Transcript Improving the Crisis Response for Older Homeless Youth Building on the Lighthouse Transition System of Care Cincinnati, Ohio.

Improving the Crisis Response
for Older Homeless Youth
Building on the Lighthouse
Transition System of Care
Cincinnati, Ohio
Presented by:
• Mark J Kroner LISW
Director, Lighthouse Training Institute
Lighthouse Youth Services Inc.
401 East McMillan St.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
513-487-7130
[email protected]
Lighthouse Youth Services (1969)
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Foster Care
Group Homes
Youth Crisis Shelter
Youth Outreach Services
Independent Living
Transitional Living
Home-based/Wraparound services
Correctional Services
Help Me Grow for high-risk infants and toddlers
Charter school
Shelter for 18-24
• Preventing youth,16-19, in the child welfare
system from becoming homeless (started in
1981)
=Independent Living
• Preventing young “non-systems” adults 18-24
from remaining homeless (started in 1989)
=Transitional Living
The Lighthouse Transition System
Self-sufficiency training
Youth Crisis Center
Youth Outreach
Independent Living
Journey MH Transition SOC
Emancipated Youth Program
Transitional Living Program
Permanent Supportive Housing
Re-Entry Program
Home-based/Wrap Services
Community-management
18-24 Shelter
Why a Shelter for 18-24?
• Youth not comfortable in existing adult shelter (249 youth in adult
emergency shelters in 2010).
• Adult shelter not happy with young adults
• Needs of young adults often different than older population
• Lighthouse already connected to many services for youth/young adults
• Lighthouse already operated successful day shelter
• Lighthouse already operated a youth shelter (10-17) since 1972
• Part of Cincinnati’s Homeless to Homes Plan. Homeless to Homes Plan.
Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless, 2009 at
http://www.cincinnaticoc.org/hth.aspx
Challenges
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Funding
Location
Community acceptance
Building design
Connections to existing adult services system
Connections to existing child/youth systems
Staffing
Programming
Policy/rules development
Funding
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United way
Private Foundations
HUD-case-management
City General Services Funds
CDBG-Expansion of lower level and courtyard
Ohio Dept. of Development-Operations
Caring Cooks-Lunches on M-F
Emergency Solution Funds
• The Lighthouse on Highland 28 bed
Shelter/Resource Center
Key Services
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Case-management/ Crisis support (3CMs)
12 single rooms/8 doubles
Connections to existing community resources
Rapid housing/short term financial assistance
Health services-Nurse 20 hours a week
Education/Employment services
Life skills/training groups 1-2pm
Mental health/Substance abuse screening
Communication with other CoC services
In-shelter food services
Aftercare case-management
Resource Center
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Open 5 days a week. Hours: M-f 9-2pm
On-site GED classes
Counseling
Job Coaching
Benefits enrollment
Basic needs; food and clothing
Access to computer/ phones
On-site nurse
Referrals to needed services
Assuring youth safety
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Safety plans
Orientation
Security cameras
Clear policies on weapons, threats
Staffing
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Program director
House/operations manager
Resource Center coordinator
Case-managers (3)
Youth workers
Volunteers/activity partners
Registered nurse
Policies and program rules that may
inadvertently be keeping youth out of shelters
• Expecting immediate cooperation
• Blocking those with open warrants (24 hours
to clear up)
• Expecting youth to be there every day
• Pregnant /parenting youth
• Transgender youth
• Youth in MH crisis
Key Concepts
• Safety first
• Harm reduction vs. Zero tolerance
• Starting where a youth is at/individualize
services
• Offering, not requiring services
• Connecting with other existing services
Outcomes so far
• 115 intakes since January
• Average length of stay 27 days-down since
summer
• 50% leave into housing
• More females than males
• No in-site arrests
• 85% maintain or increase income
Lessons Learned so far
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If you build it they will come!
Some youth want day shelter only
Use consultants form adult shelters
Prepare/train/support staff
Use family shelters for moms
Police called 6 times since October
Some youth need to go to PES
Work to keep youth from congregating nearby
Hard to find housing for youth with legal issues
Place transgender youth with identity group
No long term funding
If you don’t have an 18-24 shelter…
• Work/partner with existing adult shelters
• Work with local Continuum of Care
• Seek out RHY and HUD finding for supportive
housing
• Work with/create a local homeless coalition
• Work with child welfare system is appropriate
• Create a day shelter
• Work with faith-based organizations
• Seek out private support