State Government: Addressing Youth Homelessness Tracy D’Alanno Colorado Department of Human Services Supportive Housing and Homeless Programs [email protected] 303-866-7361
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Transcript State Government: Addressing Youth Homelessness Tracy D’Alanno Colorado Department of Human Services Supportive Housing and Homeless Programs [email protected] 303-866-7361
State Government:
Addressing Youth
Homelessness
Tracy D’Alanno
Colorado Department of Human Services
Supportive Housing and Homeless Programs
[email protected]
303-866-7361
History & Legislation
Office 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.
History & Legislation
Office 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.
History & Legislation
Office 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
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.
Identification of Key
Stakeholders
Building relationships across disciplines
and providers
Public Safety
Non-profit providers
Judicial
Faith based agencies
Child Welfare
Alternative High
Youth Corrections
Schools
Div. Alcohol and
Federal Admin. For
Substance Abuse
Children and Families
Mental Health Services
Dept. of Education
Denver Workforce
Dept. of Public Health
Development
and Environment
Denver Police
Labor and Employment
County Human
Key Youth Initiatives
Services
Success
Family Unification Program
100 Transitional Section 8 Vouchers
Six providers
Pilot with Child Welfare and SHHP
Focus on homeless youth involved in foster
care
FUP Pilot Structure
CDHS/Child Welfare
Chafee Discretionary Funds
SHHP/Supportive Housing and Homeless Program
FUP Vouchers
Urban Peak
Denver
Urban Peak
Colorado
Springs
Family
Tree
Volunteers
of
America
Denver
County
DHS
Larimer
County
DHS
Success
Development 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
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
Identifying Needs and Gaps in
Service Delivery
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Strategic Planning and Data
Emergency Shelter and Crisis Services
Discharge Planning – Child Welfare and
Youth Corrections
Outreach
Mainstream Benefit Acquisition
Transitional and Permanent Housing
Education
Income
Youth Development Opportunities
Challenges
Turf Issues
Difficult Population
Gaining commitment from government
officials
Staff Turnover
Lack of state resources
Multi-issued problem
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