Presentation Transcript

1. MetroDenver Forum of Strategic Partnerships to End Veteran Homelessness
2. Welcome
3. Welcome “Only a crisis- actual or perceived- produces real change.  When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around. That, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable.” - Milton Friedman
4. Objectives: Share vulnerability index survey results Highlight recent housing successes Hear from veterans about their experiences Promote networking & information sharing Identify regional priorities to effectively end veteran homelessness
5. Agenda Ending veteran homelessness by 2015? – Gary Sanford Vulnerability Index Data overview – Katie Symons Panel of Rapid Re-Housing partners – 100 Days Committee Panel of veterans Breakout session with focus groups in areas of Housing, Benefits, Supportive Services, Employment, Health Care, Outreach Presentation of regional priorities – Group facilitators Next steps & Closing remarks
6. Ending Veteran Homelessness by 2015 in seven county area? Gary sanford Executive director Metro denver homeless initiative
7. National Efforts Goals Increase number/variety of housing options including permanent, transitional, contracted, community-operated, and VA operated Provide more supportive services through partnerships to prevent homelessness, improve employability, and increase independent living for veterans. Improve access to VA and community based mental health, substance abuse, and supportive services. Vision “President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans within the next five years” – Secretary Shinseki Accomplished by •Building Capacity •Creating Solutions
8. National Homeless Veteran Numbers
9. Denver-Metro Homeless Veteran Numbers Point In Time The 2011 survey indicated that 11.7% of respondents (603) were homeless veterans The 2012 survey indicated that 12.9% of respondents (710) were homeless veterans
10. GOALEND VETERAN HOMELESSNESS BY 2015 REGIONAL RESOURCES VA Benefits Grant per Diem programs Veteran Service Organizations Community Resource and Referral Center VASH vouchers Homeless Management Information System Veteran Trust Fund SOAR VASH vouchers Local initiatives 100 Days Committee County Veteran Service Officers Supportive Services for Veterans and Families grantees Veteran Stand downs Colorado Board of Veteran Affairs United Veterans Committee Work Force Centers Non-Profit agencies Coordinated Entry Ft. Lyon VA Health Care
11. GOAL- END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS BY 2015 Opening Doors – Federal Goal Pathways Home Colorado – State Goal Regional priorities? Voice of those in need Insight from those engaged in addressing needs Alignment to create efficiencies and collaboration Leverage additional resources with collective voice
12. Vulnerability Index Overview Katie Symons Consultant Governor’s office

13. SEVEN COUNTY VULNERABILTY INDEX SURVEY OF VETERANS

    Three hundred twenty seven (327) Veterans Surveyed Results are based on the number of those surveyed and does not represent the entire homeless VETERAN population in the SEVEN COUNTY area. The VI is focused on people, not only numbers. Survey answers are self reported
14. Risk Factors for Vulnerability More than 6 months homeless AND at least one of the following criteria: -End Stage Renal Disease -History of Cold Weather Injuries -Liver Disease or Cirrhosis -HIV+/AIDS -Over 60 years old -3 or more emergency room visits in prior 3 months -3 or more ER or hospitalizations in prior year -Tri-morbid (mental illness + abusing substances + chronic medical condition) Having one of these conditions will give an individual a rating; the more conditions an individual has, the higher their rating (1-8)
15. Vulnerability Index Interview Questions Veteran Status Discharge, benefits, etc. Demographics Health Risk Indicators Institutional Usage (prison, jail, shelter, foster care) Employment, Income, and Education Youth Risk Involvement Family Risk Involvement
16. Medical Vulnerability 157 out of 327 Veterans are medically vulnerable 48% have at least one risk indicator
17. Vulnerability Index Risk Indicators
18. Discharge Status
19. Age
20. Gender
21. Benefits
22. Mental Health & Substance Abuse 163 Vets reported receiving some form of mental health treatment 47 reported being held against their will 190 Vets reported using substances 143 Vets reported receiving some form of substance abuse treatment 128 Vets are Dually Diagnosed
23. Risk Factors
24. System Involvement
25. Where Interviews were Conducted
26. Resides in Which County
27. Lived Prior to Becoming Homeless (by County)

28. What We Are Doing

    Many of these communities are taking the knowledge from the Data addressing gaps in services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable
29. 100 Days committee Panel presentation

