The New Faces of Homelessness

Today I am live-blogging from Rhode Island's "Yes We Will" Conference on Homelessness and Housing. The first workshop of the day will examine the "new faces of homelessness" - not necessarily new categories of people experiencing homelessness, but groups that have started receiving more priorities and attention from funders and policy-makers.

10:22 - I like the note that we're starting out on: moderator Mike Burk from the RI Dept. of Children, Youth, and Families notes that many of the groups facing homelessness we will discuss today are homeless as a direct result of policy decisions. For example, Rhode Island intentionally cut off services for foster youth at age 18; homelessness has become an unintended effect.

10:23 - The commonality of all the programs covered by today's workshop? Empowerment of individuals.

10:24 - First speaker: Richard Cho from the Corporation of Supportive Housing, a national organization that helps communities create affordable housing with services to prevent and end services.

10:26 - Estiimated 154K homeless veterans nationwide. 76 percent have serious co-occurring health and behavioral health issues. Vets are also twice as likely than other people to become chronically homeless.

10:27 - Here's something we don't delineate often, differences among generations of veterans. Vietnam era vets have more complex needs. Non-combat era vets have higher rates of incarceration. Today's vets have higher rates of PTSD, but less chronic issues, which means they would respond well to early interventions.

10:33 - Trends in vets supportive housing: services must focus on mental health and PTSD (trauma-informed care), peer-support, strong emphasis on employment.

10:34 - Prevention focused models for recent veterans are less of a trend and more of a need. Many of today's vets most in need of care are many times found only after they enter the criminal justice system.

10:35 - Switching gears - turning to homeless youth and young adults. 1 to 1.6 million of them, in fact.

10:36 - These statistics never become easier to hear. Young adults who are homeless are often victims of sexual or physical abuse, and must engage in risky behavior in order to survive.

10:38 - Serving homeless youth is particularly tricky - you must realize they may behind developmentally, but not infantilize them to the point where they cannot live independently.

10:43 - Some best practices in providing youth housing include: understanding the social nature of adolescent culture and a team approach to case management (to allow for the development of relationships).

10:45 - We've moved on to a new category of homelessness: those with health, mental health, or substance abuse issues. The statistics favoring supportive housing are incredible compelling, not only for their cost-benefit savings, but their incredible rates of success. We are running through lots of numbers right now.

10:48 - Supportive housing should not wait for those who deserve it the most, but those who are most vulnerable and most at risk of dying.

10:50 - Next up: Al Signorelli of Operation Stand-Down (means "rest easy"). After a moment of silence for our soldiers and vets at home and abroad, we're jumping right into the unacceptable issue of veterans homelessness.

10:53 - Fastest growing homeless veterans sub-population: women.

10:54 - "Unless you're well-staffed, providing permanent housing can be extremely challenging. To put it mildly, my board members have a lot of heart."

10:57 - "Most of the major issues in providing homeless services is not with the clients, it's with the rules, regulations, and policies of the providers." Amen.

10:59 - Signorelli is discussing the changes he's seeing in their shelters. Domestic issues between a veteran and his/her spouse, severe substance abuse among aging veteran populations, etc.

11:01 - "A veteran who's not street-wise will not last long in my shelter. It's sad, but true."

11:02 - Common theme here: the stimulus funds could not have come soon enough to shelter providers.

11:03 - Here's a new term: "compassion fatigue." Sounds better, and is perhaps more accurate, than "burn-out."

11:04 - Hearing an interesting story about a West Point graduate who is now living in their veteran's shelter. Apparently, Senator Reid nearly fell off his chair when he met this homeless vet and heard his story. Why are we so surprised that smart, successful people can succumb to the effects of PTSD? These issues are not new, they have been around for years.

11:09 - Switching gears again; new topic, new speaker. Kimberly Rose provides housing for homeless youth in Rhode Island through the Yes Program.

11:12 - Key to the success of their programs is flexibility. Nothing is ever predictable when you're serving homeless youth.

11:13 - This is a heartbreaking reality of homelessness today: case managers went to look under Providence bridges for youth to recruit into their housing programs. They found one in the morning, had her in her own apartment by the evening. Now that is rapid rehousing.

11:18 - I like this: the "5 app" rule. If young people in the program are not working or in school, they must turn in copies of 5 job or school applications per week.

11:20 - Last speaker, Eilleen Hayes of Amos House, will cover formerly incarcerated women and men. They key, she says? Community.

11:22 - There's a lot going on in these post-incarceration housing programs! Job training, case management, alcohol/drug treatment, etc.

11:27 - The coolest program at this housing program is their community outreach component. Former prisoners are going out into the community and giving back by sharing their stories with young people and trying to break the cycle.

11:34 - Great question: How do you find a job for someone with previous convictions? Answer: they have spent a long time building relationships, networking, and establishing a reputation. They work hard to teach former prisoners how be good employees, how to talk about their convictions, and what industries they will never be eligible to work in.

11:41 - Here's a question we should always be asking ourselves as advocates: Other than money, what major public policy change would you make? Here are some answers:

• Erase income limitations
• Change the way existing federal funds are used to allow for more innovation and flexibility.
• Look at the prison system as it really is - a money making entity. Consider changing this to a model based on housing and rehabilitation.

Image: Kash_if