behavioral health housing specialist projects & proposals

Behavioral Health Housing Specialist

Projects & proposals

The Behavioral Health Housing SpecialistThe Behavioral Health Housing Specialistposition is a partnership between theposition is a partnership between the

Bucks County Behavioral Health SystemBucks County Behavioral Health Systemand the Bucks County Housing Groupand the Bucks County Housing Group

Among The goals of the housing specialist isAmong The goals of the housing specialist isto increase affordable housing optionsto increase affordable housing options

for individuals served by thefor individuals served by thebucks county behavioral Health systembucks county behavioral Health system

The four main target populationsThe four main target populationsof the program are:of the program are:

• Transition aged youth (TAY)Transition aged youth (TAY)(those aging out of the child service system)(those aging out of the child service system)

• ForensicForensic(the re-entry population)(the re-entry population)

• MH/MRMH/MR• Drug & AlcoholDrug & Alcohol

Creating housing options

For the targeted populations

Property DevelopmentSections 811 & 202

HUD’s Section 811 Program HUD’s Section 811 Program

The 811 program Allows FOR the purchase and The 811 program Allows FOR the purchase and rehabilitation of up to rehabilitation of up to 14 units per year14 units per year for for

low-income people with disabilities atlow-income people with disabilities atscattered sites throughout Bucks County. scattered sites throughout Bucks County.

The funding covers purchase, rehabilitation,The funding covers purchase, rehabilitation,closing costs, rental subsidies, maintenanceclosing costs, rental subsidies, maintenance

and management costs. and management costs.

TARGET POPULATIONTARGET POPULATIONAll (TAY, Forensic, MH/MR, D&A)All (TAY, Forensic, MH/MR, D&A)

GOALGOAL30+ beds over 5+ years30+ beds over 5+ years

HUD’s Section 202 Program HUD’s Section 202 Program

Section 202 allows FOR the ACQUISITION OR construction ofSection 202 allows FOR the ACQUISITION OR construction ofsenior housing. HUD rules and guidelines allow for up tosenior housing. HUD rules and guidelines allow for up to

25% of these units to be set aside for the disabled.25% of these units to be set aside for the disabled.

For this effort, we have partnered with the Bucks CountyFor this effort, we have partnered with the Bucks CountyHousing Development Corporation (BCHDC), who haveHousing Development Corporation (BCHDC), who have

extensive experience in developing senior housing.extensive experience in developing senior housing.BCHDC would be the developer, and the Housing GroupBCHDC would be the developer, and the Housing Group

would assist with coordinating case management services,would assist with coordinating case management services,program development, marketing and finding eligibleprogram development, marketing and finding eligible

clients for residence.clients for residence.

The current plan is to develop as many as 50-60 units ofThe current plan is to develop as many as 50-60 units ofnew senior housing, which would create new senior housing, which would create 12~15 units per year12~15 units per year

for low-income people with disabilities, as well as seniors.for low-income people with disabilities, as well as seniors.Because of the nature of building new, as opposed toBecause of the nature of building new, as opposed to

Acquiring existing properties (land selection andAcquiring existing properties (land selection andacquisition, NIMBY, zoning, construction, site prep, etc.)acquisition, NIMBY, zoning, construction, site prep, etc.)

we are hoping to do two senior projects overwe are hoping to do two senior projects overa 3~5 year period.a 3~5 year period.

TARGET POPULATIONTARGET POPULATIONMH/MRMH/MRGOALGOAL

24 beds (two+ projects) over 5 years24 beds (two+ projects) over 5 years


Shared Living program

SHARED LIVING PROGRAMSHARED LIVING PROGRAM

Housing 2-3 people in one apartment and sharing Housing 2-3 people in one apartment and sharing expenses would help with affordability and be a expenses would help with affordability and be a bridge to more independent living in the future.bridge to more independent living in the future.

