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
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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.
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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
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Main Objectives
Office of Homeless Youth Services
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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
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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
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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
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Advisory Committee on Homeless Youth
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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
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Coordination with State Interagency Council
on Homelessness
Other Successes
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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
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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
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Next Steps
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Advisory Committee Retreat
– Developing a Strategic Plan, including
policy recommendations to facilitate the
reduction or removal of gaps and barriers.
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Improved data collection – HMIS and
Statewide Homeless Survey