the proposed components and developed an estimated budget and timeline for developing the local Plan within a year or by October 31, 2006. Financial support was solicited and received from the following entities to finance project administration for this effort, Orange County Town of Chapel Hill Town of Carrbaro Town of Hillsborough Triangle United Way TOTAL $18,000 $18,450 $ 6,300 $ 2,250 $10,000 $55,000 In the process of allocating the above funds for the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the Towns and the Triangle United Way agreed that Orange County would serve as the lead entity and administer this project budget. Therefore, no additional action is required by these respective governing boards. In July 2005, Orange County, on behalf of the Partnership, issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified housing consultants to provide project administration services far the Ten Year Plan development process. Three (3) proposals were received on August 19, 2005. The respondents were: 1. J-Quad and Associates, LLC 2. Starfire Consulting & Ananse Consulting (partnership) 3. All American Associates Upon receipt of proposals, members of a subcommittee of the Partnership reviewed the proposals based on the following evaluation criteria. • Demonstrated prior experience authoring housing plans, particularly multi-jurisdiction consortium plans. • Strong background in current conditions data analysis. • Experience meeting with and working with a variety of constituencies, agencies, non- profits, and governmental bodies. • Thorough understanding of procedures as outlined in this request for proposals. • Reasonableness of projected expenses and allocated time. • Financial capability to carry out the work program. Based on this evaluation criterion, as well as discussions with firm principals regarding the ability to meet the partnership's expectation that the firm ensure extensive community involvement in the planning process, the Partnership recommends contracting with J-Quad and Associates, LLG at a cost of $51,270. The consultant agrees to complete the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness by October 31, 2006. As additional information, J-Quad has worked with numerous communities across the country in the development of housing strategies including homeless strategies. Most recently, J-Quad has developed a Seven Year Plan to End Homelessness for the City of Corpus Christi and Nueces County, Texas. That plan is attached to this abstract and is also available at www.cctexas.com on the Internet. The scope of work for the Orange County Ten Year Plan is more fully described in the attached proposal summary. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The contract cost totals $51,270. As part of the fiscal year 2005-06 budget, Commissioners approved an appropriation of $18,000 for Orange County's contribution to the Partnership to End Homelessness Initiative. At the September 7, 2005 meeting, the Board accepted the receipt of additional funds totaling $32,000 from our project partners (Town of Chapel Hill [$18,450], Town of Garrboro [$6,300], Town of Hillsborough [$2,250], and Triangle United Way [$5,000]) bringing the total initiative budget to $50,000. Since that time, Triangle united Way has agreed to contribute an additional $5,000 towards this initiative. The receipt of these funds will be included on a budget amendment that is planned for the October 18, 2005 BOCC meeting. With the additional funding from Triangle United Way, the initiative budget totals $55,000. Funds remaining after the contract is paid would be used for additional project expenses. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board award a contract for consulting services to J-Quad and Associates, LLC for the development of a Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Orange County and authorize the Chair to sign the document contingent upon final review by the County Attorney. 3 Proposal for the Preparation of the Orange County 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness Submitted by J-Quad & Associates, LLC. I. Introductory Section Primary Contact and Contract Nesotiator J-QUAD & Associates, LLC 14755 Preston Road, Suite 620 Dallas, Texas 75254 Contact Person:.James Gilleylen, Managing Partner Phone: (972) .386-6553 Fax: (972)386-6554 Email: gilleylenj(ci)jquad.com A Brief History of J-Ouad: J-QUAD and Associates, LLC is a 100% African-American owned Minority Business Enterprise, established under Texas law as a limited liability company in 1992, with a branch office in Bethesda, Maryland. J-QUAD is certified by the State of Texas as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) and Catalog Information Systems Vendor.. Additionally, the Houston Minority Business Council (HMBC), the South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA) and the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (NCTRCA) certify J-QUAD as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). Federally, J-QUAD is a Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) certified company and is approved by the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide Management, Organizational and Business Improvement Services (MOBIS) for Federal Supply Group 874 under Corporate Contract #GS-OOF-0046N and Information Technology Services through the 8(a) Streamlined Teclmology Acquisition Resources (STARS) GWAC under Contract #GS-06F-0.3742. J-QUAD & Associates, LLC currently employs a staff of 17, seven of which comprise the Policy and Planning Division that will be completing the work for Orange County, J-QUAD was founded with a Planning and Policy Division partnered with an Information Technology Division and Management Consulting Division, This unique combination gives us the ability to offer private, municipal, state, and federal clients customized service solutions that utilize the technology standards of the 21st century in the development of analysis and planning studies. .3 4 II. J-Quad's Qualifications and Experience The J-QUAD team ofprofessionals has worleed with numerous communities in the development of Neighborhood Revitalization, and Homeless and Housing Strategies, designed to stabilize and revitalize neighborhoods that are experiencing decline and to provide improved access to housing and homeless services to all segments of the population, Each of these studies combine the use of GIS technology and demographic reseazch with detailed housing condition and land use surveys, community pazticipation, and strategic planning, to solve community development issues, The studies are generally commissioned by individual and multi-jurisdictional governmental bodies, nonprofits or financial institutions and most often involve collaborations between the three, Implementation is generally supported by public/private partnerships involving these types of entities as well and the use of federal, state and local financial subsidies, Our prior experience includes a recently developed 10-year plan to End Homelessness commissioned by the City of Corpus Christi and Nueces County, Texas, completed in August, 2004. Strategies included responses to the physical housing and supportive care needs of homeless persons and families, including policies/model programs for centralized intake, service plans, and case management; client discharge procedures and transition programs; and homeless prevention and intervention efforts.. We have developed Super NOFA applications and Continuum of Care plans for Dallas County, the City of Dallas, Texas and a regional consortium of service providers' submission to HUD. This included a "Point in Time" census of the homeless population in and outside of shelters and surveys of their service needs. We have also developed funding programs and project applications for HOPWA, SRO's, and various other group housing and care facilities, Our studies continue to guide public policy decisions and are to be used by,jurisdictions as a data source for their development of the Housing Needs Assessment and Housing Revitalization Plans which are incorporated into their Consolidated Plan. Our team of consultants is well versed in community development finance program tools and related planning and administration responsibilities, gained from hands-on program administration experience while working for municipal government and federally funded programs. Finally, we have considerable experience as staff and consultants to municipalities and nonprofit organizations so we understand the political realities of such an effort and the need to focus the recommendations in ways that they can be implemented, In addition to our homeless policy, neighborhood revitalization and community planning experience, J-QUAD has considerable experience and expertise in all aspects of developing federal grant planning studies. We have conducted over 30 Fair Housing Impediment Analyses across the nation in cities, counties and statewide throughout the states of Texas, Louisiana, Iowa, South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Vermont, Virginia, Florida and Illinois. Statewide, our experience includes an Analysis of Impediment for' the State of Arkansas and a Fair Housing Analysis and Fair Housing Training Program for the State of Florida. We are currently completing a statewide effort for the State of Vermont, and a multi jurisdictional study for' the cities of Moline and Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa.. We have completed Consolidated Planning and Housing Market Analysis efforts for the State of Arkansas, the Cities of Montgomery, Alabama and Alexandria, Louisiana in 2005; the 4 5 Consolidated Plan and Impediment Analysis for Little Rock and Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Prince William County, Virginia in 2004-2005; Dayton, Ohio 2005 -present, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana in 2003-2004; and Housing Strategic Master Plan, Housing Market Analysis and Housing Summit for San Antonio, Texas in 2002. We also conducted the Housing Market Analysis component of the Consolidated Plans for the City of Columbia, Missouri, completed February 2004 and Richland County, South Carolina completed March 2004., Associated Personnel I-Quad's Project Director for this engagement will be James Gilleylen, 7-Quad's Managing Partner. He will be assisted by Dr. Douglas Frederick, who will serve as Project Manager and Principal Investigator and Senior Analysts Luis Tamayo and Derek Hull. The following provides a brief summary of their background. Program Director James Gilleylen Mr. Gilleylen has served as Managing Partner for J-QUAD & Associates, LLC since 1994. As Managing Partner, he is responsible for the overall management and operations of 7-QUAD's three business divisions, Planning and Policy Consulting, Management Consulting and Information Technology Consulting. Prior government experience include Director of the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Services (Dallas, TX), Deputy Director of Plazming and Development (Washington, D. C.), and Assistant Director ofPlanning and Development and Transportation Planning (Dallas, TX). Consulting project experience has included the Client Information System Development for U.S. Depaztment of Housing & Llrban Development; Super NOFA applications and Continuum of Care Plans for Dallas, Texas; Housing Market Study for the City of Columbia, Missouri, Housing Programs Performance Evaluation and Housing Strategic Master Plan for San Antonio, Texas; Housing Programs Performance Evaluation and Neighborhood Needs Assessment for Shreveport, Louisiana. Project Manager/Principal Investigator Douglas Frederick, Ph. D. Dr, Frederick serves as Project Manager and Principal Investigator for J-QUAD. He has responsibilities for project supervision, research design, and data analysis. Dr. Frederick has directed the Fair Housing Analysis, Consolidated Planning and Fair Housing Training efforts for over 40 jurisdictions, He designed the Continuum of Care and Super NOFA Application, a consolidated grant application for the Homeless Assistance Programs, resulting in a $5,3 million grant to the City of Dallas and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Frederick served as the Project Manager and Principal Investigator for the ] 0-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness for Corpus Christi and Nueces County. Senior Analysts Derek Hull Mr. Hull serves as Project Manager and Senior Analyst. Mr. Hull has experience as an innovative, knowledgeable, and diverse Economic Development and housing professional, 5 6 specializing in Policy Implementation, Business Attraction, Marketing, Planning, and grant administration for large and suburban municipalities.. Mr, Hull has served as the Project Manager for a number of Fair Housing Impediment Analysis and has also served as the Project Manager for a Community Planning engagement for the Buckeye and Fairwood neighborhoods of Cleveland, Ohio. Luis Tamayo Mr. Tamayo serves as Project Manager and Senior Analyst. He has responsibilities for research design, planning, and data analysis for various projects.. Mr. Tamayo has a broad planning education and background, balancing GIS, research methods, land development, and comprehensive planning, He has strong research, information management and analysis skills with experience in database design, and statistical analysis software. Mr, Tamayo served as Lead Reseazch Analyst for documentation of the Capital Fund Formula for the Department of HUD. 6 ti y s 9 N C A ~ ~ C na e a O A G 4 y 0 ~ J N ~ ~ '+ ~ K W ~ t ~ y 'Z a I JJ J~ ~ S ~~ ~t l~ ~} 2 a~ ;~ ~ ~ LL a O ~ O -. J6t 6 Y aU 6 z 0 N a O t ~ ~ 2 C xa e; o°O~ `~ a ~ ~ Ea a a III. PROJECT APPROACH, PROCESS AND METHODOLOGY 1. Research and Review of Ten Year Plans from similar communities Ten-Year Plans to Eliminate Homelessness developed for comparable communities would be selected based on the demographics and characteristics of the homeless population.. The Homeless Action Plans for counties comparable to Orange County and town/cities comparable to the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough would be reviewed. The review would also extend to homelessness in North Carolina and the U,S. The review of the documents would focus on: a, Nature of homelessness. b. Extent of homelessness. c, Reasons for homelessness. d, Factors contributing to homelessness. e. Cost of homelessness. f. Inventory and gaps in homeless services. g. Steps involved in ending homelessness. h, Implementation and accomplishments. 