10 Year Plan to End Homelessness for Umatilla County

A Home for Hope
10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Umatilla County
Photo courtesy of the East Oregonian
Home for Hope Coalition, 2012
Home for Hope Coalition Members involved in the development of the Umatilla County 10-Year
Plan to End Homelessness:
Carol Johnson
Dianna Anderson
Heidi Zeigler
Janet Jones
Jennifer Richards
Kathy Thomas
Kevin Castle
Linda Valentine
Lolly Solis Torres
Marci McMurphy
Maria Mendoza
Marissa Hascall
Marjorie Bates
Mark Royal
Rod Harwood
Continued...
Hermiston Warming
Station- Chair
Pendleton Police
Department- Police
Assistant & Wraparound
Housing Coordinator
Department of Human
Services- Community
Development & Volunteer
Coordinator
Umatilla County Health
Department- Community
Health Educator
CAPECO Community
Services Department- Case
Manager
Good Shepherd Medical
Center- Health & Safety
Educator
Umatilla Morrow
Alternatives
Eastern Oregon Center for
Independent LivingIndependent Living
Specialist
Department of Human
Services- SSP
CAPECO Community
Services DepartmentLead Case Manager
CAPECO Community
Services DepartmentIntake Specialist,
Hermiston/MiltonFreewater
Domestic Violence
Services
Salvation Army- Social
Services
Umatilla County
Community CorrectionsDirector
St Anthony Hospital
[email protected]
541-720-4295
[email protected]
541-276-4411
Ext. 104
[email protected]
541-966-0908
[email protected]
541-278-5432
[email protected]
541-276-5073
[email protected]
541-667-3502
[email protected]
541-240-9336
[email protected]
541-276-1037
[email protected]
[email protected]
541-938-6627
Ext. 223
541-276-5073
[email protected]
541-289-7755
[email protected]
[email protected]
541-276-3322
[email protected]
541-276-7824
Ext. 229
[email protected]
541-278-3239
541-276-3369
Continued...
Home for Hope Coalition Members involved in the development of the Umatilla County 10-Year
Plan to End Homelessness:
Ron Opsal
Ryan Lehnert
Sandra
Kimbrow
Shannon
Greer
Shelley Ena
Walla Walla Veteran’s
Administration- HCHV
Supervisory Social
Worker
Pendleton Police
Department- Community
Services Officer
[email protected]
509-525-5200
Ext. 22040
[email protected]
First United Methodist
[email protected]
Church & Pendleton
Warming Station- Chair
CAPECO Community
[email protected]
Services DepartmentIntake Specialist, Helping
Hand
Umatilla County–
[email protected]
Commission on Children
and Families
541-276-4411
541-377-1022
541-276-1926
541-278-5486
On January 29, 2009, Umatilla County entered
into its first conversation about homelessness.
Since that date, a team of local agencies and
concerned citizens have continued that conversation, making marked progress toward ending homelessness and bringing hope to people
who have experienced it.
Photo courtesy of the East Oregonian
It is because of the zeal and dedication of this group-the “Home for Hope Coalition”-that we can say
with certainty that measurable progress has been made in the fight to end homelessness in Umatilla
County. In addition to many other projects, a major step forward has been the establishment of a
place for people who are homeless to go when the temperature drops to unsafe levels. We have also
provided a united front in the delivery of basic services by way of “Project Community Connect” (PCC) for three years annually and a fourth event is in planning. PCC is a one day event that
draws together service organizations, local businesses and practitioners, volunteers and people experiencing homelessness to meet immediate basic needs.
Beyond events, services, and measurable goals accomplished, the Home for Hope Coalition has
achieved something even more powerful: engaging the whole community-agencies, businesses, local
government, the faith community, and citizens across the social spectrum-to accomplish the goal of
ending homelessness. The goal of ending homelessness is a daunting mission; it is accomplished by
identifying needs, educating the public about the reality of homelessness and mobilizing people to
take specific action. Our county’s conversation began with the simple task of realizing and accepting, as a community, that homelessness does exist within our borders and that endeavoring to end it
is a worthwhile and mutually beneficial goal. After that initial hurdle, our efforts have flourished.
