MISSOURI

1

• MISSOURI
• Balance of State Continuum of Care
• History

2
CoC Facts

• 1987 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance
  Act passed
• 1993 - McKinney Vento -Continuum of Care process
  established
• 1998 - MO BoS CoC process started
• Process is Overseen by Governors Committee on
  Homelessness
• MHDC became the lead agency for BoS CoC in
  October 2006

3
Governors Committee to End Homelessness

• The Governors Committee to End Homelessness was
  established in 1987 by Governor John Ashcroft as
  Missouri Interagency Task Force on Homelessness
• Establishment of the Committee was in response to
  two Federal initiatives/activities
• Establishment of the Federal Interagency Task
  Force
• Passage of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless
  Assistance Act

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Governors Committee to End Homelessness

• The Governors Committee to End Homelessness has
  met continuously since 1987. In the early years,
  the committee met quarterly to exchange
  information about programs and services, share
  funding opportunities and discuss homeless needs
  in the state of Missouri.
• Membership on the committee includes the
  Governors Office, key state Departments Social
  Services, Mental Health, Health Senior
  Services, Education, Economic Development, Head
  Start, Missouri Association for Social Welfare,
  USDA RD, HUD and representatives from local
  Continuum of Care jurisdictions and non profit
  agencies.

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The Governors Committee to End Homelessness

• With the advent of the CoC Planning process in
  1993, the GCEH began meeting more frequently,
  taking on the role of planning and developing
  services for homeless Missourians by coordinating
  and facilitating a balance of state Continuum of
  Care Plan.
• Annually, the GCEH facilitates the BoS CoC
  Process and submits the Homeless assistance
  applications to HUD

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Other activities of GCEH

• Develops the State Plan to End Homelessness
• Provides technical assistance to non-profit
  agencies in applying for homeless assistance
  funds through HUD and other funding sources
• Plans various homeless awareness activities
  throughout the year

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CoC Facts cont

• competitive process, not block granted
• Based on Pro-rata, a formula based on
  population and poverty
• MO CoC covers 99 rural, non-metropolitan counties
• 8 other local Continua in MO
• So far, over 10 million has come to Missouri
  through the State CoC

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MISSOURI BALANCE OF STATE FUNDED COUNTIES
Nodaway
Atchison
Scotland
Mercer
Schuyler
Worth
Putnam
Clark
Harrison
Sullivan
Adair
Gentry
Knox
Lewis
Other Continuums of Care
Holt
Grundy

Andrew
Davies
Linn
DeKalb
Macon
Marion
Shelby
Caldwell
Livingston
Clinton
Buchanan
Chariton
Ralls
Platte
Carroll
Randolph
Monroe
Ray
Pike
Clay
Audrain
Howard
Saline
Boone
Lafayette
Lincoln
Jackson
Montgomery
Callaway
Cooper
Johnson
Pettis
St. Charles
Warren
Cass
Moniteau
St. Louis
Cole
Morgan
Gasconade
Henry
Franklin
Benton
Jefferson
Bates
Osage
Miller
Maries
Crawford
St. Clair
Camden
Hickory
Washington
Ste. Genevieve
Vernon
Phelps
Pulaski
St. Francois
Dallas
Cedar
Perry
Polk
Dent
Iron
Laclede
Barton
Madison
Reynolds
CapeGirardeau
Texas
Dade
Bollinger
Webster
Wright
Greene
Shannon
Jasper
Lawrence
Wayne
Scott
Christian
Carter
Stoddard
Douglas
Mississippi
Newton
Howell
Barry
Butler
Oregon
Ripley
New Madrid
Stone
Taney
Ozark
McDonald
Pemiscot
Dunklin
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HUD Homeless Definition

• Homeless Person
• HUD Continuum of Care resources can be used to
  serve only people who are considered homeless
  according to the McKinney Act. Based on HUD
  regulations, a homeless person is someone who is
• Living in places not meant for human
  habitation (streets, cars, parks)
• Living in an emergency shelter
• Living in transitional or supportive housing
  but originally came from the streets or shelter

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HUD Homeless Definition (cont)

• Living in any of the above but spending up to 30
  consecutive days in an institution
• Being evicted within a week and has no subsequent
  residence
• Being discharged within a week from an
  institution which the person has been a resident
  for no more than 30 consecutive days and no
  subsequent residence has been identified and the
  person lacks the resources and support networks
  needed to obtain housing or
• Fleeing a domestic violence situation and no
  subsequent
• residence has been identified.