2. Process Design Work Sessions and Interviews Process Design Work Sessions would be held to formulate and refine the methodology to conduct the study. The work sessions acquire input from key stakeholders in the community. Community leaders, members of homeless service organizations, Orange County staff, and staff from the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, and other key persons from within the county would be interviewed to gather input into the process design, The following are the tasks that would be accomplished in this phase: a. Meet with County and City staff to initiate the project. b. Refine the methodology and public participation process with staff. c, Identify key stakeholders. d, Identify available data sources within the county and the cities. e, Collect and review existing plans and reports. f Hold a Process Design Work Session with City and County staff and key stakeholders to refine the methodology g. Develop strategies for an area-wide survey and data collection effort. h. Develop a timeline associated with the tasks. 3. Development of Process Design From the initial work sessions involving the key stakeholders, a detailed process design would be generated to develop aTen-Year Plan to End Homelessness and a Marketing and Implementation Strategy. The Process Design would be distributed to various shelters, homeless service providers, and key members of the conununity to educate and inform the community regarding the process. The Process Design would be distributed through County and Town websites and news papers.. The process design would reflect the basic elements of a plan to end homelessness provided by the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) as listed below: Step I. Plan for Outcomes • Collect much better data at the local level and Create a planning process that focuses on the outcome of ending chronic homelessness, Step II. Close the Front Door • To end chronic homelessness, mainstream programs must prevent people from becoming homeless, • Discharge Planning should be improved, and • The flow of incentives should favor helping people with the most complex problems. Step III.Open the Back Door • An adequate supply of appropriate housing should be developed and subsidized, • Quickly re-house homeless persons, and • Specifically address the needs of the chronically homeless, transitionally homeless, and episodically homeless, Step IV. Build the Infrastructure • Increase the supply of affordable housing, • Increase incomes to pay for basic needs, and • Build appropriate services, 4. Research Input Seven (7) areas of research would be conducted. These include a review of previous studies; analysis of the current homeless population; analysis of the supply of'services; analysis of the current ability ofprovider agencies to expand services; analysis of service levels mandated by government entities; cost analysis of homelessness; and analysis of potential funding sources. (i) Review of Previous Studies The Continuum of Care Reports and previous Homeless Action Plans for Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough, would be reviewed to understand the issues, strategies, and actions the community has implemented and projects that are underway to alleviate homelessness. Other relevant documents including current and prior Consolidated Plans, CAPERs, and PHA Plans of the County and the three towns would be reviewed to gain insight into the changes occurring in homeless population, affordable housing goals and strategies that were implemented in the previous ten years and the proposed goals and strategies that would affect the homeless population in the community in the corning five to ten years. Review of the documents would focus on: a, Nature and extent of Homelessness in Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. 10 b. Reasons for homelessness in Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. a Factors contributing to homelessness in Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. d. The design of the existing Continuum of Care system and evaluation of service systems. e, Inventory of emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. f. Service coordination and data collection systems, g, Community goals and implementation plans to resolve service issues. h, Public/private partnerships in order to support community goals, (ii) Analysis of the Current Homeless Population For this analysis the data would be reviewed from the following two sources: Gaps Analysis Various sources including Continuum of Care reports from Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough would be used to develop the Gaps Analysis chart which compares existing services and beds to homeless population need. Any data that is required to complete the Gaps Analysis would be gathered from the service providers, shelters, and respective agencies. Homeless Census and Point-in-Tiure sarvey If the county or the three towns have conducted a homeless census or point-in-time survey, the data would be obtained to assess the current homeless population.. If adequate data are available, the counts would be projected to five to ten years to assess the projected needs for various homeless services. (iii) Analysis of the Supply of Services An inventory of homeless residential programs and support services would be obtained from the Continuum of Care, Data would be gathered pertaining to the services including emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for homeless and special needs populations, The availability of various services including counseling, substance abuse treatment, HN/AIDS, services for physically and mentally disabled, youth services,,job training, and outreach would be enumerated to assess the supply of services in the community, (iv) Analysis of the Current Ability of Provider Agencies to Expand Services Service providers in the community would be interviewed or would be engaged in work groups to evaluate their service capacity and changes occurring in service levels as a result of funding cut-backs. The capacity of service providers to improve or increase the services would be assessed. 10 I1 (v) Analysis of Service Levels Mandated by Government Entities A review of service levels mandated by goverrunent entities would be conducted. Data would be obtained pertaining to the service levels for programs assisting persons experiencing homelessness that are mandated at the local, regional, or state level. Discharge planning practices at the state and local levels would be examined to assess the needs of discharge management practices in the county and the three towns. (vi) Cost Analysis of Flomelessness Costs associated with the provision of housing and/or services for the homeless population would be calculated based on various studies conducted at national, regional, or state levels. These housing and service costs will be compared to services utilized by unsheltered homeless persons or unsheltered homeless persons with a special needs. From the above analysis the additional cost per person to provide shelter and services would be calculated to assess the costs of intervention. (vii) Analysis of Potential Funding Sources A survey of various community-based organizations would be conducted to estimate the current level of funding to the homeless for Orange County and for the three towns by income source, Based on the existing funding and need for funding, potential funding sources would be identified to address the needs of homeless populations. 5. Identification of Recurring Service Themes Based on the research and interviews "recurring service themes" affecting the lives of persons experiencing homelessness are identified. These recurring themes are the services that are in high usage by the homeless population and the various subpopulations in the conununity. These recurring themes also represent those services which address the needs of homeless populations in five to ten years. Examples of service themes could include supportive housing services and facilities, outreach, substance abuse treatment services, prevention and intervention or early intervention. 6. Plan and Convene Public Forums and Worlc Groups Based on the identified recurring themes, focus group participants would be clustered into three or more work groups, Public forums or focus groups would be conducted for each of the work areas. Each work group in the respective focus group session would brainstorm and discuss service needs, funding, and public policies that are directly or indirectly effecting the services. These work group sessions would propose and recommend goals, strategies, and actions that may enhance or improve the services pertaining to their work area. 11 12 7. Identification of Broad Factors of Homelessness From each work group a summary report would be produced which would directly address the issues relevant to each significant issue related to homelessness in the community. For example, the factors the work groups identify may include inadequate service capacity or may point out some public policies that may impede the reasonable development of services. These reports would also include actions proposed by each work group pertaining to each work area. 8. Action Plan and Recommendations A draft and final report would be developed which includes the process summary, reports from work groups, and seven sections that result from the research input, as described in the Research Input section. Goals, strategies, and actions including the source of funding and timelines, would be provided for the following Strategy .Areas: • Prevention Strategies • Outreach/Intake/Assessment Strategies • Emergency Shelter Strategies • Transitional Housing Strategies • Permanent Supportive Housing Strategies • Supportive Services Strategies • Permanent Affordable Housing Strategies • Continuum of Care Systems Strategies 9. Development of a Marketing and Implementation Strategy Based on the Action Plan recommendations, aMarketing and Implementation Strategy would be created addressing threats and opportunities in meeting the goals listed in the Action Plan..l-QUAD would act as the point of contact to coordinate various development activities. The implementation strategy would outline the outreach activities, Recommendations will be made in the areas of operations, marketing and advertising, staffing and training, and budgeting. 12 i~ M ,ti 14 TIMELINE Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness Timeline Total Hours Research /Revie+v Sinvlar Communides'Plans ' 10/03-10/10/2DOS 40 nmer G,lleylur Dar lar Fre,lerirk Derck Hull Ashram Cn/Amel! Process Desl t4~ork Sessions and Intentiews 10/24 -YI/Il/2005 GO Don lar Fmrle,irk amen Gilleylen Derek Hal! Develo menrofProcessDesi 11/07-11/25/2005 40 amer Glllrylen_ Denk 1-lull Lria Tnmayo Yslanla orkrar Research In ur 11/28-12/16/2005 60 Don lnr Frerluirk Omer G/lle (err Durk Hrdl Liir Tamrrya Autnnm Cnldmell Prnln Mmnl aka ] olnnda ackran IdentiLcadan olRecurtin Service Themes :70/03/2005- >.01/06/2006 40 Dwi lnr FreAenrk Omer Gil/ey/ur Durk Fln!! ]'slmrln /arkran Plan/Convene Public Forums and Work Gmu s ' 07/09-01/20/2006 60 Don lar Fn,lc,irk anrer Gill lea Lrir Tamnpa IdentiLcadon ofBroadFacrors 07/23-07/27/2006 ' 27 Prat tl4andn aka Ys/onAa nrkrwr 15 Autnnm Cn/Amrll Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness(Cont'd) Timeline Total Hours Action Plan andRecommendatians 0]/30-2/24/2006 90 amer Grl/e7Jen Derck I-Lrl! Lrrr T'nmmro Yalnedn aekron DCYCIO M.zrkedn /Im IemenrationSvate 02/73-3/73/2006 40 amer Gil! len Derek Hnll 1`a/nndn nuUon TOTAL 457 PROPOSED FEE $51,270 CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS ~~ ~4~~4~~9~ p~~~ ~~ ~~~ Table of Executive Summary ................................................................................i Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................1 1.1. Need for a Plan to End Chronic Homelessness 1,2, Definitions of homelessness ...................................................... .......2 1.3, Nature of Chronic Homelessness ..........................._,..,..,..,.,,.,, .......3 ^ Nature of Chronic Homelessness in U.S ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,3 ^ Nature of Chronic Homelessness in Texas ......................... .......4 ^ Nature of Chronic Homelessness in Corpus Christi,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,5 1.4. Reasons for Homelessness ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,10 1.5. Factors Contributing to Homelessness ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,19 1,6. Cost of Homelessness ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,21 1.7. Steps Involved in Ending Chronic Homelessness ...................... .....25 2. Planning Process ........................................................................ .....30 2.1.Accomplishments ....................................................................... .....30 2,2, Survey and Focus Group ........................................................... .....33 3. Analysis of Chronic Homeless Services ................................... .....37 3.1. Chronic Homeless Services in Corpus Christi by Type of Service .37 3.2. Description of Chronic Homeless Services ................................ .....39 3.3. Inventory of Emergency, Transitional Shelters and Permanent Supportive housing ................................................................... .....42 3.4, Gaps Analysis ............................................................................. ....45 4. Recommendations and Action Steps .............................................46 Homelessness According to the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, a ~ Chrome person is considered homeless who lacks a fixed, regular, and Homelessness adequate night-time residence, or has a primary night-time residence that is a shelter, an institution, or a place not ordinarily used for sleeping. A chronically homelessness person, as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who had been either continuously homeless for more than one year or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years, Nature of According to the results of a survey conducted by National Survey of Homelessness Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (NSHAPC) in 1996, 68 percent of the homeless population in U.S. were men. Homeless clients were equal proportions of non-Hispanic whites and blacks. About half of the people who experienced homelessness over the course of a year were single adults and 38 percent of homeless clients had less than high school education. According to the results of a survey conducted by the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless in 1999, the number of homeless in Texas was estimated to he about 200,000 people (1% of the total population). About 1.5 percent reported being homeless five years or longer (chronically homeless). Fifty-nine percent of the sample were single men, Whites made up 48 percent of the homeless population, with Hispanics at 26 percent, and African- Americans at 21 percent, Of the homeless respondents, 46 percent had less than a high school education, 25 percent had received psychiatric treatment, and 28 percent had received substance abuse treatment. The cause of homelessness was reported to be unemployment by 19 percent of the homeless and 16 percent cited an inability to pay rent or a mortgage. Of the 260 homeless participants in a survey conducted by the Homeless issues Partnership of Corpus Christi in 2003, nearly 39 percent were homeless for more than one year (chronically homeless), Nearly 67 percent of the homeless were single adults, 68 percent were White, nearly 32 percent were Hispanic, and about 12 percent were African-American, Almost 80 percent of the homeless were unemployed and almost 67 percent hatl less than a high school education. About 23 percent of the homeless in the survey reported having a physical disability, over 22 percent had a mental disability, nearly 25 percent were alcohol abusers, and over 17 percent were drug abusers. Over 55 percent of the homeless in the survey reported needing far housing assistance, while .50 percent reported needing employment. Reasons of Lack of Affordable Housing- Typically, lower income groups are Chronic much more likely to be financially burdened with their rent payments, Homelessness According to 2000 Census, over 65 percent of those earning less than $10,000 per year paid more than 30 percent of their income on housing in Corpus Christi. In the group earning $10,000 to $19,999 per year, more than 72 percent were in 30 percent cost burden. Of those earning from $20,000 to $34,999 per year, over 31 percent of households paid a high percentage of their income for housing expenses. Insufficient Income- According to 2000 Census, over 12 percent of the households in Corpus Christi reported an income less than $10,000, nearly 15 percent reported an income from $15,000 to $25,000, and over 13 percent reported an income between $25,000 and $3.5,000. As reported by 2000 Census, the unemployment rate in Corpus Christi was 7.19 percent. Inadequate Services- According to 2000 Census, there were nearly 97,100 (35%) disabled people in Corpus Christi. Of them, over 23,560 persons had physical disability and nearly 14,160 had mental disability. The 2000 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data reported that there were nearly 2,740 very low-income elderly renters and 3,760 elderly owners in Corpus Christi. Lack of adequate services and trained staff, in shelters and supportive hcusing, force these individuals into institutions. Factors Inadequate Discharge Planning- According to 2000 U.S. Census, Contrbutit~ to in Corpus Christi, 1,287 people were in correctional institutions, Chronic 1,702 were in nursing homes, and 14,156 were mentally disabled. Homelessness According to the data provided by the Urban Institute, among the adults using homeless services, 31 percent reported a combination of mental health and substance abuse problems (alcohol and/or drugs) in 2003. According to the data provided by the Family Qutreach Corpus Christi (FOCC), there were 1,261 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect, A large percentage of this population, without an adequate housing or support, is likely to become homeless. Migration- In addition to native homeless persons, Corpus Christi witnesses a migration of homeless persons from northern cities during winter months, Gost 01 Chronic According to the results of the research conducted by the Center for Ha1nB18SSn83S Mental Health Policy and Services Research at University of Pennsylvania in 2001, the service reductions resulting from supportive housing were reported to save the public $12,145 annually, for each individual placed. About 95 percent of the cost reductions are associated with reductions in healthcare and shelter services. Stops involved Step 1. Plan for Outcomes in Endng - Collect much better data at the local level and Chronic - Create a planning process that focuses on the outcome of Homelessness ending chronic homelessness, Step 2. Close the Front Door - To end chronic homelessness, mainstream programs must prevent people from becoming homeless, iv - Discharge Planning should be improved, and - The flow of incentives should favor helping people with the most complex problems. Step 3.Open the Back Door - An adequate supply of appropriate housing should be developed and subsidized, - Quickly re-house homeless persons, and - Specifically address the needs of the chronically homeless, transitionally homeless, and episodically homeless. Step 4. Build the Infrastructure - Increase the supply of affordable housing, - Increase incomes to pay for basic needs, and - Build appropriate services, Plannglg Homeless Issues Partnership Inc. (HIP) is the local homeless PPOCBSS coalition in Corpus Christi and Nueces County. HIP facilitates the Continuum of Care planning process, Corpus Christi recently passed a 1/8-cent sales tax, which is estimated to generate $500,000 for affordable housing developments for low-income residents. Over the last three years, Corpus Christi has added 183 affordable homes, 30 are under construction by the Corpus Christi Housing Authority, and 30 new homes were completed by the Nueces County Community Action Agency. Providers in the area have increased their transitional housing bed-capacity by 13 beds. HIP conducted a homeless survey involving 374 total participants in 2003. NIP and United Way of the Coastal Bend conducted a Focus group forum on ,lune 10, 2003 involving more than 300 interested agencies, v brainstorming on various topics including: emergency prevention, systems prevention, outreach, shorten homelessness, rapid re- housing, services, permanent housing, and income. Analysis of An inventory of homeless service organizations in Corpus Christi is Chronic provided in Section 3. As reported in the 2003 Continuum of Care, HOmaIaSS there were a total of 523 beds in emergency shelters, 265 beds in Services transitional housing, and 90 beds in permanent supportive housing in Corpus Christi, There was an unmet need of 1,222 beds in 2003, Recommendations Table (i), on the following pages, shows the summary of goals, ~ Action Steps action steps, implementation timeline, and the participating agencies. vi E m N vi C C N C O O p N = O N ° N N N N ~ d G C O O L 'C ~ O O 'C w d C C m m m v o O c o C_ r c 'C 'C p C_ O C O d O 'L° ° ',G° .'C° a p ~ ° p tO O OJ G N G W N C O N O c ~ O O O ~ ~ ~ L 5 o o d rn ~ rn a O o c N O 'N V Q ~ O ' O O VJ N (V C G ~ ° V c ~ j O tO K O N 'C 'C a ~ 'O C ° O ~ ' N O N = ' ° '° N ' ° IN t ° N N i. ~ W ~ L N C . N ~ N F d ~ N j d ~ ~ O _ o N N o C ' C ° C O c_ m ° m ~ o o a i o > oo o r m N ~ N a N d G C E C d N C O ~ 'O a = J ~ ~ O1 ~ y ~ N G O O O d O G N m C V f p !O ~ (V .~ m f0 t° G _ N C a v o ~ m E ° o o o a N 7 S N tO ~ p O N N G C L_ ~ w' a E E ~ ~ ° ~ o o c o o g o a rn - ~ L _ N ~ ~n V 'O c U N E C C i v m G E ~ y ~ m m o °+ , " `. m o - m o y V ° .n N H E rn [` N N = = V V c m w m °i m _ m - P c m `o m y ~E m c w w L .~ y 1° Y O C Y ~ G O lO E tO W •° W y J ~ ._ O C J N ~ po E m ~ o ° ~~ U ` ~° ° ' E L ° ~ 0 E c v E ~ > o ~ a e G c c o N m i a.. M1 a c o a N L i C . J~ C V . N t[) O ~ G N ~ :. ..U.. N . G C C L p d U N E ~ ~ ~ L ~ W O ~ N O N . d N m N V ~ a C ~ N N w E v m w E °~ o o= o ~ E t ; o m Z . = ~ m S o ~ ° c ~O m m ` m e a ~ 6 y N N ~ 3 a i S G E N d V! p t0 d O N ~ L N ' U ,~ N 2 ° N TL U ' d O J L ° C IO y m O G E °~ .c O ti i c ~ ~ N N m H m ~ : o c rn m m g o 3 m m e o> > ~ L E ¢ y ~ ~ ~ .~ y o ~ a E y ` ° w w ° o o d d v m E L m S w a L m A °' d m a o d ' a i ° , > E~ c N ~ m t0 . N .R .L.. = m E ° a0 m c °° E t ' 0 o ' o o : m o n tc m '° o m E o _ m w o c ~ ,c m o o ~- c m ° ~ N d, o "' ° o ° m ~ = o m m E o y m N n „_,; m_ > m o o f o w o o o . c m in p ~ o N ~ a c c c ¢ c N o L p ~ ~ N N m (O N d N ° ~ J J E j d ~ O U N ' O C ~ a y E 9 f O 'o C D a E ._ _ 'O . ~` a ° E m e ~ m > o ~ ~ m d a ° .S o > > ! .> m m E o d o oo an d m u > c o c ~ w m a oh ` m o ` . od ` a ~ o n s L ci ~-° ~ v ~ v Q~ ~ w c~2 b a m a a n .~ wm ~ ~ . ~ a c ¢ o a G ~ 'v o I~ d' ~ `~ '' .Z V ~ •Z d ` S a Q ! w ,. .q m o c ¢ ° N ~ ' m 'd U ° ' K '~ H ~ ~' n. ~ ~ d ~ . v , p C N ~ [O OI U 61 U J TL' ~ 9 N V 10 (~ UI V t~ O Ol ay ~~ C.. 'O U :N Z ° t D a w t !9 o : V O . O c N 0 d ~ O a f :p ~ "" o ° v ° m ° !~ m 'w ~ Q ' O ~ C 'm m a~ N O ~ m E ;:p m :m a E '~ = p E m ~ a ' c H rU W :ro a :o g ro "° ~ o U t '° u i O J Q m C ' : N C Q m a i Q : fU N . U N . .~ N V Q y G y h '.'' ~ ,3 t _ s ~(O G O O _ N -O ~ U ' N 01 l G m A d o y c : m a m `~ . w .E „ . . t : o ~. 'm E E m ~ ~ m ~ ~ ¢ ` ° c L' c yU c ro .o. m b Ifl o o :. w _ E U U m m.. m ~ !.' d ~ ' 2 a ~ ~ Q ' ° H o :m A L O S Q , c . y m a E Iw N U U am c ~ ` : ~ c ~ ~' @ Iw C 'm m ~ j.~U v (¢ m E o , c la a t =m .Z w '.~ v E ,m m d c m o a 'm :'mQ ua'i d ° °' m I `? a? ; y H y w w w v N a ~ "' d ~ n N U U a c m c v : ' . ~ a d : m ' c ~ ..> > `o o °O ~.~ .~` v o c.Ec m c ~' ~ .c ~' .-°° ° ~' O SC c ~' :m0 o w ID tq ~ . U :n: o: ~ ~ ~ '° ~ :. ~ a am „ ay a o n:m '.^ _ .- .x x ~ iv ~i .o o_s a ~ ~ .o a o o~ „o -o U ° ,.~ ~ ~ v of = J °o zQ v ,v =m J U Ol C .C~ C_ F- '~ G N d Y c O Q N O .~ .G !~ :; N d y 3 d d 1 - . 2 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ c `o ~ y [OV U C°V N 9 ' N } G ~n N L N c '~° d d E d ' o O d d d d 9 E n `d ~ z d E d ` c an d c . O C O c 'O O m ~ c O c O 0 ~o y c O c 'E O d C '.O _G O N N N d ' O :~ W O U ~ O 1-- W N mac' N O N ' m N Y N N o N N c d ~ d tN W ,l '. '..` ~ \ O t O ~ d ' ~ O p 'O d N d ~ O b ~ 'L N C C O 0 0 O w o a o d O o 0 0 0 3 G N IG N N E IG d 'N OI N ~ N '.N 1C d IG d O U d O~ d r r O O O y O d ~ O O O ~ N p t N ry C N d N y N i' N C C d O ~ ~ O a d c ~ O O o E u IO d 'O __ N Ol o Ol O _ O _ ~ O ~ O ~ _ O O N C O N O G O N d y O N V C O N y O N ~ O G O N V L = - N ~ p -~ o' W :o .~ O ~ o O H . d y d t ~ pp a i m m ~ ° E d r = °. .~ G v d 'o w m m o a ~ m y m 3 m ~ ~ m a i S m ° ° .° E :n ~ ~ m ° ~ G ' .n a '~ ~ m a m 'v ' E c t ~ c . c O a i dj L ~ .c 3 ~ E y c y > d m ~° y t ' ' - ' ~ m w o d o c w d :o V y d 3 E o c ie O t N . ~ V d y L O O d O d ~• d d O c o ~n N o '~' o ao vi L a v in y c a E 3 u~ m ~ o ~ c ~ 3 p ° N j 'O N e d ~ N ~.~ "O ~O N C _ N y E p~ '~ V f C w N ' U U C tC ~ a O ~, d r C O ~ ~ L V V ~ ~ ~ O O d y L E 'n g ~ m ° g c= `o E d ~ o m E i . o° v .c E L~ ° d N a d y y ~ ~ m a ~ c y a d O ~ a y d O d -a d C 'O N 0 9 O O, E d d 'J d V.C. d C d .C y ~ O N ~ y d V d d Y'_~.. E w a o L 3 S _ E ° o Ln o ° m m ~ a ~ ~ .~ . ' ~ c : E v n .o ° c ~ .... y 9 ~ m ~ o y ~ '2 O " d c x° n a~'3 `0 m o m ° c c m~ ~ 0 E o ' . m v ° ` ° ° ° 2 ~ ~' E> m ` a 3 0 ~ m . c O u o a c ` ~ E 0 0 - p D ° O ~ c y ° 3 ~ O d ` `~. ~ ~ V Y 0 0 d d a O V L d 'p O O ~ jp G O O y y d O 0 y O ~ O O L_ '~ O O O y d Dt' O E d N ~ > NL N EE N ? ~ OV O ~ NL O U = N ?' N 3'N > >> Od ~ c ~ y `4 °' U c E~ d ' !_ a _ v E > a a i 2 0 0 d d V ~, O > ~ E > a O o m ' ( ~ ~ d ' d d ~ 0 6 d O VJ L O N U- L I- ° U d d ~ d Q a d ~ ~ O U ~ O G O d O 4 C O W° O c d dl ~ aci ~O c ' a d G ~ d ~` O p ~ m G ~ ~ d L . d (.~ d -d d G G a . C U d ~.. d d p G y ~ U : O '.O y r J C U d ~ V C d d n ~ o f ~ 'o d ~ m 2d ~ y ~ d 'O U d S - U ~ d o v i y , 'O : N C d N d fi O l/j d ~ a ' :t vi d `° ';o c a>i ~ E _`d„ 'r ~ E ~ D O ui m c '-i^ ° o o 'U o m .H ~ v =: E cb d E _ c O 9 d (~ O ~ ~ ~ U 4 G v G m o U d U a y o V = _ '~' d O G ~ d ~ L ' ~ d O d O G •.Z` a C a 'O tag O ~ _ U _ d G lO N C 'd a ty~ ,~:0. Q O_ u! O O 9 y CJ_ C U ' O) m ' ti d 'O '° w a ~ 0 '~ (O ~~ ` d ` ' 'c v L^ _ W ` ' = d ~ d d ~o O m . E c U o ~ i L 6 d G E O d G '~ m N N ¢ E:~ ~ N d' ~ d d L '..Q .