30. Panel of Rapid Re-Housing Partners

    100 days Committee panel Carolyn Juarez – Veterans Administration Susan niner – Colorado Division of Housing Loretta Owens – Denver housing authority Heather powers – Veterans Administration Kevin Raleigh – Co Coalition for the Homeless Scott strong - Veterans Administration Sage santangelo – Metro Denver Homeless Initiative
31. Local efforts Goals “Increase voucher utilization for 2008-2012 HUD-VASH vouchers in the next 100 Days, with 100% voucher issuance and 95% of vouchers leased” -100 Days Group Create housing and accessible services for homeless veterans Increase retention Vision All Coloradans have a place to call home Accomplished by •Building Capacity •Creating Solutions
32. Denver Metro 100 Day team Team leaders: Carolyn Juarez, HUD-VASH Supervisor Denver VAMC Heather Powers, HUD-VASH Supervisor Denver VAMC Team members: Scott Strong- VAMC Jennifer Daly- VAMC Linda Barringer – Family Tree Rebecca Mayer- Metro Denver Homeless Initiative Brenda Mascarenas – Adams County Housing Authority Toni Manjarrez- Denver Housing Authority Loretta Owens- Denver Housing Authority Katherine Helgerson- Division Of Housing Amanda Guthrie – Boulder County Housing Authority Sage Santangelo – Governors Office Heather Beck- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless/DSOC Kevin Raleigh- CCH/Denver Street Outreach Collaborative
33. Goal vs Results Goal at Launch: House 100 chronically homeless veterans in 100 days, 25 identified from the VI study Baseline: In the 100 days previous to 10/8/12 the Denver Metro HUD-VASH program housed 66 Chronically Homeless Veterans Results @ Day 100: 80 Chronically Homeless Veterans Housed 22 identified through the VI study 18 Additional VI veterans working with case managers, 17 of which have vouchers
34. Baseline vs Results 100- 85- 70- 55- 40- 25- 10- 0- DAYS 86.7 days 56.2 days 49.5 days 39 days 33.4 days 20.9 Admission to HUD-VASH to Voucher Issue Referral to HUD-VASH Admission Voucher Issuance to Lease Up
35. Our Successes in the Denver Metro Fifteen veterans were accepted into the VASH program at the 2012 Denver Stand Down The “100 Veterans in 100 Days” group created to help speed up the VASH voucher issuance process has housed 84 veterans as of January 31st, 23 of whom were identified through the VI A better relationship was forged between Housing authorities and the VA with continued partnership and goal setting
36. How We Improved Collaboration “The collaboration has been amazing.” “What a great example of what can be accomplished when we all come together!” “The One Stop, in our opinion, was hugely successful.  9 veterans were seen this morning by the VA HUD-VASH team with Division Of Housing very kindly providing space and handling copying and application screening.  9 veterans attended the briefings with Division of Housing and Denver Housing Authority this afternoon and left with housing vouchers in hand.” Kintsukuroi (n.) (v. phr.) – “to repair with gold”; the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken.
37. Improving Client Experience Veteran who went through the process in 30 days VI veteran who had been residing for 3 years under a loading dock
38. Areas for Improvement Continue work at landlord recruitment Get ALL communities in the seven-county Denver Metro region involved Establish deeper partnerships with services and organizations that are involved in retention of housing homeless veterans Create VASH as “cool” process with good reputation amongst homeless veterans
39. PANEL OF VETERANS
40. FOCUS GROUPS Task: Identify regional priorities in each of the following areas Housing Benefits Supportive services Employment Health care outreach
41. Focus Group Process Discuss priorities in topic areas that will contribute to ending veteran homelessness in seven county area by 2015 Brainstorm ideas and place on flip chart Vote on top priorities Rotate after 15 minutes to next group
42. Focus Group Facilitators Housing - Susan Niner (DOH) & Heather Powers (VA) Benefits - John Valvano (VA) & Rebecca Sawyer Smith (VBA) Supportive Services - Dee Drake (Rocky Mountain Human Services) Employment - Nancy Rider (Bayaud Enterprises) Health Care - Cheryl Martin (VA) Outreach - Missy Mish (VA)
43. Presentation of Priorities Housing - Susan Niner & Heather Powers Benefits - John Valvano & Rebecca Sawyer Smith Supportive Services- Dee Drake Employment - Nancy Rider Health Care - Cheryl Martin Outreach - Missy Mish
44. Next Steps complete Evaluation – Identify interest in assisting with regional efforts develop document summarizing forum Distribute to attendees meet with other stakeholders in region produce document which identifies regional priorities
45. Special thank you! Jeannie Ritter Veterans Small Group Facilitators