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DEFINITION

• A Continuum of Care Plan is a community based
  plan which coordinates a flexible delivery system
  of housing and services designed to meet the
  specific needs of homeless persons as they move
  from a homeless living situation to stable
  housing which maximizes their self-sufficiency.
  It includes action steps to alleviate
  homelessness and prevent a return to homelessness
  for persons completing the continuum.

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WHAT DOES A CONTINUUM OF CARE PLAN DO FOR YOUR
COMMUNITY

• Assess capacity and identify gaps
• Develop proactive solutions
• Identify common goals for which to advocate
• Increase community buy-in and access to
  mainstream resources
• Increase competitive advantage for receiving HUD
  McKinney Homeless Assistance funding

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So, a CoC is

• Community based plan
• Flexible delivery system
• Housing and services program
• THAT
• Moves homeless persons to stable housing
• AND
• Maximizes self-sufficiency

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Annually to HUD.

• Exhibit 1 Continuum of Care Plan - a
  description of the process, strategies and goals
  to end homelessness, and a list of the projects
  requesting funding, in order of priority.
• Exhibit 2 Individual Community and Faith based
  organization proposals

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The Three Programs of the Continuum of Care

• Shelter Plus Care (SPC) provides rental
  assistance for hard-to-serve homeless persons
  with disabilities in connection with supportive
  services funded from sources outside the program.

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The Three Programs of the Continuum of Care
(Cont.)

• Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room
  Occupancy Program (SRO) provides Section 8 rental
• assistance for moderate rehabilitation of
  buildings with SRO units. A Public Housing
  Agency then makes rental assistance payments to
  the landlords for the homeless people who rent
  the rehabilitated units.

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The Three Programs of the Continuum of Care
(Cont.)

• Supportive Housing Program (SHP) housing and
  services that help homeless persons transition
  from homelessness to living as independently as
  possible.
• Transitional Housing
• Permanent Housing for Persons with Disabilities
• Safe Havens

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Supportive Housing Grant Timeline

• Balance of State Continuum of Care
• ? HUD announces Super NOFA. (March)
• ? MHDC sends letters with Super NOFA details
  
• and invites agencies to attend training.
  
• (March)
• ? MHDC holds application training for agencies.
  
• (April)
• ? MHDC provides technical assistance to
• applying agencies. (April/May)

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Supportive Housing Grant Timeline

• During the month of April and May
• ? Exhibit 1- Continuum of Care Plan is prepared
  
• by MHDC, MASW, and DMH.
• ? Exhibit 2- Application is prepared by
  agencies
• and submitted to the Governors Committee to
  
• End Homelessness.

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Supportive Housing Grant Timeline

• During the Month of May
• ? Agency completes Exhibit 2 and Annual
• Progress Report (renewals) and sends to
  
• MHDC.
• ? Proposals are previewed to ensure all forms
• and supplemental documents are complete
• and accurate.
• ? All Exhibit 2 applications are sent to the
• Review Committee to be reviewed, scored,
• and ranked.

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Supportive Housing Grant Timeline

• During the month of June
• ? MHDC, DMH, and MASW compile
• recommended proposals (Exhibit 2) and
• Exhibit 1 for submission to HUD.
• ? Governors Committee to End Homelessness
• sends conditional letters to agencies
• regarding approval or denial of Exhibit 2.
• ? MHDC Coordinators respond to questions
• and provide technical assistance to agencies.

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• Regional Housing
• Team Meeting
• (RHTM)

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What is the General Purpose of the meetings?

