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2017 Update on Regional Successes

THE SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON ENDING HOMELESSNESS

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12 Years of Progress Towards Ending Homelessness

April, 2005 through April, 2017

SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS REGIONAL TASK FORCE TO END HOMELESSNESS

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In 2005, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim committed to ending homelessness in Norfolk, and invited the other Southside localities to join with Norfolk.

Each locality appointed a representative, and the task force was created in the Spring of 2005.

WHEN & WHY DID THE TASK FORCE START?

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Coordinator & Administrative Agent

• The Planning Council

Participating Jurisdictions

• Chesapeake

• Isle of Wight County

• Norfolk

• Portsmouth

• Suffolk

• Virginia Beach

Participation by and support from many local, regional and state organizations that join together in various combinations to work on our shared goal of ending homelessness.

They include local housing authorities, local human service departments, state agencies, nonprofits, the United Way of South Hampton Roads, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and many others.

Some systems include the Peninsula localities as well

WHO IS THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE?

Six Localities and Partners Working Together for Twelve Years

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To make homelessness in our region rare, brief and non-recurring by: • Doing those things that can best be done together

• Applying the highest level of expertise and experience to the issues

• Sharing risk and reward, and combining resources to do what we couldn’t do alone

REGIONAL TASK FORCE MISSION

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• Developing regionally-supported housing opportunities

• Developing resources • Promoting Best Practices • Coordinating Efforts • Raising Awareness

REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES

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• Leadership and commitments from YOU, the Mayors and Chairs

• Development of trust and relationships across the region including localities, non-profits, as well as state and federal agencies

• Key implementing partners and funders including the Planning Council, United Way, Hampton Roads Community Foundation, Virginia Supportive Housing, and For Kids

WHAT ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR SUCCESS?

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• Inclusion of all who are interested in our work and support our goals

• The continuing availability of Federal funds to do the actual housing development and programs, and the support of the HUD Richmond office

• Key external funders: VHDA and DHCD

WHAT ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR SUCCESS? p2

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Ending veteran homelessness together!

• In 2015, the cities in the region and the state achieved the goal of “virtually” ending Veteran homelessness.

• Today, veterans found homeless should be housed within 60 days

WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US?

A coordinated regional effort of multiple localities, non-profits, the state department of Veterans Services and the Hampton VA Medical Center worked together for over a year to insure that all available resources were utilized to get homeless veterans housed.

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• One call center for the entire region, including the Peninsula!

• Single point of contact reduces wasted time for EVERYONE involved;

• Provides unduplicated data on demand

• Opportunities for additional collaboration.

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WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US?

For Kids, Inc. now operates the Regional Housing Crisis Hotline with funding from multiple localities on the Southside and Peninsula

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• One database for the entire South Hampton Roads area

• Provides unduplicated data on services, housing and shelter

• Opportunities for additional collaboration.

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WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US?

The Planning Council now operates the Homeless Management Information System for all Southside localities, eliminating multiple data entry and increasing opportunities for collaboration and accurate reporting on needs and programs.

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• One intake system for the region!

• Eliminates time wasted by each provider in collecting the same data multiple times.

• Provides unduplicated data on services, housing and shelter

• Opportunities for additional collaboration.

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WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US?

Using our common database, initial intake information can be accessed by all agencies in the region, thus eliminating duplicated time for homeless persons and agency staff.

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• 6 out of 6 efficiency apartment projects proposed to local City councils were approved!

• Virginia Supportive Housing, a statewide non-profit, developed these and is a key regional partner!

WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US?

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WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US? Results of Regional Efficiency Apartment Developments:

400 units of approved affordable housing

320 units of permanent supportive housing

80 units of efficiency apartments

Over 450 individuals have been housed.

Over 114 have graduated to other permanent housing.

At least $40 million dollars of investment from public, private and nonprofit sources

6 difficult-to-develop sites have or will become quality, tax-paying affordable apartment sites

Four regional Public Housing Authorities - Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Suffolk - have been critical partners in making the efficiency apartment projects possible

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Before

After

• 1st permanent supportive housing development for homeless adults in the region

• 1st regionally-supported studio apartments for homeless single adults in the nation (60 units)

With the adaptive reuse of the RC Cola bottling warehouse, Gosnold Apartments opened in 2006

GOSNOLD APARTMENTS (NORFOLK)

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• 2nd regional SRO opened in 2008 -(60 units)

• 1st SRO to be certified by EarthCraft of Virginia for energy and resource efficiency

CLOVERLEAF APARTMENTS (VIRGINIA BEACH)

Adaptive reuse of College Park Skating Rink 16

• 3rd regional SRO opened in 2010 – 60 units

• Development was built on land donated by the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority

SOUTH BAY APARTMENTS (PORTSMOUTH)

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Before

HERON’S LANDING APARTMENTS (CHESAPEAKE)

4th regional SRO opened in 2013 – 60 Units

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Crescent Square Apartments (Virginia Beach)

• 80-unit efficiency apartment complex to be developed by Virginia Supportive Housing

• 40 housing units for persons experiencing homelessness + 40 for low-income persons

• Opened in Spring of 2016

WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US?

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• Church Street Station Apartments (Norfolk)

• 80-unit efficiency apartment complex under construction by Virginia Supportive Housing

• 40 housing units for persons experiencing homelessness + 40 for low-income persons

• Opening in 2017

WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US?

Rendering of church street station

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Six Regional Conferences to End Homelessness – usually attended by over 200 people

• The Planning Council -- critical task force partner

WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US?

2010 conference at Virginia Wesleyan College

2012 conference at Old Dominion University

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Millions of dollars in donations toward regional projects from the Hampton Roads Community Foundation -- critical regional supporter!

WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US?

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Created the opportunity for regional cooperation to obtain the Support Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant -- over $800,000 in new funds to help veterans in the region.

WHAT HAS REGIONAL COOPERATION GOTTEN US?

Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation (VBCDC) and ForKids

partnered to obtain the SSVF grant!

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• Coordinated Point in Time Counts of the homeless population for the entire Hampton Roads area

• Merged Continuum of Care: Chesapeake, Norfolk, Western Tidewater – reducing overhead and increasing expertise

• Inter-jurisdictional Agreement for Transfer of Benefits between human services agencies – helping people get housed and keep their benefits

COORDINATED EFFORTS

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DEVELOPING RESOURCES

FROM

• 6 local governments

• Local foundations

• Dragas Family Foundation

• Businesses

• Faith community

• Individual citizens

• Merged Continuum of Care process

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• Six regional SROs

• Continuum of Care Projects

• South Hampton Roads 2010 Housing Needs Assessment

• Regional Coordinator for the Task Force

• Multiple local projects

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VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Additional Projects Underway • A regionally-coordinated approach to addressing homeless

families

• Regional Central Intake – additional improvements in how services are accessed

• Goodwill Hospitality Training Program

• The Healing Place - for chronically homeless substance abusers 26

THE HEALING PLACE

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• Residential substance abuse recovery program for homeless men and women

• Will significantly reduce mental health, law enforcement and health care costs previously spent to treat this population

THE HEALING PLACE

Progress Made

• Installation of Board of Directors

• Hired Executive Director

• Secured 501c3 designation

• Currently working on a potential site in the City of Hampton

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WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE SUCCEEDING

Your awareness, direction and support Continued availability

of Federal funds

Thank you!

Your comments and questions are requested!

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