We now have specific objectives, teams to meet each objective and enough energy and forward momentum to see those objectives through. The last three years have been exciting times for our
county; they have been years full of progress and the extraordinary experience of seeing a vision
come to fruition that previously would have been impossible. As we persevere in our goal to be a
community free of the threat of homelessness, it is with bright hope that we present our 10 Year
Plan.
Who is homeless and how many people are homeless in Umatilla County?
Each year during the final week of January, HUD requires that each community complete a “PIT”
count- “Point In Time”. A PIT count gathers information about the homeless population in each
community, including length of homelessness, causes of homelessness, and basic demographic information.
In 2011, agencies in
Umatilla County gathered
the following information:
of the 235 individuals who
were without a permanent
residence, 129 were part of
a one-parent family, 41
were part of two-parent
families, 18 were couples
without children, 43 were
single individuals and 4
were unaccompanied youth.
Unaccompanied
PIT Count 2011 Population
Youth
2%
Single
Individual
18%
Includes all homeless persons
Couple
without
children
8%
1 Parent
Family
55%
2 Parent
Family
17%
Each person polled has the
opportunity to indicate the
causes that led to their homelessness. (See chart on following page). The two most common causes of
homelessness identified were “couldn’t afford rent” and “unemployed” (both identified by 61 people). The second most common causes were “kicked out by
family/friends” (33 identified) and “drug/alcohol (in
self)” (32 identified).
A challenge of conducting a survey like the PIT is that our
rural location makes it difficult to gather true and actual
numbers due to the time of year and limited places where
homeless persons gather (shelters, meal sites, etc.). It is believed that these numbers are very conservative.
Our goal is that each year with better data collection, collaboration and volunteer assistance, our count will be closer to
the reality of homelessness in our communities.
Photo courtesy of the East Oregonian

On January 29, 2009, a meeting was called for all social service providers who were
interested and/or involved in homelessness. A group formed called “Home for Hope
Coalition”, which has been meeting ever since.
Who is homeless and how many people are homeless in Umatilla County?
(Continued)
PIT COUNT 2011, Identified Causes of Homelessness
By Choice
Unemployed
Runaway
Poor Rental History
Mental or Emotional Disorder
Medical Problem
Kicked Out by Family/Friends
Evicted by Landlord
Drug/Alcohol (in self)
Drug/Alcohol (n Home)
Domestic Violence
Criminal History
Credit
Couldn't Afford Rent
Child Abuse
0
10
20
30
40
*Note: more than one cause can be indicated by each person polled.
50
60
70
What unique challenges does Umatilla County face with regard to homelessness?
According to the 2010 US Census information, Umatilla County’s population is 26.3 persons per square
mile, classifying it as a “rural area”. Being rural presents many challenges to the goal of ending
homelessness. Funding from state and federal sources are often
distributed based on population, which limits our resources. Also, the
nature of this county is that our population tends to be spread out.
Accessing services and resources is difficult for high-risk populations, as
necessary services may only be available 25 miles away or more.
Umatilla County has a high rate of unemployment. Per Oregon
Employment Department data, our current rate of unemployment is 9.1%.
Umatilla County also has a higher rate of poverty than the average state.
According to OSU Extension Service data, 16.2% of children in Umatilla
County are living in families with income at or below the federal poverty
guideline; 52% of children enrolled in public schools in Umatilla County
qualify for free or reduced lunches.
Photo courtesy of Google
As was identified in the 2010 PIT count, rent affordability is the primary identified cause of
homelessness.