°.3 '~ O c. y a :C ° G `° w ¢ d a L" a EE ~ d L ~' L^ d .Td ~ O U. . c m ~ ~ G C (J d 'G _ ~$ ~ d ~ d ~ d t p '~S ~ i a '.t V ~ y ~ U ~ = S G p~ G d _ y d G > 'E ! y ~ C ~ y ' d E _ O a O O y~ d I 9 a 3 G V _'"'Jr' O y d .O N C G y= d O. d ~ d~ d 'C •N ~ d L m O Q I ~ .w i = C S C:J d V ~ 67 d a ~] O Q] - . O.Y _ d G N _ ry y ~ O d ~ C ~ _ E .u ~ O 'O. ~ ~ ' ' c o no c ~a EP` ~'> p ^ '~^a ~> c a° ° - m °OpfE ui , c ' O m : U ~ri a U U r CJ U S U o m U~ Ulp ° , U ~ U~ ai U ::: U o .- ?i . -_ > U' d 'O G U d C .C~ G a C m N ~. d N Q N tO O Q1 a F .1. As reported by the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless Need for a Plan (TICH), there were 200,000 homeless people in Texas in 1999 (1% of to End Chronic HOInoI8SSI18SS the total population), According to the results of a homeless survey by TICH in 2000, 15 percent of the survey participants were homeless for more than five years. Texas had the third largest homeless population, according to the 2000 Census, with 7,608 persons in emergency and transitional shelters, behind New York (31,586) and California (27,701) Corpus Christi reflects the complex characteristics and special needs of all homeless people elsewhere in Texas. In 2004, 39 percent of the participants in a homeless survey in Corpus Christi were chronically homeless. The inability to provide for their own basic needs (housing, food, clothing, medical care) is common to all chronic homeless people, Some homeless people require limited assistance in order to regain permanent housing and self-sufficiency, Others, especially people with physical or mental disabilities, require extensive and long-term support. Chronic homelessness is a complicated problem rising from the changing social, economic, political, and cultural conditions of the past 20 to 25 years. This plan is an effort to make systemic changes and integrate to the homeless services system in order to end chronic homelessness in seven years, Following the initiative of the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), homeless service providers in Carpus Christi have stepped forward in making the homeless assistance system more outcome-driven by tailoring solution-oriented approaches more directly to the needs of the various sub-populations of the homeless. 1.G. Homelessness- According to the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Defm11;l0eS Of Assistance Act, a person is considered homeless who: Homelessness ~ Chronic Lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence; or Homelessness Has a primary night-time residency that is: o A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; o An institution that provides temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or, o A public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. Chronically Homelessness- Chronic homelessness, as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has been either continuously homeless for more than one year or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. The definition most commonly applied in determining whether someone is homeless is the lack of "regular and customary access to a conventional dwelling unit" (National Coalition for the Homeless, 1989). Because of the cyclical nature of homelessness for many, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty has suggested athree-part definition for homelessness: 2 Chronically homeless- An average of two episodes, lasting a total of 650 days (National l-aw Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2001). Episodically homeless- Four to five episodes of homelessness lasting a total of 265 days. Transitionally homeless- A single episode of homelessness lasting an average of 58 days. 1.3. In order to end chronic homelessness, it is necessary to understand the Nature of needs and characteristics of the sub-populations of this large group. The Chronic most significant sub-groups are people who experience chronic Hom®lassnass homelessness as part of a family group and those who are single adults. Nature of Chronic Homelessness in U.S- According to the results of a survey conducted by National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Glients (NSHAPG) in 1996; o Sixty-eight percent of the homeless population in IJ.S. were men, o Among the homeless population in families, 84 percent were women, o Homeless clients are roughly equal proportions of non-Hispanic whites and blacks (41 and 40 percent, respectively), with 11 percent Hispanic, eight percent Native Americans, and one percent "other", o Twenty-four percent of the homeless population and 46 percent of the clients in homeless facilities were married or separated. About half of the people who experienced homelessness over the course of a year were single adults, and 3 ^ Thirty-eight percent of homeless clients have dropped out of high school, while a high school diploma is the highest level of completed education for 34 percent. Nature of Chronic Homelessness in Texas- According to the results of a survey conducted by the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless in 1999: ^ The number of homeless in Texas was estimated to be about 200,000 people, or about one percent of the state's population, ^ Forty-eight percent of the sample reported being homeless for six months or less, but 15 percent reported being homeless five years or longer (chronically homeless), ^ Men made up 65 percent of the sample. Fifty-nine percent of the sample were single men, 18 percent were single women, and 23 percent were families, ^ Whites made up 48 percent, Hispanic 26 percent, African- American 21 percent, American Indian three percent, "other" two percent, and Asian one percent, ^ Forty-six percent of the respondents had less than a high school education, ^ Forty-one percent of the homeless surveyed reported being employed and, of those unemployed, 44 percent had only been without a job for six months or less, ^ Veterans comprised of 24 percent of the homeless population, 4 ^ Twenty-five percent of the homeless population had received psychiatric treatment and 28 percent had received substance abuse treatment, ^ Fifteen percent of the homeless population had been in foster care as a child, and ^ The cause of homelessness was reported to be unemployment by 19 percent of the homeless, 16 percent cited an inability to pay rent or a mortgage, and 10 percent of the sample cited domestic violence as the reason (88 percent of those were women). Nature of Chronic Homelessness in Corpus Christi- A homeless survey conducted by the Homeless Issues Partnership in 2003 included 374 participants, of wham 260 were self-described as homeless. The percentages shown in the results pertain to only the homeless population in the survey. Due to the methodology used to conduct the survey, the results of the survey may not be generalized to the total homeless population of the city. But the figures should certainly give an idea of the nature of homelessness in Corpus Christi. The following are the results of the survey: ^ Nearly 39 percent were homeless for more than one year (chronically homeless), ^ Over 72 percent of the homeless population were men and 24.56 percent of were women, ^ Nearly 67 percent of the homeless were single adults, ^ Sixty-eight percent of the homeless were White, nearly 32 percent were Hispanic, and 11.9 percent were African-American, 5 ^ Nearly 80 percent of the homeless population were unemployed, ^ Over seven percent of the homeless were in foster care as a child, ^ Nearly 67 percent of the homeless had less than a high school education, ^ Nearly 13 percent of the homeless had at least four episodes of homelessness, ^ Nearly 23 percent of the homeless in the survey reported having a physical disability, over 22 percent had a mental disability, nearly 25 percent were alcohol abusers, over 17 percent were drug abusers, and NIV and domestic violence cases accounted for three percent each, and ^ Over 55 percent of the homeless in the survey reported the need for housing assistance, nearly .50 percent reported the need for employment, over 47 percent reported the need for transportation, nearly 38 percent reported the need for healthcare, nearly 25 percent reported the need for shelter, over 18 percent needed assistance with legal services, nearly 18 percent reported the need for mental health services, nearly 12 percent needed case management, over five percent needed childcare services, and nearly five percent needed other services. Charts 1 through 7, on the following pages, provide the facts and figures of the survey. 6 Source: Homeless Issues Partnership Chart 1: Homelessness by Age Range in Adults, Corpus Christi, 2003 Source: Homeless Issues Partnership Chart 2: Homelessness by Family Size, Corpus Christi, 2003 7 Source: Homeless Issues Partnership Chart 3: Homelessness by Education Level. Corpus Christi. 2003 Source: Homeless Issues Partnership Chart 4: Frequency of Homelessness, Corpus Christi, 2003 s <1 48 and more 14.07% 20.00% 36-07 1-2 _ 1.48% \ 8.52% 26-34 ~' 4.44%~ " ~ ;r,., 13-24 3-6 14 45% 22 96% 7-12 14.07% Source: Homeless Issues Partnership Chart 5: Duration of Homelessness (in months), Corpus Christi, 2003 - ° -- > 30.00% ---- ---- - 24 91% . Z 25.00% - . 23-14%- --22..7.8.% m 20.00% - - --1~7-:44-% -- c 15 00% - - - - m 8 54% 10.00% - - --- E 0 5.00% - 5 34% 2 85% ° 3 20 /° ` 0 ~ - 0 0, 0% - -+- - ~ ye y0 `r ~e `~ .`r1 ep , J J a ,Z,m p'o p'~ ~ ~ ~ a~O a~O ~e ~y ,~o y r ~ O ~~ O J~ O C Or O` C~ .nO 4 1. C`e PG ~e y~v 0y~ ~ F ~oQ Qr o ,~ ~ Oe Special Needs Source: Homeless Issues Partnership Chart 6: Special Needs, Corpus Christi, 2003 9 T Z 60.00% - --5516) ~ 49.82% 47.33% N 50.00% -- ----- 'L' 40.00% 37.72% LL m 30.D0% - -2A ~1= v 20.00% °° 17'79% 1851% - --rn4 r - - --- 10.D0% -- -5.34°1°_ 4.98.°(°_ `0 0.00% - , o° ec~ aye po° ~e ec. a\`c ~y o~ \`ye ryc ~~Q\o~F Gr`aG cy~~,a ~e~`S.cP 2°~9e~ ec~,~,z ~\5e~ ~yy`a yce ~~ .~~ G~yets tr ~eA o~y\c9 Need for Assistance Source: Homeless Issues Partnership Chart 7: Need for Assistance, Corpus Christi, 2003 According to the 2000 U.S Census, 272 people were in emergency and transitional shelters in the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Statistical Area. Qf that number 24 (8.8%) were under 18 years of age. Comparing to national figures, 43,887 (25.7°/D) of the population in the U.S, in emergency antl transitional shelters were under 18 years of age. A total of 170,706 people were in emergency antl transitional shelters in US in 2000, 1'4' Lack of Affordable Housing- Most chronic homeless persons da Reasons of not earn enough to cover the basic needs of living, such as food and Chronic Nom®lessness clothing, while others have very-low incomes, just enough to sustain themselves. Paying mortgage or market rate rent would be impossible in their economic condition. Table 1, an the following page, provides details on rents paid by income group. As logic would indicate, lower income groups are much more 10 likely to be financially burdened with their rent payments, As shown in the table, over 65 percent of those earning less than $10,000 per year paid more than 30 percent of their income on housing. The next income group up, $10,000 to $19,999 per year, show an even higher cost burden. ~f this category, more than 72 percent pay more than 30 percent of their income on housing expenses. In the next income category, $20,000 to $34,999 per year, over 31 percent of households paid a high percentage of their income for housing expenses. Qnly the in upper income levels (household incomes over $75,000) did no households exceed the 30 percent level in housing expenses. Less than $10K' 7,687 100,0% $20K to $34 999 10,051 100.0% $50K to $74 999 4,718 100.0% $100K or more `907 100.0% Less than 20% 538 7.U% Less than 20% 2,038 20.3% less than 20% 3,677 77 9% Less than 20% 812 89 5% 20 to 24°/a 352 4 6% 2010 24% 2,290 22 8% 20 to 24% 631 13A% 20 t0 24% 24 2.6% 25 to 29% 394 51 % 2510 29% 2,083 20 7% 25 to 29% 136 2 9% 25 to 29% 0 0.U% 3010 34% 322 4 2% 30 to 34% 1,417 14.1% 30 fo 34% i6 0.3% 30 to 34% 0 0 0°/a 35%ormore 4,692 61.0% 35%ormore 1,743 17.3% 35%ormore 35 0.7% 35%ormore 0 0.0% Not com uted 1,389 16.1% Not com uted 480 4.8% Not com uted 223 4.7% Not com uted 71 7.8% $10K to $19,999" 8,868 100.0% $35K to $49,999 8,266 100.0% $75K to $99 999 1,335 900.0% All Inc. Grou s ' 39,852 100.0% Less than 20% 801 9 0% Less than 20% 3,214 51.3% less than 20% 1,175 88 0% Less than 20% 12,255 30.8% 20 to 24% 536 61 % 20 to 24% 1,827 29..2% 20 to 24% 49 3 7% 20 to 24% 5,711 14,3% 25 to 29% 746 8 4% 25 to 29% 593 9 5% 25 to 29% 27 2.U% 25 to 29% 3,981 10.0% 30 to 34% 927 10 4% 3010 34% 191 3-0% 30 to 34% U 0.U% 30 to 34% 2,873 7 2% 35% or more 5,486 61.7% 35% or more 168 2.7% 35% or more 0 0 0% 35% or more 12,124 30 4% Not com uted 388 4.4% Not com uted 273 4.4% Not com uted 84 6.3% Not com uted 2,908 7.3% Source: 2000 U.S. Census Table 1: Percent of Household Income for Rent by Income Group (data from sample) Insufficient Income- The mast significant factor facing households when considering housing affordability and availability is income. The median household income (MHI) for residents of Corpus Christi, as 11 reported in the 2000 U.S, Census, was $36,414, In 2000, over 12 percent of the households in Corpus Christi reported an income less than $10,000, nearly 15 percent reported an income from $15,000 to $25,000, and over 13 percent reported an income between $25,000 and $35,000. Just aver 33 percent of African-American households reported an income below $15,000 in 2000, compared to over 13 percent of White households and 24 percent for Hispanic households, Over 31 percent of the total African-American population lived in poverty in 2000, compared to only 8.99 percent of the White population and 22.89 percent of the Hispanic population. Over 40 percent of African-American children below the age of 5 and 30.3 percent of Hispanic children below the age of 5 lived in poverty, compared to 9.1 percent of White children. Nearly 50 percent of the homeless population in the survey reported a need for employment assistance in Corpus Christi. Overall, unemployment in Corpus Christi stood at 7,2 percent in 2000, As Table 2, on the following page, illustrates, the White non-Hispanic unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, while Hispanics reported a nine percent rate and African-Americans a 12,7 percent rate. 12 # Unem to ed Unem io moot Rate Corpus Christi 9.379 7.79% White 2.582 4.60% Hispanic 5,858 896° Black 697 12.65° Source: 2000 U.S Census Table 2: Unemployment Maps 1,2, antl 3, an the following pages, show the median household income, cost burden, and rent burden in Corpus Christi by census tract. 