Transcript Special Housing Needs of Youth, Veterans, and Ex

Special Housing Needs of Youth,
Veterans, and Ex-Offenders
SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSING RECOVERY SUMMIT 2014
Presenters:
Youth: Elizabeth Scott – Educating Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH)
Veterans: William Reed – YWCA of Greater Harrisburg Veterans’ Programs
Ex-Offenders: Melanie Snyder – Lancaster County Re-Entry Management Organization
(RMO)
Moderator: Kelly Blechertas, York County Human Services/ York County Planning
Commission
Region 3
Education for Children & Youth
Experiencing Homelessness
(ECYEH)
YORK LEARNING CENTER
3 0 0 E A S T 7 TH A V E N U E , S U I T E 6 0 0
YORK, PA 17404
717-718-5924
Introduction – Contact Us
Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Regional Coordinator: Sonia Pitzi
[email protected]
717-718-5924

Assistant Liaison:
Elizabeth Scott
[email protected]
717-718-5944
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Students were being denied an education because they did not have a
proof of residency or records.
It was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on July 22, 1987
Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Who Qualifies for Services?
 Children or youth (K – 12) who lack a
fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
residence, including:
Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of
housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
(“doubling up”)
 Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping
grounds due to the lack of adequate alternative
accommodations
 Living in emergency or transitional shelters
 Abandoned in hospitals

Who Qualifies? (cont.)
 Awaiting
foster care placement
 Living in a public or private place not designed
for humans to live
 Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings,
substandard housing, bus or train stations, or
a similar setting
 Migratory children living in the above
circumstances
 Unaccompanied youth living in the
above circumstances
Region 3 Statistics:
Number of Homeless Students Identified
* Fiscal year runs from 07/01-06/30
2011-2012:
2013-2014:
1,059
1,404
2012-2013:
1,467
* 2013-2014 data is from 07/01/13 to 02/28/14
Region 3 Statistics:
Students Served by County (2012-2013)
10%
19%
58%
8%
0%
2% 3%
0%
Adams
Cumberland
Franklin
Huntingdon
Juniata
Mifflin
Perry
York
Region 3 Statistics:
3 Year Comparison
Nighttime Status Region 3 (Enrolled)
07/01-06/30
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
2010-2011
400
2011-2012
200
2012-2013
0
Addressing the Issue: What Works?
What are the next
steps
Resources
 ECYEH Wikispaces
http://ecyeh.wikispaces.com/
District+Policies
 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/E
CYEHPA
Shelters-Surrounding areas
Food listing
Children & Youth Services list of
Homeless Liaisons
Resources-childcare, funding, housing,
community programs
Local and National links
Contact Information
Education for Children & Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Regional Coordinator:

Assistant Liaison:
Sonia Pitzi
[email protected]
717-718-5924
Elizabeth Scott
[email protected]
717-718-5944
Homeless Veterans Housing
William Reed – YWCA of Greater Harrisburg
Veteran Presence in the Region
 There are approximately 953,644 veterans residing
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in Pennsylvania
697,736 were War Time veterans
209,602 are Gulf War through Post 911 era
161,906 veterans or 17% live in this region
PA has one of the most active/deployed National
Guards in the Nation with 19,000 members and
35,000 deployments since 911
Eliminating Veteran Homelessness a Regional and National
Challenge
 2013 National Point in Time (single night)
count was 57,849 homeless veterans
 2013 Area Point in Time count was 118
 Homelessness among veterans has declined
24% since 2009 with an 8% decline between
2012 through 2013
 Young Homeless Veterans make-up 8.8% of
total and growing
Eliminating Veteran Homelessness a National and Regional
Challenge
 Veterans seeking housing assistance through the
VA nationally during final quarter of 2013 was
12,495
 Total Veterans seeking housing assistance through
sample VISN 4 VA medical Centers:
Lebanon 73
 Coatesville 117
 Altoona 31
 Philadelphia 161