Fair Market Rent
(including average
cost of rent and
utilities)
1 bedroom
$573.00
Annual income
needed to afford
FMR (>30% of income used to cover
rent & utilities)
$19,880.00
Minimum hours per
workweek at minimum wage ($8.80)
to afford FMR
2 bedroom
$656.00
$25,440.00
58
3 bedroom
$921.00
$35,720.00
82
46
Table data gathered from National Low-Income Housing Coalition. http://www.nlihc.org/oor/oor2010/area.cfm?state=OR
The unemployment rates along with the unaffordable housing costs make it difficult for two parent
families, let alone a single-parent homeless family, to maintain housing. The work hours required to
preserve housing make meeting the rigorous requirements of “helping” agencies (in order to obtain
assistance with their basic needs) especially challenging .
The average length of time a household must be on the waiting list for a section 8 voucher from the
Housing Authority of Umatilla County is approximately 12-18 months, if the household is at 30% of
area median income or below. If you are in a household that falls above the 30% poverty level, the
waiting list can be indefinite. Funds in all rent subsidy programs has been shrinking steadily
throughout the last few years. One of the funding sources that CAPECO uses, HTBA, has been notified
of an additional cut of 40% next funding year. This means that approximately 17 struggling households
will not receive rent assistance to help maintain their current housing.
What does our community stand to gain or lose by addressing or not addressing homelessness? Who has a stake in this issue?
The primary benefit that our community stands to gain by addressing homelessness is an increase of resources and support to households who are transitioning out of homelessness. As
discussed previously, many of our local service agencies are experiencing a decease of funds
available to provide for the needs of our homeless population. Utilizing proven strategies,
such as the “housing first model” and through partnering and providing “wrap around” services, we expect to see a decrease in the financial resources a household needs to effectively
transition from homelessness to being stably housed for the long term.
Aside from financial benefit to social services, our community stands to gain productive members of our economic system. Further, by addressing homelessness, our community will be
able to better mitigate the negative causes and byproducts of homelessness, including substance abuse, child welfare issues, burdens to our police, court and emergency medical system,
etc. Decreasing these issues has broad reaching financial and social benefits.
A secondary benefit that our community stands to gain by addressing homelessness is an increase in community involvement in the care of our vulnerable citizens. Each and every citizen of our county has a stake in this issue; the benefits and losses of addressing homelessness
or not addressing it spreads all the way
across our community, touching government systems, the business community, social service agencies, the faith
community, reaching to each individual.
We have a great deal to gain through
our efforts. As we create opportunities
for people who are experiencing homelessness to change their fate, we change
our community’s fate as well...for the
better.
Photo courtesy of the East Oregonian

On November 15, 2011, the Pendleton Warming Station opened for the first time. On
December 15, 2011 the Hermiston Warming Station opened as well. The stations were
developed to provide a warm place for homeless persons who would be sleeping outside
during the frigid nights of winter.

On May 13, 2011, the first Homeless Summit was held in Umatilla County. Over 70
people were in attendance. Five work groups were formed to begin working on specific
objectives, including a warming station, 211info.org, homeless outreach, lockers and
disability navigation services.
What are our objectives?
(Specific measureable goals)
1. Prevent people from becoming homeless (stop discharging
people into homelessness, emergency interventions, etc.)
2. Utilize a “Housing First Model”
3. Mitigate barriers to entering and maintaining housing; link
people to community services; increase collaborative efforts
between community service agencies
4. Increase income support and economic opportunities
5. Expand data collection
6. Continue efforts to provide public education regarding the
issue of homelessness and its root causes
Photo courtesy of Google
1. Prevent people from becoming homeless (stop discharging people into
homelessness, emergency interventions, etc.)
ID Task Name
Methods
1.1 Develop Homelessness Prevention
Identify discharge plans for institutions
Strategies and Staff Trainings to be and barriers to discharge effectively,
used by local public institutions such track recidivism of homeless through jail
as hospitals and jails to diminish the and hospitals.
likelihood of discharge into
Institutions track # of discharges to no
homelessness.
address and transitional housing.