• The general purpose of the meetings is to provide
  information and technical assistance on housing
  issues for persons with disabilities and those
  who experience homelessness
• Meetings are held to encourage local agencies and
  other stakeholders to collaborate by working on
  their own areas of housing and homelessness needs

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What information is covered at the meetings?

• Updates regarding Continuum of Care funds
• Updates regarding the Missouri Housing Trust Fund
• Updates and guidance on the Homeless Missourians
  Information System (HMIS)
• Opportunity to address the homelessness needs in
  your immediate and surrounding area
• Sharing of local and national resources

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Why should you attend the Regional Meetings?

• 75 attendance at the meetings is mandatory if
  you are funded through the Continuum of Care or
  Trust Fund.
• You have the chance to network
• It is only four times a yearand you get
• snacks ?

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When and Where are the Meetings Held?

• Meetings are held on a quarterly basis within the
  Balance of State regions
• There are 10 meetings one in each Region of the
  State
• (Typically in Maryville, Kirksville, Sedalia,
  Hannibal, Jefferson City, Cape Girardeau,
  Branson, West Plains, Poplar Bluff, and
  Portageville)

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Balance of State Continuum of Care Map
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Other Continua

• There are eight other continua in the State of
  Missouri that are not included in the Balance of
  State (BoS).
• The other Continua outside the BoS are
• St. Joseph (including Buchanan and Platte
  Counties)
• Contact Bridget Supple
• 816-364-2381
• Kansas City (including Jackson County)
• Contact Cynthia Larcom
• 816-924-7997
• Northland (including Clay and Platte Counties)
• Contact Carolyn Horseman,
• 816-858-5153

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Other Continua

• St. Louis City
• Contact Antoinette Triplett
• 314-612-5933
• St. Louis County
• Contact Dana McAuliffe
• 314-615-7258
• St. Charles (including St. Charles, Lincoln and
  Warren Counties)
• Contact Dottie Kastigar
• 636-936-8023
• Joplin (including Jasper and Newton Counties)
• Contact Dan Clark
• 417-825-9700
• Springfield (including Greene, Webster, and
  Christian Counties)
• Contact Michelle Garand

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• Balance of State
• Continuum of Care
• Coordinators
• Contact Information

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North Region

• Dallas Hunt Pearson
• 816-759-7222
• dpearson_at_mhdc.com

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Central Region

• Mandy Fangmann
• 816-759-7203
• mfangmann_at_mhdc.com

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South Region

• Sarah Graves
• 816-759-7265
• sgraves_at_mhdc.com

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Missouri Association
for Social Welfare
MASW A force for Social justice Since 1901
Homeless Missourians Information Systems (HMIS)
Project
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Missouris Homeless Management Information
Systems

• hmis vs. HMIS
• Nine different hmis in the state
• St. Joseph
• Kansas City
• North Kansas City
• Springfield
• Joplin
• St. Louis City
• St. Louis County
• St. Charles
• Balance of State

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What is HMIS

• The Homeless Missourians Information System is a
  shared database for the use of agencies that
  provide assistance to homeless persons and to
  persons at risk of homelessness.
• The main purpose of the HMIS is to collect
  information about people that such agencies serve
  in order to better define the problem of
  homelessness in Missouri.

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Who May Use HMIS

• Any public or private agency in the 99 counties
  comprising the Balance of State Continuum of Care
  that provide shelter or housing to homeless
  persons, or that provide services to homeless
  persons or to people at risk of homelessness.
  Examples include

• Emergency Shelters
• Transitional Shelters
• Agencies that operate permanent housing for
  homeless with disabilities
• Community Action Program agencies
• In-patient Alcohol and drug abuse recovery
  centers treating homeless persons

• Service agencies of all types that offer rental
  assistance, utilities assistance, food, clothing,
  motel stays, or transportation assistance
• Food Banks

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Who Pays for HMIS

• MASWs grant from the U.S. Department of housing
  and Urban Development (HUD) pays for HMIS
  participation by the following types of agencies
• Emergency Shelters
• Permanent housing for homeless persons with
  disabilities
• Transitional housing agencies and
• Agencies that provide shelter by referral (i.e.
  providing vouchers for motel stays.