Area VA Housing Resources
Approximate number of area VA Housing resources
for homeless and at risk veterans:
 VA HUD-VASH Voucher
200
 Grant and Per Diem Beds
50
 Transition in Place Apartments
16
 Contract Housing Beds
25
 Supportive Services
250
for Veteran Families
Additional Area Resources to Assist Homeless & At Risk
Veterans
 Area Continuum of Care Members
 Local Human Service Agencies
 Government Service Providers
 Veterans Organizations
 Faith Based Organizations
 Professional Organizations and Community
Groups
 Volunteers
Keys to Success
 Develop a network of resources and providers
working together
 Understand cultural challenges & stereotypes
 Communicate through traditional and nontraditional resources
 Break down barriers to services
 Involve Family/Friends/Community networks
for early intervention…think prevention
Follow-Through
 Develop Supports for the long term
solutions
 Do not try to be the only solution,
eliminating homelessness is a community
challenge
 Promote understanding and expect results
from the veterans you are serving
 Empower veterans to help veterans
 Veterans place great value in “commitment”
Thanks for Your Service!
 Our Contact Information:
William M. Reed
Director Veterans’ Services
YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, 1101 Market Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17103
Phone: 717-234-7931
Fax: 717-234-1779
Email: [email protected]
A regional provider of Veteran’s services including:
Housing, Employment and Supportive Services
Special Housing Concerns for
Returning Citizens
MELANIE G. SNYDER,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA
REENTRY MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZATION (RMO)
AUTHOR, GRACE GOES TO
PRISON (BRETHREN PRESS,
2009)
Common Barriers for Returning Citizens that Impact Housing
CRIMINAL HISTORY
(specific charges)
TRANSPORTATION
FINES & COSTS
EMPLOYMENT
HOUSING
IDENTIFICATION FAMILY
SITUATION
SUPERVISION
requirements/re
strictions
Other Factors: Collateral Consequences
 Federal HUD public housing restrictions
 http://csgjusticecenter.org/documents/0000/1090/REENTR
Y_MYTHBUSTERS.pdf
 Local zoning restrictions
 Notification rules under Walsh Act for persons
convicted of sexual offenses
 Federal and state laws – see ABA Collateral
Consequences database

http://www.abacollateralconsequences.org/
Pennsylvania Laws Restricting Housing for Persons with
Criminal Records
Other Factors that may Impact Housing
 Reluctant landlords
 NIMBY attitudes from community
 Shortages of:
Affordable housing
 Transitional / supportive housing for female returning
citizens with older children
 Housing for persons convicted of sexual offenses

Collaborative Approach to Reentry
 Reentry partnerships / coalitions forming in many
regions
 Include criminal justice entities plus human services and
faith-based groups that provide:
 Housing
 Employment training and placement
 Education (GED, ESL, adult basic ed)
 D&A treatment/counseling
 MH services
 Legal aid
 Family services
 Food, clothing, other “basics”
Collaborative Approach to Reentry
 Potential Benefits:
Complex issues: no single agency can “do it all”
 Leverage resources and knowledge of multiple agencies
 Improved outcomes for clients
 Ultimately:
 Reduce recidivism
 Improve community safety

Collaborative Approach to Reentry
 Potential Challenges:
 Differing goals
 Different terminology/language
 Information sharing agreements
 Assumptions of “the system” (non-compliance, defiance) vs
clients’ actual abilities and limitations
Collaboration Example:
Lancaster County Reentry Management Organization (RMO)
 Over 50 partnering agencies including courts,
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prison/jail, law enforcement, probation & parole,
human services, faith-based groups
Relationship-building, trust-building
Clear communication, info sharing agreements
Governance/decision-making structure
Direct service to clients
Advocacy for policy change
Contact
Melanie G. Snyder, Executive Director
Lancaster County, PA
Reentry Management Organization (RMO)
Author, Grace Goes to Prison (Brethren Press, 2009)
E: [email protected]
P: 717-572-2110
RMO website: http://lancastercountyreentry.org/