TARGET POPULATIONTARGET POPULATIONTAY and MH/MRTAY and MH/MR

GOALGOAL6-10 beds per year6-10 beds per year



Helping hands through faith

program

HELPING HANDS THROUGH FAITHHELPING HANDS THROUGH FAITHSHARED HOUSING PROGRAMSHARED HOUSING PROGRAM

Having those that have a spare apartmentHaving those that have a spare apartmentor can rent out a room in their homeor can rent out a room in their homecan also be a reasonable resource tocan also be a reasonable resource to

assist with affordability. assist with affordability.

This program would be marketed to theThis program would be marketed to thefaith-based community.faith-based community.

TARGET POPULATIONTARGET POPULATIONTAYTAY

GOALGOAL3~6 beds per year3~6 beds per year




program

Supportive housing leasing proposal

HUD’s Supportive housing program (SHP) allows for grantsHUD’s Supportive housing program (SHP) allows for grantsto lease apartments for qualified clients and pay someto lease apartments for qualified clients and pay some

of the costs of case management.of the costs of case management.Clients would have to meet HUD homeless definitionsClients would have to meet HUD homeless definitions

and income guidelines.and income guidelines.

The most recent (January 2010) Point-in-Time count forThe most recent (January 2010) Point-in-Time count forBucks County showed a total of 28 unsheltered homeless,Bucks County showed a total of 28 unsheltered homeless,

543 sheltered homeless and 554 (190 households) living “doubled-up”,543 sheltered homeless and 554 (190 households) living “doubled-up”,which under the new Hearth Act, may also be counted as homeless.which under the new Hearth Act, may also be counted as homeless.

Add to this Section 8’s closure of their waiting list and clearlyAdd to this Section 8’s closure of their waiting list and clearlyThere is a severe need for additional affordable housing,There is a severe need for additional affordable housing,

and more to the point, supportive housing thatand more to the point, supportive housing thatallows for a level of case management to help familiesallows for a level of case management to help families

transition from homelessness to independent living.transition from homelessness to independent living.

SHP Grant HighlightsSHP Grant Highlights• • SHP Grant allows for the payment of 100% of the fair market rentSHP Grant allows for the payment of 100% of the fair market rent

and one month’s security deposit for eligible clients. and one month’s security deposit for eligible clients. Clients pay 30% of their income to the program as rentClients pay 30% of their income to the program as rent• • SHP Grant allows for money to be included to pay forSHP Grant allows for money to be included to pay for

case management related to the SHP.case management related to the SHP.• • SHP Grant also allows for some administration costsSHP Grant also allows for some administration costs




program

Recovery house partnership



RECOVERY HOUSE PARTNERSHIPRECOVERY HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

Using vacancies at the 60+ recovery houses inUsing vacancies at the 60+ recovery houses inBucks County could be a good first step inBucks County could be a good first step in

assisting the D&A and forensic populations.assisting the D&A and forensic populations.For the forensic population especially, having anFor the forensic population especially, having anaddress is crucial to being released on parole.address is crucial to being released on parole.If we paid for both the housing expense andIf we paid for both the housing expense and

case management, this would give the ex-offendercase management, this would give the ex-offendertime to get medical assistance, income (either from atime to get medical assistance, income (either from ajob or SSI/SSDI) and other stability to allow him/herjob or SSI/SSDI) and other stability to allow him/herto move to a more independent living arrangement,to move to a more independent living arrangement,

and it would cost significantly less thanand it would cost significantly less thanincarceration.incarceration.

TARGET POPULATIONTARGET POPULATIONForensic/Drug & AlcoholForensic/Drug & Alcohol

GOALGOAL5 beds per year5 beds per year




program



Motel/Hotel concept project


Bucks County has numerous forms ofBucks County has numerous forms of““weekly payment” housing options. From theweekly payment” housing options. From thevarious Recovery & Sober Houses throughoutvarious Recovery & Sober Houses throughout

Bucks County for those with dependency issues toBucks County for those with dependency issues to““hotels/motels” like the Bush House Hotel in Quakertownhotels/motels” like the Bush House Hotel in Quakertown

which will take almost anyone with enough cash forwhich will take almost anyone with enough cash forthe weekly rent.the weekly rent.