13 ~ ~ I r I c t~ y m U i uj ! c 0 N r r~ ~ Gf ~ fY E _ ~ 8~==x,P V ~ ~_ oo o t o '^ c wmu~m.-m BB° v O = o~ ~ ~ c3 ~"~m~n m°O~ N p ~_ d ! IC ~. R c G v N G1 N G G1 Q. W G 1' ~y '~ ~, O S G ~• ~ d ` O V C ~, a o m ,• N _ O '. y- O ~ o ~ C M C _ .( .C .. 0 F- r;t. m c ~ N ~ ~ ~ ~ C m ~7~ c m ~ ~' ~p Q. m "wmnr~vmm N ~ j,' n ~ ~Grr'888~ ~ z N~~~ o, . \ - (~ ~~~~Nf 4. ~ o ~ , w d ~ U r y N O C. O ~ .~~` N to r N d N G d Q X W Of C ~ N O f ~ _ ~ ~~~ O d O v G ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . .z ~ I O .C I. • y O ~ t O ~ \° 0 O M ` r G R S ' ~ ' ~ N , . : , ' Z ! ', ~ N o v O fi ~ ~ °' ' - c F~ G v T o ~ l6 d. ~ N mo ~ ~n R = ~ N a-. o c o `r ` w mNmvm C ~ t, ' ~ ? O$Q Y~ N ~ ~ < ~ a iy ~ •-_~ o~ Z, ~ ~. '~ • (J CJ~NRi `~' O i+ ~®~ ~ v = ` a ` ~ v a vi i M = a~ ~ o ~ N r Inadequate Services- Chronic homeless people often have to deal with physical or mental disabilities, physical or mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, or domestic violence. According to 2000 Census, over 23,560 persons (8.5%) in Corpus Christi had a physical disability, over 21,670 (7.8%) had a work disability, nearly 14,160 (5.1%) had a mental disability, over 10,750 (3.9%) had a sensory disability, and nearly 7,890 (2.8%) had aself-care disability. There were nearly 97,100 (35%) disabled people in the city in 2000. People with chronic disabilities usually have greater service and support needs compared to people with physical, mental, or addiction disorders. Some of the local shelters in Carpus Christi are not accessible (eg: Metro Ministries Shelter for Women) or the staff at local shelters are not trained to work with disabled persons. Hence, homeless people with disabilities are forced needlessly into institutions to access services, when they could live in the community with appropriate services and support. According to the U.S. Census, from 1970 to 1980, the population age 60 to 64 in Corpus Christi grew by over 1,250, compared to an increase of over 6,500 for the population group 65 years and over. This compares to increases of 1,692 and 6,826 from 1980 to 1990, respectively, for the same population groups. From 1990 to 2000, the age 60 to 64 population dropped by 481, compared to an increase of over 5,130 for the population group 65 years and over. It is anticipated that supportive services for the elderly would increase locally, as well as nationwide, as the "baby boomer" generation approaches retirement age. Table 3, on the following page, shows the number of households by income group for the lower-income elderly population. 17 -Low- Moderate Ve Lowlncome Income Income Elderly Renters and ' 0 to 50% ' b to 30% ' 31 to 50% 51 to 80% 81 to 95% Total Owners MFI 'MFI "MFI 'MFI MFI Households Renters 1 8 2 member households 2,736 1,627 1,109 847 4,932 11,251 Owners 3,759 1,942 1,817 2,499 14,548 24,565 Source: The Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) 2000 data Table 3: Number of Elderly by income group Nearly 35 percent of the city's population had a drinking problem in 2000, The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates the number of adult men with a drinking problem at 15 percent antl that of adult women at 6 percent. These percentages, applied to Corpus Christi, would yield a population total of 28,858 persons. From the data provided to Hl1D as a part of Supportive Housing Program grant application, shown in Table 4, from 2003 Continuum of Care data, a total of 44 persons reported chronic homelessness, of which 20 homeless people were unsheltered, 52 homeless persons were seriotasly mentally ill, 86 homeless persons had chronic substance abtase Sheltered .hronic Homelessness 24' eriously Mentally III 62 hronic Substance Abuse 86 eterans 67 Persons with HIV/AIDS 9 ictims of Domestic Violence 22 Source: 2003 Continuum of Care "Twenty more were reported to be unsheltered chronic homeless problems, 22 persons reported Table 4: Homeless domestic violence, antl nine Subpopulation homeless persons reported having HIV/AIDS. 18 1.5. Inadequate Discharge Planning- When people are released from Factors public institutions or public systems of care without adequate discharge Contributing to punning, they are more likely to become homeless, The populations Chronic included in this category would be people discharged out of correctional Nomelessnoss institutions, hospitals, mental health institutions, and children aging out of foster care, Prisons- According to the Justice Policy Institute, which supports alternatives to prison, the annual growth rate of Texas' prison population was 11,8 percent during the 1990s, representing one in every five inmates added to the nation's prisons, Texas' prison population of 163,190 had surpassed California's, 163,067. California's population of 32 million is almost twice that of Texas. According to the statistics from the Urban Institute, anon-partisan economic and social policy research organization, 58,949 prisoners were released from Texas prisons in 2002, nearly six times the number of prisoners released in 1980 (10,636). According to the results of Census Bureau National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (NSHAPC) conducted in 1996, among 2,938 homeless clients in the survey, 49 percent reported having spent five or more days in jail, 18 percent spent time in state or federal prison, and 16 percent spent time in juvenile detention before 18 years of age. In Texas, the population in correctional institutions increased from 94,257 to 244,363, an increase of over 159 percent. According to 2000 U,S. Census, the population in correctional institutions in Corpus Christi 19 was 1,287. A large percentage of this population, without adequate housing supply or support services, are likely to become homeless, Hospitals- According to the US Census, the number of people in nursing homes in Corpus Christi decreased between 1990 and 2000 from 1,856 to 1,702, a drop of 8,3 percent, According to Census, nationally, 46 percent of homeless persons have one or more chronic health problems and 26 percent have at least one acute infectious condition, Homeless persons are likely to have longer length of stay at hospitals and nursing homes and repeated visits to emergency rooms. Mental Health Institutions- Nueces County uses 30 to 31 beds at the San Antonio State Hospital daily. According to 2000 Census, 14,156 or 5.6 percent of the population in Corpus Christi were mentally disabled. Of 7,750 mentally disabled persons between the ages 16 to 64, nearly 7.5 percent were not employed. According to the statistics provided by the Texas Alliance for Human Needs, Nueces County MHMR's ratio is 10 beds/100,000 population, According to the data provided by the Urban Institute, 46 percent reported chronic physical conditions, Among adults using homeless services, 31 percent reported a combination of mental health and substance abuse problems (alcohol and/or drugs) within the past year. Furthermore, 15 percent reported only mental health problems. Foster Care- According to data provided by Family Outreach Corpus Christi (FOCC), there were 4,997 alleged victims of child abuse and neglect and 291 children were removed from their homes in Nueces 20 County in 2001, There were 1,261 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect, Migration- Corpus Christi is the largest city in Nueces County, containing over 88 percent of the total county population, according to the 2000 Census. The rural areas of the county (outside Corpus Christi) showed a population decline from 1980, indicating migration from the smaller communities into Corpus Christi, This pattern of migration into larger urban areas in search of better employment opportunities and public assistance is typical statewide. In addition to native homeless persons, Corpus Christi witnesses a migration of homeless persons from northern cities during winter months. Southern cities typically experience an increase in demand at homeless facilities during the winter as individuals and families escape the rigors of northern winters.. This increase adds to the local burden of addressing chronic homelessness as the responsibility shifts south, 1.6. Since chronically homeless persons have no regular place to stay, they Cost iof Chrome use a variety of public systems in an inefficient and costly way, The cast NOIn81835n8SS of chronic homelessness can be quite high, particularly for those with long-term illnesses. The following are same of the costs of chronic homelessness. Table 5, on the following page, shows the average cost per person involved in the consumption of public services by the homeless population according to a study conducted by the Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research at the University of Pennsylvania, 21 Service Provider Mean ` Da s Used Per Diem ' 1999$ Cost ' 2 Yrs Cost Per' Year Dept. of Homeless Services 137 $68 $9,316 $4,658 Ofrice Mental Heallh 57.3 $437 $25,040 $12,520 Health and Hosp Corp. 16.5 $755 $12,458 $6,229 Medicaid-Inpatient 35.3 $657 $23,192 $11,596 Medicaid-Outpatient 62.2 $84 $5,225 $2,612 Veterans Administration 78 $467 $3,643 $1,821 Dept. of Corrections (State) 9.3 $79 $735 $367 De t. of Cortections Ci 10 $129 $1,290 $645 Total ` $8D,898 $40,449 Source: "The Impact of Supportive Housing for Homeless People with Severe Mental Illness on the Utilization of the Public Health, Corrections, and Emergency Shelter Systems: The New York•New York Initiative", Dennis P Cuihane, Stephen Metraux, and Trevor Hadley, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, University of Pennsylvania, May 2001 Table 5: Cost of Services Used by the Chronically Homeless Population Prior to Housing Placement According to the research, the savings from service use reductions and the costs of creating supportive housing showed a significant savings. The service reductions resulting from supportive housing were reported tD save the public $12,145 annually for each individual placed. 22 Table 6, below, summarizes estimates of Gost reductions in service utilization, based on prelpost placement comparisons, and as adjusted by case-control regression analyses. Results indicate that placement in supportive housing is associated with a $12,145 net reduction in health, corrections, and shelter service use annually per person, over each of the first two years of the intervention. About 95 percent of the cost reductions are associated with reductions in health and shelter services. Criminal justice system casts account for the remaining 4.5 percent of the total cost reductions associated with a supportive housing placement. Service Provider Days Saved 2 Years Cost Reduction 95% Per Diem $ Cost Reduction 2 Years Annual ' Cost reduction Dept of Homeless Services 82.9 77 4-88 5 $68 $5,637 $2,819 Office of Mental Health 28.2 20 8-35 6 $437 $12,323 $6,162 Health and Hosp Corp 3.5 2-5 $755 $2,643 $1,321 Medicaid-Inpatient 8 6 4 2-13 $657 $5,650 $2,825 Medicaid-Outpatient (visits) -072 -29.8 $84 -$3,965 -$1,982 Veterans Administration t 9 0 7-3 $467 $887 $444 Dept of Corrections (State) 7 9 4 8-11 $79 $624 $312 Dept. of Gorrections (City) 3 8 1.8-5 8 $129 $490 $245 Total $24,290 $12,145 Source: "The Impact of Supportive Housing for Homeless People v6th Severe Mental Illness on the Utilization of fhe Public Health, Corrections, and Emergency Shelter Systems: The New York-New York Initiative", Dennis P Culhane, Stephen McUaux, and Trevor Hadley, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, University of Pennsylvania, May 2001 Table 6: Cost Reductions Associated with Reductions in Service Use Attributed to Supportive Housing 23 Lost Opportunity- Perhaps the most difficult cost to quantify is the loss of future productivity. Decreased health and more time spent in jails or prisons means that homeless people have more obstacles to contributing to society through their work and creativity. Homeless children also face barriers with respect to education. Because many homeless children have such poor educational experiences, their future productivity and career prospects may suffer. This makes the effects of chronic homelessness much longer lasting than just the time spent in shelters. Since the demographics of chronic homelessness, and therefore its solutions, vary in every locality, ending chronic homelessness requires the development of local plans to systematically and quickly re-house those who lose their housing. Replacement housing should be permanent -- having no artificial limits on how long a person can stay. If an individual or family requires some type of temporary housing such as residential treatment (for illness) or residential separation (for victims of domestic violence, for chronically homeless people, for people in recovery), such interim housing should be firmly linked to eventual placement in permanent housing. 