Promote needed systems change, including increased coordination across government departments and agencies and efforts to transition providers from shelter-based to housing first models.Examples of Systems Change
System Change Efforts and Their Results: Los Angeles 2005 - 2006
Systems Change Resources from the Corporation for Supportive Housing
Discussion Questions:
Are there examples of systems change occurring in your community?
Do you know of shelter providers who have adopted a more housing first approach? Is it working to reduce homelessness?
1 comment:
Housing first, yes our organization adheres to that principle in our emergency housing program.Community Housing Innovations (www.chigrants.org) operates 24 hour supervised residences with 40 hours per week on-site intensive case management. Our families and individuals are referred by our local Department of Social Services when they present with 'absolutely no place to go'. They enter the program and the professional case manager conducts a thorough intake identifying the barriers to maintaining permanent housing. Not surprisingly we find a lot of undiagnosed mental illness, substance abuse, chronic physical disease, domestic violence, and overall underemployment...poverty. Then CHI connects our clients to mainstream resources such as counseling, support systems, job programs, medical doctors and follows through to ensure that clients utilize these services. In 2004, 575 families were homeless in Suffolk County, New York.Today the number hovers around 275 in spite of the exorbitant rents. While we need more affordable rental housing, local DSS is a true partner with shelter providers supporting our interventions and encouraging ongoing collaborations between shelters and services. We uncover the real problem and together we help to fix it.
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