While the hotel/motel form of housing may be less than ideal,While the hotel/motel form of housing may be less than ideal,it does serve a valuable and useful purpose, in that they will,it does serve a valuable and useful purpose, in that they will,

for the most part, rent to anyone, regardless offor the most part, rent to anyone, regardless ofcriminal, credit or other derogatory history that wouldcriminal, credit or other derogatory history that would

otherwise make them unattractive and/or undesirable to mostotherwise make them unattractive and/or undesirable to most““regular” landlords.regular” landlords.

Because this housing option is currently being runBecause this housing option is currently being runby private, for-profit landlords, many of whom by private, for-profit landlords, many of whom onlyonly

have an eye towards the bottom line have an eye towards the bottom line and care little, if at all, for the clientele they serve,and care little, if at all, for the clientele they serve,

it may be a good idea for BHS and/or other service providersit may be a good idea for BHS and/or other service providersto begin to look into developing andto begin to look into developing and

controlling this hotel/motel housing option.controlling this hotel/motel housing option.




program




Better training


Case Managers and peer specialists, through no faultCase Managers and peer specialists, through no faultof their own, do not do a particularly good job ofof their own, do not do a particularly good job of

““selling” supportive housing and other subsidizedselling” supportive housing and other subsidizedprograms to landlords. programs to landlords.

It’s just not a skill-set that they possess. It’s just not a skill-set that they possess.

It is, however, one that can be learned. It is, however, one that can be learned. Also, potential tenants could be betterAlso, potential tenants could be better

prepared for independent living. prepared for independent living.

Life skills and financial literacy instruction duringLife skills and financial literacy instruction duringtreatment and recovery is great, but it needs to betreatment and recovery is great, but it needs to becontinued and reinforced once the client moves outcontinued and reinforced once the client moves out

on their own.on their own.

This is why we have developed PowerPointThis is why we have developed PowerPointpresentations such as presentations such as “speaking Landlord”“speaking Landlord” and and

““tenant 1.0”tenant 1.0” to assist in dealing with property owners to assist in dealing with property ownersand PA Landlord-Tenant Lawand PA Landlord-Tenant Law




program




Affordable housing advocacy

Better training


One of the major roadblocks to the developmentOne of the major roadblocks to the developmentof affordable housing is the public’s generalof affordable housing is the public’s general

misconception of what the termmisconception of what the termaffordable housing means”affordable housing means”

Affordable” Affordable” is an elastic word with numerous meanings.is an elastic word with numerous meanings.In housing, it refers to what a family,In housing, it refers to what a family,

any any family, can afford, based on their income and debts.family, can afford, based on their income and debts.While subsidized housing falls under the definition,While subsidized housing falls under the definition,most affordable/workforce housing is unsubsidized.most affordable/workforce housing is unsubsidized.

Unfortunately, if you use the words Unfortunately, if you use the words “affordable“affordablehousing”housing”, most people’s minds envision a Section 8, most people’s minds envision a Section 8certificate, even though they have probably nevercertificate, even though they have probably never

seen one, and the negative connotations thatseen one, and the negative connotations thatare often connected to the term Section 8. are often connected to the term Section 8.

This negativity foments in the public’s perception fromThis negativity foments in the public’s perception fromnews reports, rumors and prejudice.news reports, rumors and prejudice.




program




Affordable housing advocacyHAC/LHOT

Better training


last YEAR, BERN McBride- DIRECTOR OFlast YEAR, BERN McBride- DIRECTOR OFBHS ASKED Deb Neidhardt to putBHS ASKED Deb Neidhardt to put

together a housing advisorytogether a housing advisorycommittee, to assist him in morecommittee, to assist him in moreclearly defining where the needsclearly defining where the needs

are and how to better dealare and how to better dealwith those needs.with those needs.