24 1.7. Strategies listed in NAEH's Report "A Plan Not a Dream. How to Stops involved in End Chronic Homelessness in 10 Years" Entling Chronic Homelessness To end chronic homelessness in ten years, the fallowing four steps should betaken, simultaneously. Step 1. Plan for outcomes - Col/ecf much betfer data of the local level- Build up solid information regarding the needs and characteristics of chronic homelessness, causes of chronic homelessness, mainstream assistance they receive, antl the effectiveness of assistance on a program-by-program basis. This information helps to assess the gap between the assistance available and the need. - Create a planning process that focuses on fhe outcome of ending chronic homelessness- Planning efforts should be extended to create afull-spectrum, chronic homeless assistance system, which manages people's experience with chronic homelessness. Development of long-term plans is essential to re- house chronically homeless persons involving agencies and programs far beyond the scope of the homeless assistance providers, Step 2. Close the Front Door - To end chronic homelessness, mainstream programs must prevent people from becoming homeless- The homeless assistance system ends homelessness for several people every day, 25 but they are quickly replaced by others, Chronic homelessness can be prevented by making mainstream poverty programs mare accountable for the outcomes experienced by their most vulnerable clients and wards, Chronic homelessness can be ended by working to prevent people from becoming homeless, by closing the front door. - Discharge Planning should be improved- People who become homeless are almost always clients of public systems of care and assistance. These include the mental health system, the public health system, the welfare system, and the veterans system, as well as the criminal justice and child protective service systems (including foster care). - The flow of incentives should favor helping the people with the mosf complex problems- As in many other social areas, investment in prevention holds the promise of saving money on expensive systems of remedial care, Support should be extended to low-income families who are "at risk", preventing children from ending up in foster care, providing critical services and treatment for those with substance abuse problems and mental illness, Step 3.Opan the Back Door - An adequate supply of appropriate housing should be developed and subsidized- Where chronic homeless people faced with a shortage of affordable housing, new development should be facilitated and accelerated. Where there is no housing, an 26 adequate supply of appropriate housing should be developed and subsidized, - Quickly re-house homeless- A key step in ending chronic homelessness is to quickly re-house everyone who becomes homeless -open the back door out of homelessness. Different subpopulations of chronic homeless people require different housing strategies. The two major groups to consider are homeless families and homeless single adults. Both groups face system-based barriers to "getting out the back door" - Specifically address the needs of the chronically homeless, transitionally homeless, and episodically homeless- Permanent supportive housing and housing with appropriate and available services and supports for chronically homeless persons. The chronically homeless represent 10 percent of the single adult homeless population, which itself represents approximately 5Q percent of homeless people, over time, Few people in this chronic group are likely to ever generate significant earnings through wages. The chronically homeless require long term subsidization of both housing and services because of their disabilities. Permanent supportive housing and housing with appropriate and available services and supports are highly successful in stabilizing this population. A flexible strategy to address housing needs and treatment needs for the episodically homeless. 27 The people who use homeless shelters, repeatedly, often called the episodically homeless group, constitute approximately 9 percent of the homeless single adult population in the US, This group has a high public cost when housed in a shelter because its members seem to interact frequently with other very costly public systems. Many are active users of substances, They are typically young, relative to the chronically homeless group. This group requires a flexible strategy that addresses bath their housing needs (both when in treatment and in relapse) and their need for treatment. "Housing Firsf"Approach for fhe fransitional(y homeless, Those who have relatively short stays in the homeless assistance system, exit it and return infrequently, are called the "transitionally" homeless. The majority of families and single adults who become homeless fall into this category, They have had a housing crisis that has resulted in their homelessness, The Alliance recommends a "dousing First" approach for most families, The strategies to end transitional homelessness should primarily focus on housing services, to clear barriers such as poor tenant history, poor credit history, etc, Secondly, case management should be provided to ensure that families are receiving public benefits, to identify service needs, and to connect tenants with community-based services, Finally, follow- up actions need to be provided to work with tenants after they are in housing to avert crises that threaten housing stability and to problem-solve. zs Step 4. Build the Infrastructure Though various systems have been improved that prevent homelessness, the root causes of the crisis lies in three facts, - Increase the supply of affordable housing. People become chronically homeless because of the lack of affordable housing. The supply of housing that is affordable and available to low-income people should be increased. In addition, subsidies that allow people to achieve stability in decent housing should be regarded as goad investments in a productive society, - Increase in incomes to pay for basic needs. Low-Income groups are at a large disadvantage in the recent downturn of economy, Most importantly, any benefit they may experience is not adequate to meet the increasing cost of housing. There is a surging need for efforts to create a wage and benefits that allow households to pay for basic expenses, including housing, food, and health care. - Building appropriate services. Those with the lowest incomes rely on public systems to supply medical care, job training, education, mental health treatment, childcare, substance abuse treatment, transportation, and many other services. Those systems are almost uniformly overburdened and in many cases are not keeping up with new demands. These public systems require realistic funding and good policies to address new challenges. 29 2.1- Homeless Issues Partnership Inc, (NIP) is the local homeless coalition in Accompiishm®~rts Corpus Christi and Nueces County, HIP facilitates the Continuum of Care planning process. As per 2003 Continuum of Care, the following are specific actions that the community has taken over the past year to end chronic homelessness: Using HUD funds to leverage additional funds: Carpus Christi passed a 1/8 cents sales tax, which is estimated to generate $500,000 for affordable housing developments for low-income residents. Create a housing fund that would allow local agencies to access and secure permanent housing: Final decision is still pending from Corpus Christi Business and Job Development Corporation Board, Build permanent housing: Qver the last three years Corpus Christi has added 183 affordable homes, 30 are under construction by the Corpus Christi Housing Authority, and 30 new homes were completed by the Nueces County Community Action Agency. The Carpus Christi Housing Authority has purchased land to construct 230 affordable rental units. Increase housing knowledge and capacity among community-based mental health service providers: 30 Plans to provide training by July 2005. Develop 250 new fully case-managed transitional housing beds: Providers in the area have increased their bed-capacity by 13 beds. Develop 63 new units of permanent supportive housing by 2013: little headway has been made; new ad-hoc group emerged with a goal of developing permanent housing for Veterans in Corpus Christi. Table 7, on the following page, shows the agencies participating in the Continuum of Care System by service activity. 31 ty Assistance ;es County Community Action Agency-Tract 16 :es County Department of Human Services Women's Shelter of South Texas stal Bend of Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center olic Social Services m's Ministries incept de Paul taUMortgage Assistance Women's Shelter of South Texas stal Bend of Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center ius Christi Metro Ministries :es Couni Department of Human Services :es County Community Action Agency irgency Assistance ws Christi McVo Ministries Salvation Army m's Ministries .s for Success dwill Industries of South Texas d Samariton Rescue Mission ion 911 Food Bank of Corpus Christi colic Social Services Ark for youth house Gulf Coast Council of La Raza Women's Shelter of South Texas stal Bend Aids Foundation American Red Cross ley Community Center as Department of Human Services ;y Family Foundation (FJ~ for Youth) eran Social Services (F1~ for Youth) ~R of Nueces County Council on Alcoholand Drug Abuse-Coastal Bend Salvation Army sy Family Services Gulf Coast Council of La Raza ARK Assessment Center d Veterans Administration Women's Shelter of South Texas Su ortServices __ Consumer Credit Counseling Services of South Texas rue's Place slat Bend of Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center Council on Alcoholand Drug Abuse-Coastal Bend h Texas Substance Abuse Recovery Services dR of Nueces County slat Plains MHMR in Memorial Psych Triage Unit slat Bend of Aids Foundation ley Community Center Workforce network dwill Industries of South Texas as Workforce Commission stal bend Workfome Center 3s Rehab Commission rus Christi Metro Ministries d Samariton Rescue Mission / Mc Leod Bethone Day nursary copal Transportation Authority 3s Rural legal Aid ie Victim Services Soume: 2003 Continuum of care Table 7: Service Activity by Fundamental Components of CoC System 32 2.[. Corpus Christi conducted a homeless survey involving 374 total Survey and participants of whom 260 persons self described as homeless. The Focus Group results of the survey were described in Section 1.3 of the report. According to the HIP Point-in-Time survey conducted on January 29, 2003, 44 of the 281 individuals were chronically homeless. HIP and United Way of the Coastal Bend conducted a Focus group forum on June 10, 2003 involving more than 300 interested agencies. Forty-three participants were divided into eight groups, which brainstormed to outline strategies to address chronic homelessness. Each group focused on a single area, including: i) Emergency Prevention, ii) Systems Prevention, iii) Outreach, iv) Shorten Homelessness, v) Rapid Re-Housing, vi) Services, vii) Permanent Housing, and viii) Income. i) Emergency Prevention This group suggested that HIP, United Way, and Caller Times should work on developing a resource list consisting of agencies that assist with rental, mortgage, and/or utility payments. The list should be made available to the community by June 2004. A central tracking system needs to be developed by HIP, the City, and the County, which can track clients for services, by June 2004. 33 ii) System Prevenfion Participants of this group indicated that HIP, along with the City and the County, should assess the problem and population initiating a citywide effort with the media, police, and hospitals. A 24-hour real time information line and web site needs to be developed for information dissemination by the United Way Info Line, Grunwald, the media, social service agencies, and the City by May 2004. An assessment team involving members from jail, police, hospitals, judicial services, community services, and shelters needs to estimate the population who reject help and adequate case management services needs to be planned by May 2004. The group also suggested that the City should work with local contractors and Builder's Association to provide affordable and accessible rental housing. iii) Outreach The main concern of this group was the lack of etluration among the homeless about specific community resources. The solution suggested was dissemination of information through brochures, outreach by caseworkers, and by establishing aone-stop referral site. HIP should offer incentives to gain participation in the continuum of care process. HIP should implement and maintain the Homeless Management Information System (HMIs) for universal intake and referral by 2004. HIP should work with the local contractors and various agencies for appropriate referrals having a Housing First case management approach. 