Measures of Impact
Reduction rate in number of discharges from
medical and correctional institutions directly
to homelessness.
Decrease in numbers of homeless people
served by local homeless CoC that were
recently in institutions.
Implement discharge system to track
recidivism of homeless through jail and
hospitals to develop housing placement
and supportive services plan to stop the
cycle of homelessness.
1.2 Expand Rental Education programs
Expand the number and frequency of
that increase the likelihood that
Rental Education programs offered.
homeless people, who obtain
Increase # of clients completing Rental
housing, will ultimately be successful
Education programs.
and stable as tenants and not repeat
their cycle through homelessness.
Number of graduates of Rental Education
programs.
Numbers of graduates who ultimately sustain
permanent housing for at least one year after
exiting homelessness.
Number of graduates who do not repeat their
experiences with homelessness.
1.3 Establish a Homeless
Representative, which will be made
up of a current homeless and/or
formerly homeless individual, to
participate in the local Home for
Hope Coalition and community
groups on the direction of plans
related to housing and service
programs.
1.4 Create a Universal Point of Referral
for At-risk Tenancies to be used by
service providers and landlords to
increase alternative housing options
for at-risk tenancies.
1.5 Provide Family Mediation and
Reunification Services that prevent
youth from becoming homeless.
Solicit homeless consumer representation Number of community based organizations
to participate in the Home for Hope
that have regular consumer participation by
Coalition, and other homeless program
homeless or formerly people.
boards.
Number of homeless or formerly homeless
people who are actively participating in
consumer advisory activities.
Define the point of referral process.
Provide training and communication on
process to homeless providers.
Reduction rate to number of at-risk
households becoming homeless.
Number of households that are served by this
intervention and avert homelessness as a
result.
Increase family mediation and
Reduction rate of homelessness among atreunification services available to families risk youth.
in the community.
Number of youth who participate in
Develop a drop-in center for youth to
intervention and avert homelessness as a
access services.
result.
1.6 Staff a Homeless Diversion Specialist Develop a position and process to work
position to counsel tenants facing
with court, tenants, and landlords.
eviction on (1) problem-solving with
Implement process and begin working
their landlords to retain their
case load.
housing and (2) accessing emergency
rental assistance or other services
that can avert homelessness.
Reduction rate in number of households
facing eviction who lose their housing.
Number of households in court served by this
intervention and who avert losing their
housing as a result.
2.
Utilize a “Housing First Model”
ID
Task Name
Methods
Measures of Impact
2.1
Using Housing First model,
increase availability of rental
assistance.
CHRONIC HOMELESS
SINGLES: tenant-based rental
assistance for chronic singles
linked with local public
institutions such as hospitals, jails,
and court systems to develop
programs to serve “chronically
homeless high-system users”.
Number of chronic homeless that exit
homelessness as a result of this housing
opportunity.
Short-term rental assistance for
SINGLES AND FAMILIES (112m): Shallow rent program to
serve as a “bridge” to provide
stability and support rapid rehousing linked to case
management and services.
Number of homeless households that exit
homelessness as a result of this housing
opportunity.
HIGH-NEED FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN(1-24m): short-term
shallow rent program to serve as a
“bridge” to provide stability and
support rapid re-housing linked to
case management and services.
Number of homeless households that exit
homelessness as a result of this housing
opportunity.
OLDER YOUTH (1-12m):
Implement short-term shallow
rent program to serve older youth
(single adults ages 18-23) linked to
case management, education,
employment, transportation, and
other supportive services.
Number of homeless youth that exit
homelessness or avert homelessness as a
result of this housing opportunity.
2.2
Create short-term emergency
rental assistance combined
with support services targeted
to homeless families and
singles to facilitate rapid exits
from homelessness and create
a supported bridge back into
the private housing market.
2.2b
2.2c
Number of chronic homeless who retain
permanent supportive housing.
Number of chronic homeless who exit the
program for other permanent housing.
Number of homeless who retain
permanent affordable housing.