The housing advisory committee (hac)The housing advisory committee (hac)began meeting in October 2009, thenbegan meeting in October 2009, then

eventually morphed itself into theeventually morphed itself into thelocal housing options team (LHOT)local housing options team (LHOT)

with Deb & Jeff Sattler servingwith Deb & Jeff Sattler servingas co-chairsas co-chairs

Local Housing Options Team (LHOT)/BHS Housing Advisory Local Housing Options Team (LHOT)/BHS Housing Advisory Committee. This committee has made some outstanding progress Committee. This committee has made some outstanding progress

in a short amount of time on several fronts:in a short amount of time on several fronts:• ACCOMPLISHMENTSACCOMPLISHMENTS

• We developed and implemented a Housing Needs Assessment from We developed and implemented a Housing Needs Assessment from MH/MR service providersMH/MR service providers

• We have reworked the Housing Work Plan, It was edited and reviewed We have reworked the Housing Work Plan, It was edited and reviewed by case managers and social workers to seek out and remove and by case managers and social workers to seek out and remove and language and/or tasks that run counter to accepted practices- so we language and/or tasks that run counter to accepted practices- so we now have a much more user-friendly plan for service providers.now have a much more user-friendly plan for service providers.

• With the committee’s assistance, we put together a Strategic Plan that With the committee’s assistance, we put together a Strategic Plan that lays out what we hope to achieve, for which target populations we lays out what we hope to achieve, for which target populations we seek to assist, and the approximate additional costs, from the Work seek to assist, and the approximate additional costs, from the Work Plan in the coming yearsPlan in the coming years

• We created a web site (We created a web site (www.bucks-lhot.infowww.bucks-lhot.info) to keep all documents, ) to keep all documents, forms and programs in a location that is easily accessible.forms and programs in a location that is easily accessible.

• Recognizing that there was a need for case managers, peer specialists, Recognizing that there was a need for case managers, peer specialists, consumers, etc. to be able to seek out affordable rentals in Bucks consumers, etc. to be able to seek out affordable rentals in Bucks County, we created the Affordable Housing Locator, a web based tool to County, we created the Affordable Housing Locator, a web based tool to assist in the effort. I can be found at assist in the effort. I can be found at www.bucksapartmentlocator.orgwww.bucksapartmentlocator.org and is updated twice weekly with and is updated twice weekly with new listings.new listings.

• The LHOT created our 1st subcommittee on Forensic Housing, which The LHOT created our 1st subcommittee on Forensic Housing, which meets to discuss the possibility of developing our own rental property meets to discuss the possibility of developing our own rental property using the HUD 811 or other programs to remove the landlord and using the HUD 811 or other programs to remove the landlord and income issues.income issues.




program





Apartment locator system

Better training

HAC/LHOT


Apartment Locators are a web-basedApartment Locators are a web-basedsolution that provides renters,solution that provides renters,

landlords, property managers andlandlords, property managers andhousing agencies a single point of accesshousing agencies a single point of access

to the region’s affordable housing market. to the region’s affordable housing market.

One of the foremost barrier to housingOne of the foremost barrier to housingfor most families is the simple act offor most families is the simple act of

finding affordable rentals. finding affordable rentals.

There was no single place whereThere was no single place wherepotential renters, case managers &potential renters, case managers &

others could go to find affordable rentals.others could go to find affordable rentals.

Those in search of renting, or those Those in search of renting, or those seeking renters, had no singleseeking renters, had no singlepoint of access to find or rentpoint of access to find or rent

affordable propertiesaffordable properties

There is now.There is now.




program





Apartment locator systemProject

Homeless connect

Better training

HAC/LHOT


Project Homeless Connect brings together Bucks County’s Project Homeless Connect brings together Bucks County’s homeless with the system of care that will help them move homeless with the system of care that will help them move

off the streets and into housing.off the streets and into housing.

The goals of Project Homeless Connect are to:The goals of Project Homeless Connect are to:

•Improve access to services and housing for people experiencing Improve access to services and housing for people experiencing homelessness in Bucks Countyhomelessness in Bucks County

•Engage with and maintain an active, involved volunteer base that Engage with and maintain an active, involved volunteer base that consists of local businesses, nonprofits, and individual community consists of local businesses, nonprofits, and individual community

members all working together to help end homelessness.members all working together to help end homelessness.•Improve the system of care through collaboration and the sharing of best Improve the system of care through collaboration and the sharing of best

practices among Bucks County’s homeless service provider community.practices among Bucks County’s homeless service provider community.•Partner with the private sector, corporations, and foundations to expand Partner with the private sector, corporations, and foundations to expand

service capacity and funds.service capacity and funds.

