State Government: Addressing Youth Homelessness

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State Government Addressing Youth Homelessness

• Tracy DAlanno
• Colorado Department of Human Services
• Supportive Housing and Homeless Programs
• tracy.DAlanno_at_state.co.us
• 303-866-7361

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History LegislationOffice of Homeless Youth
Services

• Pressure by homeless youth advocates resulted in
  the passage of The Colorado Homeless Youth
  Services Act of 2002 (HB 02-1159)
• Legislative Intent To create a vehicle through
  which services to homeless youth statewide could
  be improved by coordinating current services and
  facilitating interagency collaboration to
  identify gaps, remove barriers, improve access
  and share information.

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History LegislationOffice of Homeless Youth
Services

• Office originally housed under the Colorado Dept.
  of Public Health and Environment with proposed
  funding form U.S. Office of Safe and Drug Free
  Schools.
• Budget cuts resulted in lack of anticipated
  funding and the office was in operation for just
  one year with a .5 position.

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History LegislationOffice of Homeless Youth
Services

• In 2004, HB 04-1107 transferred the Office of
  Homeless Youth Services (OHYS) to the Colorado
  Dept. of Human Services with one full time
  position.
• Copy of Legislation

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Main Objectives Office of Homeless Youth Services

• Identification and removal of obstacles to the
  provision of services to homeless youth
• Improved quality of services provided to homeless
  youth
• Reduction of duplication in the provision of
  services to homeless youth
• Identification of funding resources available to
  serve homeless youth.

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Identification of Key Stakeholders Building
relationships across disciplines and providers

• Public Safety
• Judicial
• Child Welfare
• Youth Corrections
• Div. Alcohol and Substance Abuse
• Mental Health Services
• Denver Workforce Development
• Denver Police
• County Human Services

• Non-profit providers
• Faith based agencies
• Alternative High Schools
• Federal Admin. For Children and Families
• Dept. of Education
• Dept. of Public Health and Environment
• Labor and Employment
• Key Youth Initiatives

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SuccessFamily Unification Program

• 100 Transitional Section 8 Vouchers
• Six providers
• Pilot with Child Welfare and SHHP
• Focus on homeless youth involved in foster care

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SuccessDevelopment of a Planning Structure

• Advisory Committee on Homeless Youth
• Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
• Eight State Agencies
• Nine Counties
• Two Public Schools
• Eight Community Providers
• Three Work Groups
• Data Collection
• Mainstream Benefits Acquisition
• Employment
• Coordination with State Interagency Council on
  Homelessness

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Other Successes

• New Homeless Youth Shelter in Grand Junction
• Improved focus and emphasis on data collection in
  state and local homeless point in time surveys
• Mental Health Services facilitated the
  expansion of free mental health services to gay,
  lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered youth

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Identifying Needs and Gaps in Service Delivery

1. Strategic Planning and Data
2. Emergency Shelter and Crisis Services
3. Discharge Planning Child Welfare and Youth
   Corrections
4. Outreach
5. Mainstream Benefit Acquisition
6. Transitional and Permanent Housing
7. Education
8. Income
9. Youth Development Opportunities

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Challenges

• Turf Issues
• Difficult Population
• Gaining commitment from government officials
• Staff Turnover
• Lack of state resources
• Multi-issued problem

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Next Steps

• Advisory Committee Retreat
• Developing a Strategic Plan, including policy
  recommendations to facilitate the reduction or
  removal of gaps and barriers.
• Improved data collection HMIS and Statewide
  Homeless Survey