34 iv) Shorten Homelessness This group pointed out that HIP should identify and secure landlords willing to participate in the development of scattered site transitional housing by April 2006. HIP should also focus on improving the homelike setting within the shelter system by conducting a survey among the shelter residents and networking with all shelters and various agencies. v) Rapid Rehousing Participants of this group suggested that all agencies present in the focus group need to collaborate in improving 24-hour services, better transportation, and agency communications. Catholic Charities should provide education on responsible tenant practices by providing quarterly training sessions and one-on-one appointments. Ongoing counseling sessions should be conducted by Consumer Credit Counseling. vi) Services The group suggested that HIP should take the lead in collaborating and partnering case management services. MHMR, Catholic Charities, AA Council on A&D, and various other agencies should provide counseling and group support. Within one-year Goodwill industries, Workforce (TWC), Consumer Credit Counseling, and Delmar should provide various employment and educational services which fosterjob retention. vii) Permanent Housing Provision of affordable, accessible, and fair housing was the major suggestion by this group. This group also suggested that a law should 35 be passed and enforced for mandatory rehabilitation within two to four years. viii) Income Participants of this group suggested that there should be an ongoing effort to link the chronically homeless with benefits and/or employment. HIP should work with Goodwill, Workforce, and TSA to enhance the collaborative referral system between agencies. Also, it was suggested that all service providing agencies should educate former clients towards available education programs, job opportunities, and increasing job skills in two years. All the above services should be provided through a network within five to seven years. 36 3.1. Job Skills Training and Employment Child Care Chronic Nomeless Sorvioes n Corpus Christi 6y Type of Service Nueces County MHMR Goodv~ill Industries of South Texas Texas Workforce Commission Coastal Bend Workforce Center Texas Rehab Commission Corpus Christi Metro Ministdes Good Samaritan Rescue Mission Gulf Coast Council of La Raza Nueces County Community Action Agency Wesley Community Center Mary McLeod Bethune Day Nursery Advocacy Nueces County MHMR Gulf Coast Council of La Raza Nueces County Community Action Agency The Women's Shelter Texas Rural legal Aid Accessible Communities, inc. Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living Accessible Communities, inc. Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living Youth Services Nueces County MHMR Gulf Coast Council of La Raza Nueces County Community Action Agency The Women's Shelter Counseling Nueces County MHMR GuIF Coast Council of La Raza Nueces County Community Action Agency The Women's Shelter Consumer credit Counseling Services of South Texas Crime Victim services Accessible Communities, inc Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living Transportation The Regional Transportation Authority 37 Education Wesley Community Center Adult Learning Center The Texas Workforce Commission The Workforce Network Food The Women's Shelter Corpus Christi Metro Ministries Nueces County Community Action Agency The Women's Shelter Corpus Christi Metro Ministries Chronic Nomoloss Servic®s ~ Corpus Christi 6y Typo of Service [Cont'd] Utility Assistance Nueces County Community Action Agency The Women's Shelter of South Texas Coastal Bend of Alcohol and Dmg Catholic Social Services Timon's Ministries St Vincent de Paul RentallMortgage Assistance The Women's Shelter of South Texas Coastal Bend of Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center Corpus Christi Metro Ministdes Nueces County Department of Human Services Nueces County Community Acton Agency Catholic Social Services Outreach MHMR of Nueces County The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse-Coastal Bend The Salvation Army Casey Family Services The Gulf Coast Council of La Raza The ARK Assessment Center Local Veterans Administration The Women's Shelter of South Texas HIPDdscoll Children's Hospital 38 Health Services Nueces County MHMR Gulf Coast Council of La Raza Nueces County Community Aclion Agency Corpus Christi Metro Ministries Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation Coastal Plains MHMR Spohn Memorial Psych Tdage Unit Clothing The Women's Shelter The Salvation Army Timon's Ministries Dress for Success DruglAlcohol Detox Gulf Coast Council of La Raza Charlie's Place Coastal Bend Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center South Texas Substance Abuse Recovery Services 3.2. Salvation Army: Nueces County Dosoription Salvation Army; Nueces County offers shelter for women or survivors of of Chronic domestic violence, mentally ill, veterans, elderly families, parolees / ex- Homoinss Sorvicos n convicts, children, unaccompanied youth, and substance abuse adults. Corpus Ch'isti The organization has about 90 beds. Dos Mundos Day School Dos Mundos Day School offers transitional housing, The center has a current enrollment of about 108 children, from infants to age 12. About 30 percent of the children are homeless and 60 percent are low-income. The ARK Assessment Center & Emergency Shelter for Youth The ARK provides services for 13 children and youth. The focus of this organization is to serve children and youth in Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend Area, The ARK offers home-style emergency shelter for 30 days and assessment services within 4.5 days, When deemed necessary, the stay can be extended an additional 60 days. Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation offers both shelter and transitional housing. 39 Coastal Bend Alcohol & Drug Rehabilitation Center Coastal Bend Alcohol & Drug Rehabilitation Center organizes various programs for children, youth, and substance abusers. The programs include adult participatory recreation. Accessible Communities, Inc., Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living ACI-CECIL has been relocating people from nursing homes to the communities since 1999. The organization assists the persons with disabilities in Coastal Bend offering the following services: access information and referral advocacy, independent living skills training, peer counseling, accessible housing resources, CLASS program case management ,mobility planning services, Resource Guide for Persons with Disabilities of All Ages, Advocacy Development Training classes, and community education and technical assistance. Corpus Christi Metro Ministries Corpus Christi Metro Ministries offers both shelter and transitional housing for women or survivors of domestic violence, mentally ill, veterans, elderly, families children, adults, antl parolees / ex-convicts. Guided transitional shelter is provided for these same populations for free. Other services include meals, case management, clothing, job placement, medical clinic, childcare, and neighborhood elementary school. Nueces County MHMR Nueces County MHMR provides facilities for children ages birth to three years with developmental disabilities, youth, ages 3-17, with severe 40 emotional disturbance, individuals with mental retardation, autism or pervasive developmental disorder, and individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Services include assertive community treatment, rehabilitation treatment, service coordination, adult services, medication clinic, skills training, employment, and supportive housing. Gulf Coast Council of La Raza Gulf Coast Council of La Raza provides transitional, day shelter, and night shelter for families, children, unaccompanied youth, and persons with substance abuse problems. The organization has a capacity of 16 beds. La Raza Runaway Shelter La Raza Runaway Shelter offers temporary, day shelter, and night shelter services, Nueces County Community Action Agency Nueces County Community Action Agency manages Head Start and Early Head Start Programs. The Head Start Program is designed to foster the healthy development of three, four, and five year-old children from low- income families. Early Head Start is a developmentally appropriate program that has culturally sensitive services for infantsltoddlers and their families, Community services encompasses several other programs which include Weatherization, Energy Assistance, Emergency Footl and Shelter, HOME Rental Housing, Homebuyers Assistance, Information and Referral, and Neighbor-to-Neighbor. 41 The Women's Shelter 3.3. Inventory of Emergency. Transit~nal Sholtors, and Permanmlt Supportive Housing The Women's Shelter offers emergency shelter for women and survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault and their children. Services include counselingledtication, case management, youth services, and legal advocacy. The organization has a capacity of 60 beds. Tables 8, below, and Tables 9 and 10, on the following page, show the current inventory of emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing in Corpus Christi as reported in the 2003 Continuum of Care. Chart 8, on page 44, shows the structure and workflow of continuum of care in Carpus Christi. me enc Shelters 2003 BedCa aci Target - Families with Provider Name Facili Name Po alation individuals Children" Gulf Coast Council of Gulf Coast Council of la Raza La Raza YMF 16 0 Hope House Faith Home SF 2 17 Mission 911 Rescue Shelter Mission 911 SM 20 0 The Salvation Army Emergency Shelter SFM FC 36 12 The Women's Shelter of The Women's Shelter South Texas of Soulh Texas FC 0 65 Corpus Christi Metro Ministries Rainbow House SFIFC 5 0 Corpus Christi Metro Ministries Rustic House SM 3 0 Good Samaritan Rescue Mission Emergency Shelter SFM FC 297 0 The Adc Assessment Center Emergency Shelter YMF 37 0 Search for Truth Emer enc Shelter SM 30 0 Total 446 94 Under Develo ment 0 0 Source: 2003 Continuum of Care Table 8: Inventory of Emergency Shelters in 2003 42 ransitional Housin 2003 ' !aed Ca aci Target Families with Provider Name '- Facili Name Po ulation 'individuals ''Children " anon Recovery House uprise Recovery House oastal Bend Alcohol and Dmg reatment Services Casa Rehabilitation Center a Familias SM 14 30 Rustic House and orpus Christi Metro Ministries Rainbow House SM SF FC 16 27 Hope House Birth Haven FC i4 Project Bridge for Singles nd Project Bridge for he Salvation Army Families SMF FC 28 42 outh Texas Homeless Healthcare for Homeless Healthcare eterans SMF 12 Mission 91 i Mission 911 SMF 18 Mission 911 Mission 911 FC 18 New Life Fellowshi Shelter ransitional Housin SMF 50 otal 138 131 Under Develo ment 0 0 Source: 2003 Continuum of Care Table 9: Inventory of Emergency Shelters in 2003 PermanentSdortiveHousih 20D3 'BedCa aci Provider Name ! Facili Name Individuals Families with '' Children MHMR of Nueces Coun u er NOFA Housin 15 0 MHMR of Nueces Coun u oried Housin 57 0 Hen Harbour Hen Harbour 18 0 otal 90 0 Under Develo ment 0 0 ommunity volunteers, Mayors Veterans Committee, Lodgistics, Inc and local VA staN are are cunenily developing permanent supportive housing for 12 Veterans. The project is not et funded. Source: 2003 Continuum of Care Table 10: Inventory of Permanent Supportive Housing in 2003 43 Emergency Shelters Outreach and Roferrels A total of 540 beds for 446 homeless MHMR or Nueces County intlividuals and 94 homeless /amities The Ceuntil on Alcohol antl Gulf Coast Countil of to Rata Drug Abuse-Coastal Bend Faith Home by Hope House The Salvation Artny Mission 911 Rescue Shelter Casey Family Services Emergency Shelter by The Salvation Anny The Gulf Coast Countil of La The Women's Shelter of South Texas Raza The ARK Assessment Carder Emergency Shelter by Coryus Christi Mefm Local Veterans Administretion Mlnlstnes The Women's Shelter of South Emergency Shelter by Good Samadmn Texas Rescue Mission HIP Ddswli Children's Hospital Emergency Shelter byThe Ark Assessment Center Emergenry Sheller by Searoh for Truth Trensldonal Housing A total of 269 beds, 136 for homeless individuals and 131 for homeless families vnN children C. Canon Recovery Housa SUndse RemveryHouse Tmafinerd Services.Casa de Familias by Coastal Bend Aicaholand Drug ,' Rehahilitatioa Center Rustic House and Ralnbmv House by Coryus Chnstl Metro Ministdes '. Birth Haven by Hope House PmJect Bridge for Singles and Project Bridge for Families by The Salvatidn Artny Healthcaretor Homeless Veterans by South Texas Homeless. Healthcare Missioa911 Transitlbnal Housing by Ner. Life Fellowship Sheller Chart 8: Continuum of Care Structure in Corpus Christi 44 3.4. baps Analysis Tables 11, 12, and 13, below, show the Housing Gaps Analysis duplicated from the 2003 Continuum of Care Report. Number of Beds Current l Inventory 2003 Unmet NeedlGa Emergency Shelter 446 714 ransi0onal Housing 138 490 Permanent Supportive Housing 90 18 otal 674 1,222 Source: 2003 Continuum of Care Table 11: Housing Gaps Analysis (Individuals) :Current Inventory 'Unmet Number of Beds 20D3 +NeedlGa Emergency Sheltor 77 597 ransitional Housing 127 237 Permanent Su ortive Housin 0 66 otal 204 900 Source: 2003 Continuum of Care Table 12: Housing Gaps Analysis (Persons in Families and children) Sheltered Emer en Transitional Unsheltered 'Total Homeless Individuals 56 44 76 178 Homeless Families v~ith Children 19 13 25 57 otal 75 57 103 235 Source: 2003 Continuum of Care Table 13: Housing Gaps Analysis 45 ISSU81: Inadequate data to estimate and plan the chronic homeless programs. Goad 1: Create and improve data on homeless population and services with a special emphasis on chronic homelessness, Recommendations: Implement a homeless survey project to collect and report homeless data of Corpus Christi. Data on chronic, episodic and transitional homeless populations (with special emphasis on chronic homelessness) need to be collected and should be comprised of: o Characteristics and of needs each category of homeless population, o Duration of homelessness for each group, o Causes of homelessness, o Interaction of homeless people with the public systems, and o Support extended to each group in homelessness and the effectiveness of that support. Action Steps: o Contluct point-in-time surveys and focus groups on homeless population to improve the local data, including the populations in various public service systems (HIP, United Way, Caller Times in year one and update the data annually), 46 a Formulate a list of public service agencies which provide housing related assistance, healthcare, counseling, and educational services, and make the list available to the community (HIP, United Way, Caller Times in year one and update the list every two years), o Measure the effectiveness of the each homeless and supportive housing program by collecting data from various agencies and formulating a methodology to rate the effectiveness and outcomes (City of Corpus Christi, HIP, United Way, in two years and assess the effectiveness every five years), o Make a directory of agencies providing monetary assistance and other services and make the directory available to the community by website and toll-free number (HIP, United Way, Caller Times in two years and update the directory every two years), and o Create a Homelessness Management Information System (HMIs) using the administrative data collected from various programs and add features to the system that would enable future homeless data collection to be automated (City of Corpus Christi, HIP, and Nueces County within five years and an ongoing maintenance). ISSUE 2: Though the homeless assistance system ends homelessness for some people, others quickly replace them. GOal2: Establish Prevention Programs to stop chronic homelessness. 