Number of homeless who exit the
program at 12 months for other
permanent affordable housing.
Number of homeless who retain
permanent affordable housing.
Number of homeless who exit the
program at 24 months for other
permanent affordable housing.
Number of homeless youth that exit the
program at 12 months for permanent
affordable housing.
2.3
Create a Risk Mitigation Pool
of funding that can be
accessed by landlords to cover
property damage caused by
tenants.
Apply at State Level for rent
guarantee funds for those who
graduate a renter’s education
course.
Number of housing units that are
preserved in the homeless inventory and
not lost when landlords cease their
participation due to property damage.
2.4
Cultivate cooperative and
stable relationships with
landlords to enhance capacity
of existing private housing
market as “housers” of
formerly homeless people.
Landlord Forums (2/yr)
Mailings/Brochures
Investigate/discuss a possible
county/city tax exemption
program for landlords who choose
to be a “houser” of homeless
people.
Number of landlords participate as
“housers” of homeless people.
Number of units brought into the
homeless inventory increased.
3. Remove barriers; link people to services; increase
collaborative effort between community service agencies
ID
Task Name
Methods
Measures of Impact
3.1
Create a unified assessment
system that refers families and
singles to appropriate housing
and service programs based
on need and ability to become
self-sufficient.
Define partnerships.
Complete system plan/policy.
Develop intake system and
universal assessment criteria.
Number of homeless households that are
matched with the most appropriate
services and housing resources are
increased.
Develop systems change policy
and educate community on
process.
Implement systems change to
include new programs being onboard.
3.2
Improve and expand
Homeless Outreach and
Engagement with Services/
Housing for homeless and
sheltered singles and families.
Develop outreach partnerships and Number of unengaged, hard-to-reach
secure funding.
homeless people who are brought in to the
service and housing network and engaged
Implement a street outreach
with supports that will help end their
program with a permanent
homeless status.
housing component.
3.3
Create an efficient and
effective system for service
linkage for people who are
homeless to include
emergency shelter beds for
single adults. Ie., Warming
Stations in Pendleton and
Hermiston.
Define funding and sustainability
plan.
Number of homeless individuals who
resolve homelessness through
participation in this resource.
Develop One-Stop Resource center
that includes: Interim housing
Number of homeless individuals who
beds for homeless singles who are access emergency shelter bed services.
awaiting placement in permanent
Number of homeless individuals who
housing.
maintain engagement with supports while
Day-Center services (meals,
awaiting housing placement.
showers, laundry, US mail service,
Number of homeless individuals who
mainstream resources, e-mail and
access services at the “one-stop” resource
internet access for employment
event.
search).
Expand services provided at
Project Community Connect.
3.4
Increase access to case
management and supportive
services for clients receiving
rental assistance.
Establish flexible supportive
service funds in support of
programs linked to housing.
Services may include: case
management FTE positions;
transportation for clients; child
care.
Number of homeless individuals who
resolve homelessness through
participation in this resource.
3.5
Implement the 211info.org
system in Umatilla County.
Establish fund and 0.5 FTE
position for management of the
local information.
Number of homeless and at-risk
individuals and families who resolve
homelessness through participation in this
resource.
3. Remove barriers; link people to services; increase collaborative
effort between community service agencies (continued)
3.6
Expand homeless services
systems collaboration with
the Veteran’s Administration
and community-based
agencies to increase access
and utilization of federal VA
resources by people who are
homeless.
Develop local Veteran program to Number of homeless veterans who resolve
include housing, case management, homelessness through participation in this
and employment.
resource.
Offer resources to Veterans to
include Veterans Industries and
other programs.
3.7
Establish closer links between
housing, energy assistance,
weatherization and food and
nutrition programs.
Identify housing sites with target
populations of low-income and
formerly homeless persons and
expand programs to reach these
populations.
Photo courtesy of CAPECO
Number of homeless households for whom
emergency needs are met through access
to these resources.
4.