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Training Provided

• Our HMIS uses the Software ROSIE (Regional
  On-Line System Information Exchange) which is
  very easy to learn, and even people with little
  computer experience have found it simple to learn
  and use.
• Web-based training is provided by MISI Staff
• On-site training is provided by HMIS Staff
• On-going technical assistance provided by both
  MISI and HMIS staff.
• HMIS Website

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Frequently Asked QuestionsExamples

• How can the HMIS help my agency?
• Who runs the HMIS?
• How does HMIS fit with HIPPA?
• Who controls the data?
• What if a client does not want their info in the
  HMIS?

• Who will have access to my agencys data?
• Is the client information safe from theft and
  misuse while in the HMIS?
• What kind of computer is needed?
• Can you use a laptop?

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Frequently Asked QuestionsCont.

• Homeless Missourians Information System
  Frequently asked questions are available on the
  HMIS website www.masw.org/HMIS/index.html
• If you have additional questions we can talk
  about them one-on-one after the meeting.

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Thank you!

• www.masw.org/HMIS/index.html
• HMIS Project Director Sandy Wilson
• Email wilson_at_masw.org
• 573-634-2901
• HMIS Project Assistant JoAnne Ivey
• Email jivey_at_masw.org
• 573-634-2901

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• Point In Time Homeless Count

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What does it mean to count homeless people?

• A Countcollecting information about the
  sheltered and unsheltered homeless population in
  your community

• Descriptive information
• On those counted
• Demographic
• Service use
• Needs

Data on the number of homeless people
Point-in-time Count of Homeless people


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Why Count the Homeless?

• Obtain current and accurate data on the number
  and characteristics of homeless for program
  planning and to justify requests for additional
  resources
• Policy and planning decisions-plan for future
  services
• Public awareness
• Funder requirements-Continuum of Care application
  and other non-HUD funding

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When to Count Homeless Persons?

• HUD requires the count to take place during one
  of the last seven calendar days in January and
  July
• The time period for data collection
• -- 24 hours or less-typically involves a blitz
• -- More than 24 hours-generally service based
• The BoS CoC will be conducting a winter and
  summer sheltered and unsheltered count starting
  2008

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Methods for Counting Unsheltered Homeless Persons

• Street count plus interviews
• Simple street count with observation
• No interview-volunteers record observations of
  people
• Service-based count
• interviews at non-shelter service locations that
  unsheltered homeless people rely on to
  survive-soup kitchens or food banks, drop-in
  centers, healthcare centers, emergency rooms

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Methods for Counting Sheltered Homeless persons

• Homeless Missourians Information System (HMIS)
• Extract client-level count and subpopulation data
• Requires high provider coverage and excellent
  data quality
• Provider report or survey
• Count of people in program
• Subpopulation information or estimate for entire
  population

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Where to Count the Unsheltered Homeless?

• Foreclosed homes
• Campgrounds
• Riverbanks
• Under bridges
• Wooded areas
• Abandoned barns
• Truck stops
• 24 hour stores
• Parks

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How do we make this happen?

• Solicit volunteers to assist with the count
• Colleges/ Universities
• Homeless liaison with school districts
• Public assistance offices
• Youth outreach workers
• Local law enforcement
• Churches
• Formerly homeless persons
• Friends and family

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Where to Count the Sheltered Homeless?

• People residing in emergency shelter and
  transitional housing
• Include
• Domestic violence shelters
• Residential programs for runaway/ homeless youth
• Hotel, motel, or apartment vouchers paid for by a
  public or private agency because the individual
  or family is homeless

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Once data is collected it is used to

• Create the BoS CoC homeless count summary report
• Complete the Exhibit 1 portion of the BoS CoC
  application to HUD
• Report to the Commissioners of MHDC

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Questions