47 Recommendations: ^ Adequate discharge management planning, o Improve emergency assistance services, ^ Provision of adequate facilities for the treatment of mentally ill persons, those with chronic health problems, and substance abusers, o Prevent children from ending up in foster care, and ^ Prevent homelessness among youth. Action Steps: ^ Identify the current practices used in discharging inmates, patients, and clients and assess the post-discharge needs of the individual (public institutions, and public systems of care including Jail, Police, hospitals, shelters, and foster care etc., and HIP in year one and re-evaluate every five years), ^ Development of Discharge Plan and review of the plan with the individual (public institutions, public systems of care, and HIP within two years and an ongoing effort), ^ A notice to the planned housing service provider to confirm the accommodation for the discharged individual (landlords, shelters, public institutions, and public systems of care within two years and an ongoing effort), ^ Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of Post- Discharge Plan, coordinating with various public service providers to follow up services, treatment and care (various 48 public service providers, public institutions, public systems of care, and HIP within five years and ongoing effort), ^ Enhancing coordination among the emergency assistance programs like rent, mortgage, and utility assistance (Current shelters, NIP, United Way, social service agencies, builders, apartment managers within four years and an ongoing effort), ^ Combining emergency assistance with either time limited or ongoing case management to reduce the future risk of homelessness (Current shelters, MHMR, Catholic Charities, AA, Council on A & D, PDAP within five years and an ongoing effort), ^ Provide case management support for young families and ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing for families with children (Current shelters, HIP, and other social service agencies, within four years and an ongoing effort), ^ Use supportive housing to provide for individuals who are resistant to treatment and are not in recovery, but are still substance abusers. (Current shelters, AA, Council on A & D, PDAP within two years and an ongoing effort), o Prevent evictions through alandlord/tenant mediation program (Landlord and Tenants Associations Corpus Christi, judicial services within two to four years and an ongoing effort), and ^ Provide 10Q additional beds in transitional shelters for youth coming out of foster care (Current Shelters, builders, landlords, and HIP in four years and update the goal depending on the gap) 49 Lack of awareness of the homeless assistance system among the ISSUE 3: homeless population and reluctance to participate in treatment programs among the homeless with substance abuse problems and mental illness. 60313: Provide outreach programs to educate homeless people of available resources and services. Recommendations: Outreach that provides low-demand housing without mandating treatment. When people feel safe and secure, they are more likely to participate in treatment. Action Steps: ^ Provide outreach to persons with substance abuse to encourage them into treatment programs (HIP, Unitetl Way-Info Line, Spohn Memorial, various social service agencies within two years and an ongoing effort), ^ Establish substance abuse treatment shelters at strategic locations, to ensuring adequate staff and allowing an "open door" policy (Current shelters, AA, Council on A & D, PDAP within three years and an ongoing effort), and ^ "Wrap around" services addressing all needs of the client (HIP and various social service agencies involving MHMR, AA, Council an A & D, PDAP, Catholic Charities, etc. within six years and an ongoing effort). 50 15SU8 4: Homeless population visiting the shelters repeatedly without ever approaching the goal of permanent housing. 60x1 ~: Decrease the duration of homelessness. Recommendations: o The organization of a shelter or transitional system in the community should be oriented to reduce the duration of stay, o The repetition of homelessness also should he addressed simultaneously, and o A "Housing First Approach" should be taken to assist the homeless with finding permanent housing. Action Steps: o Complete 300 permanent supportive housing units (City, Builders' Association, local contractors within four years and update the goal depending on the gap), o Provide home-based case management to address the service needs of families to get stabilized in permanent housing (NIP, Spohn Memorial, MHMR, AA, Council on A & D, various social service agencies within six years and an ongoing effort), and o Shelters and other homeless services providers should have access to and incentive to use prevention resources, to move people out of homelessness, and into stable permanent housing as quickly as possible. (Current Shelters, City within five years and an ongoing effort), 51 ISSI10 5: Lack of immediate services for populations approaching homelessness, which may consume fewer resources than after becoming homeless. 60x1 ~: Re-housing homeless persons. Recommendations: o Housing search and placement services should be developed for homeless persons or people on the verge of homelessness, who are looking for affordable housing, and o Effective supportive services are needed after the homeless are re- housed to sustain their improvement. Action Steps: o Qutreach to landlords using skilled housing search staff, (United Way Info-line, landlords and tenant agencies within two years and an ongoing effort), o Incentives for landlords to rent to homeless households and assurance to resolve the landlord/tenant problems by housing services agency, (landlords and tenant agencies and judiciary services within four years, evaluate and modify the incentives), and o Services to address credit problems and access to subsidies for households with extremely low incomes (Consumer Credit Counseling, Catholic Charities year one and an ongoing effort), ISSUE 6: Assisted populations becoming homeless again. 52 GOai 6: Sustain the condition of persons and families placed in permanent housing. Recommendations: ^ Provide treatment and other supportive services for those in permanent housing, and ^ Ensure sufficient incomes to pay for housing. Action Steps: ^ Coordination with service providers to ensure that a homeless person's service needs are met after the placement into permanent housing, (City, HIP various social service organizations within five years and an ongoing effort), ^ For disabled homeless placed in permanent housing, services can be funded through Medicaid or funds through federal mental health and substance abuse block grants, depending on their eligibility, ^ Transitional services can be funded through different mainstream funding sources including, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Community Services Block Grant, the Social Services Block Grant, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration block grant programs, and ^ The City should continue to work to expand job opportunities through the recruitment of corporate relocations, the provision of incentives for local corporations seeking expansion opportunities, assistance with the preparation of small business loan applications, and other activities whose aim is to reduce unemployment and 53 expand the base of higher income jobs. (City, Goodwill Industries, TWC, Coastal Bend Workforce Center within two years and an ongoing effort). ISSUE 7: Lack of adequate affordable housing. 6081 /: Increase affordable housing supply. Recommendations: o City should take the initiative in affordable housing development, providing various incentives and regulations, o Provide Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units, and o Leverage federal funds with private resources for housing. Action Steps: o Use of tools like voluntary inclusionary zoning programs, encouraging developers to include affordable housing units when building new developments (City, Builders' and Landlords' Associations within five years, evaluate and modify the programs and tools), o City must work to expand the impact of the federal funding available by increased leveraging of resources from lending institutions, developers, corporate entities, and other sources (City, developers, Builders' and Landlords' Associations, lending institutions, within five years and an ongoing effort), o Developers should be encouraged to construct SRO housing (City, Builders' Associations and developers within five years and 54 an ongoing effort). ISSOB ~: Lack of adequate accessible shelters and insufficient trained staff to work with disabled, forcing the disabled to needlessly enter into institutions. gpa~ $; Improve the accessibility of shelters and train the staff in shelters to work with disabled. Recommendations: o Current shelters should be modified to improve the accessibility and to meet the accessibility standards, and o Training should be provided to the staff members to work with the disabled. Action Steps: o Assessment of accessibility of current shelters antl identify the barriers for people with disabilities in accessing the current shelters (current shelters, Accessible Communities inc. Center for Independent living, antl HIP within one year, re-evaluate every three years), a Develop standards antl guidelines for accessible shelters (Accessible communities inc. Center for Independent Living, City, antl current shelters and HIP within three years), Modifications to the current shelters in conformance with the accessibility guidelines (City, current shelters, Accessible communities inc. Center for Independent Living, NIP within five years and an ongoing maintenance), and 55 ^ Conduct training programs for shelter staff to work with disabled (current shelters, Accessible communities inc. Center for Independent Living, HIP, City within five years and training programs for new staff every year). ISSUE ~: Lack of appropriate housing for MHMR clients. GOaI ~: Increase the supply of housing available to MHMR clients. Recommendations: Reopen housing facility lost to funding cuts. Action Steps: ^ Work with MHMR and landlord to determine requirements for reopening facility (City, HIP, MHMR, landlord within five years), and ^ Identify funding opportunities to support MHMR housing program (City, HIP, and MHMR in year one and an ongoing effort). (SSU810: InsufFcient income to meet basic living and housing needs. 6Ual ~~: Improve income levels so that people can afford housing and provide better support services for economically disadvantaged and disabled people. 56 Recommendations: o Increase job-training programs that provide skills to earn a livable age, o Increase the participation in the employment programs and health programs, and o Support programs that provide health care and counseling services to low- income groups. Action Steps: o Qffer work support programs such as job skills training, childcare, health care, and transportation (Adult Learning Center, Goodwill, Del Mar, T'SA etc, within two years and an ongoing effort), o Ensure the participation by adequate outreach and access to employment initiatives through the Department of Labor, Department of Human Services, and the Work Force Investment Act (NIP, United Way Info line within two years and an ongoing effort), o Encourage employers to start creative programs for their employees including housing allowances and community investment, (various industries and City within five years and an ongoing effort), and o Develop job opportunities for the people with work related disabilities, offering some flexible employment opportunities (Goodwill, Adult Learning Center, Del Mar, various industries and employers within four years and an ongoing effort). 57