Services include housing, employment, medical care, mental Services include housing, employment, medical care, mental health care, benefits and legal assistance, eye doctors, haircuts, health care, benefits and legal assistance, eye doctors, haircuts,

chiropractic, and dental care.chiropractic, and dental care.




program






Homeless connect

Outcome-based Shared Living program

Better training

HAC/LHOT


With the upcoming implementation of the HEARTH Act,With the upcoming implementation of the HEARTH Act,the number of homeless is Bucks County will increasethe number of homeless is Bucks County will increase

dramatically from 550± to well over 1,000.dramatically from 550± to well over 1,000.Additionally, HEARTH puts significant onus on positiveAdditionally, HEARTH puts significant onus on positive

outcomes for future funding opportunities.outcomes for future funding opportunities.

It is with this in mind that we propose to expand theIt is with this in mind that we propose to expand theBucks County Housing Group/BhS Shared Living ProgramBucks County Housing Group/BhS Shared Living Program

to include those residing in the Red Crossto include those residing in the Red Crossand other shelters.and other shelters.

Program entrance criteria and other facets would remain the same Program entrance criteria and other facets would remain the same as the existing programas the existing program

The Shared Living Program matches up 2-3 people,The Shared Living Program matches up 2-3 people,in an apartment in order to create an economy of scalein an apartment in order to create an economy of scale

to allow those with minimal income to begin their journeyto allow those with minimal income to begin their journeytowards independent living. towards independent living.

Participants will be matched as closely as possible with others of Participants will be matched as closely as possible with others of their age, gender, location preference and income level.their age, gender, location preference and income level.




program






Homeless connect

Outcome-based Shared Living program

Better training

HAC/LHOT

Forensic housing subcommittee


The lhot’s forensic housing subcommitteeThe lhot’s forensic housing subcommitteewas formed to explore housing optionswas formed to explore housing options

for the re-entry population.for the re-entry population.

We have been working on:We have been working on:

Creating a Forensic Re-Entry Housing Continuum-Creating a Forensic Re-Entry Housing Continuum-There is a “log jam” at the top of almost everyThere is a “log jam” at the top of almost everyprogram in Bucks County. Once an individual program in Bucks County. Once an individual

reaches the top end, either in a Mod CRR, reaches the top end, either in a Mod CRR, Sober/Recovery House or other residentialSober/Recovery House or other residential

program, there is often no where to go.program, there is often no where to go.We have begun working on a plan to break theWe have begun working on a plan to break the

““log jam” and create additional options forlog jam” and create additional options forthose at the top, which will create optionsthose at the top, which will create optionsfor those below that level (i.e. Max CRR),for those below that level (i.e. Max CRR),

which will in turn create room forwhich will in turn create room forthe new re-entry individual, and so on.the new re-entry individual, and so on.

And…And…

Property DevelopmentProperty Development

we are seeking to either own or controlwe are seeking to either own or controlapartments throughout the county usingapartments throughout the county using

various funding sources. various funding sources.

But for the most part, we will not be placingBut for the most part, we will not be placingindividuals in their own apartment directlyindividuals in their own apartment directly

from prison, as efforts to do thisfrom prison, as efforts to do thisin the past have proven to be abject failures.in the past have proven to be abject failures.

Whenever possible, we will move them thoughWhenever possible, we will move them thoughthe continuum- from jail to recovery house tothe continuum- from jail to recovery house toshared living to independent living- to bettershared living to independent living- to better

prepare them with actual life skills. prepare them with actual life skills.

Thank you.Thank you.

Any questions?Any questions?

behavioral health housing specialist projects & proposals

Documents

faith program slide

program development

shared living program

faith shared housing

shared living program

year slide

program section

construction of senior