Increase income support and economic opportunities
ID
Task Name
Methods
Measures of Impact
4.1
Increase income selfsufficiency through a housing
rental assistance, employment
and mental health services
model focused on housing and
employment linking
partnership (HELP Program).
Develop program through new
funding resource to include
foundation, business, community,
and public partnerships.
Number of homeless households that
increase their income making it more
feasible to exit homelessness.
Increase income selfsufficiency for people with
disabilities and persons who
experience significant barriers
in obtaining and retaining
employment.
Sustain supported employment
programs for individuals with
severe mental illness, an interagency partnership that brings
together resources to help
homeless individuals obtain and
keep a job.
Increase the likelihood that formerly
homeless obtain and retain employment,
can afford housing costs, and avoid future
episodes of homelessness.
Develop supported employment
program model for individuals
experiencing barriers to obtain and
retain employment; attract
employers with assurance of jobbased support (eg. Job coach) for
homeless employees.
Increase likelihood that formerly homeless
obtain and retain employment, can afford
housing costs, and avoid future episode of
homelessness.
4.2
4.2b
4.3
Reduce barriers in accessing
SSI/SSDI benefits for people
who are homeless.
Number of homeless households that exit
the program into permanent affordable
housing.
Identify SSI/SSDI point of contact Number of homeless households that
per agency that will complete
increase their income and access Medicaid
applications and receive ongoing
making it more feasible to exit
training provided by SSA.
homelessness.
To improve efficiencies in filing
applications, resulting in a
reduction of appeals and delay in
benefits, working OR-DHS to
provide SSI/SSDI Outreach,
Access and Recovery (SOAR/
BEST) training to service
providers in Umatilla County.
Photo courtesy of the East Oregonian

In October 2011, the State of Oregon Continuum of
Care transitioned to a new data collection method
through “Service Point”, a Homeless Management
Information System (HMIS) to better collect and utilize data.
Photo courtesy of CAPECO
5.
Expand data collection
ID
Task Name
Methods
Measures of Impact
5.1
Expand the # of Homeless
Management Information
System (HMIS) users to
ensure a comprehensive data
compilation of homeless
persons accessing services.
Implement requirement that all
projects associated with strategies
outlined in this plan participate in
the Umatilla County HMIS.
The range of compliance with this
requirement.
5.2
Annual analysis on
intervention impact of
programs and systems for
consideration of continued
implementation and/or remodel of programs to better
meet needs of homeless
persons.
Develop a 10-Year Plan to End
Extend data analysis produced.
Homelessness advisory committee.
Increase US Congressional
awareness of local
homelessness through
participation in national
reporting efforts to include
submitting local data for use
in Annual Homeless
Assessment Report (AHAR)
Participate in AHAR.
5.3
5.4
Develop and implement criteria
evaluation process.
Brief on AHAR data analysis.
Use homeless data collection Annual goals defined and action
(eg. Street and shelter count, steps developed for
implementation.
HMIS, annual project reports,
etc.) to identify and develop
annual 10-Year Plan to End
Homelessness goals and
action steps.
The range of compliance with this
requirement.
The range of data analysis produced.
6. Implement public education on homelessness
ID
Task Name
Methods
6.1
Create new and build upon
current community-based
citizen, private, public and
nonprofit community
partnerships to end
homelessness.
Presentation at public forums,
Extent of volunteerism and citizen group
Chamber of Commerce and media. activism to address homelessness.
6.2
Provide annual update on 10Year Plan to End
Homelessness activities,
outcomes and homeless data
trends to local governments
and make available to the
public.
Post on county website.
Continue public awareness of
homeless issues and it’s root
causes.
Conduct annual homeless summit
meetings and roundtable
discussions with elected officials
and leaders of the community.
6.3
Present to Home for Hope
Coalition and share with
community partners.
Photo courtesy of CAPECO
Measures of Impact
Extent to which reports are produced and
disseminated on schedule.
Number of public events and level of
participation.