ORGANIZING THE FRONT DOOR: COORDINATED ASSESSMENT
Emily Carmody & Corey RootNCCEH
Rebecca PfeifferCity of Charlotte
CoC 101
12 Continua of Care (CoC) in North Carolina
NC Balance of State CoCRegional Committees
Continuums of Care are backbone of homeless service system
Continuum of Care (CoC) Regional planning body that coordinates
Housing and services Funding for homeless programs
Wide range of agencies and organizations Promotes community-wide commitment to
ending homelessness Required to apply for HUD homeless
funding
HEARTH 101
The homeless service system has evolved over the past 20 years
1990’s Continuum of Care created
Based on Housing Ready model
2000’s New Permanent Supportive Housing emphasis Move from managing homelessness to ending
homelessness Congress mandates HMIS Local Ten-Year Plans to End Homelessness
2010’s Use of evidence-based practices New RRH & Prevention emphasis in addition to PSH Federal Strategic Plan & HEARTH
HEARTH changed the game for homeless services and funding
President Obama signed the HEARTH Act on May 20, 2009.
It was the first significant reauthorization of HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Programs in nearly 20 years.
It required the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to create a federal plan to end homelessness.
USICH created the Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness in 2010
FOUR GOALS 1. End chronic homelessness by 20172. End veteran homelessness by 20153. End family & youth homelessness by
20204. End all homelessness
www.usich.gov
Programs
Activities
Transitioning
Systems
Outcomes
Housing First
HUD is shifting priorities and funding in response to data and best practices
Rare Brief Non-recurring
Coordinated Assessment 101
LowNeed
Less Intense
More Intense
HighNeed
Need a flexible system able to triage high need households
CoCs can do a number of different things to create system change
Conversions Transitional housing Shelter beds to rapid re-
housing Expand capacity
Rapid Re-housing Shelter diversion Targeted prevention Permanent Supportive
Housing
Innovations Exits from Permanent
Supportive Housing Coordinated Assessment
(Intake/Entry) System Common Barrier
Assessment and Targeting Tool
Performance Improvement Process
Progressive Engagement Mainstream Employment
Partnerships
Coordinated Assessment: Access Defined entry into homeless services Covers entire geographic area of CoC Easily accessible
Phone process Outreach Safety concerns
Well-advertised
North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness
Coordinated Assessment: AccessModels Single location 2-1-1 hotline No wrong door
Coordinated Assessment: Assessment
Only necessary info Eligibility Assessment
Service needHousing barriersRetention barriers
Assessment happens step-by-step Prevention/Diversion screening Shelter eligibility Housing program eligibility Mainstream benefits eligibility
Coordinated Assessment: Assessment
Models VI-SPDAT Community-created assessments Progressive engagement
Coordinated Assessment: Referrals
Effectively match households to services Accurately address eligibility Real-time coordination
Between referral and availability Seamless “warm” transfers
Coordinated Assessment: Referrals
Models Program placement Referral Committees Community referral protocols: What
happens when a program does not accept a referral?
Coordinated Assessment means big changes for communities
Shift from program-centric decisions Should we accept this household? Agency-specific assessments Ad hoc referrals
Shift to system-level/client-centric decisions How can our system best serve this
household? Standard forms & assessments Coordinated referral system
Coordinated Assessment part of stronger system
Better serve those in crisis Minimize time and frustration in accessing help Close the cracks in the system
Informs CoC Who accessing homeless programs?
What are their needs? What are current system gaps? What programs under-utilized?
Informs how to invest and prioritize system resources
How Coordinated Assessment works in Balance of State
Steering Committee is governing body for BoS; CAC is technical referent for Coordinated Assessment
BoS Steering Committee
Regional Committee
Regional Committee
Regional Committee
Coordinated Assessment
Council
Different groups have different roles and responsibilities for CA in BoS
Governance Systems designed and administered by
Regional Committees Standards and governance by NC BoS
Steering Committee Coordinated Assessment Council (CAC)
review and approve plans CoC reps State-level experts and partners
Coordinated Assessment: NC BoS Standardized elements
Governance, structure 3-part assessment tool Reporting and CoC-wide oversight
Customized elements Triage and referrals Wait Lists Local grievance process Local oversight
Same Same Same
What Works and What’s Available Locally
Local prioriti
es
Customize
How Coordinated Assessment works in Charlotte - Mecklenburg County
Housing Advisory Board
Continuum of Care
Committee
Coordinated Assessment Oversight
Working Group
Community Engagement &
Advocacy Committee
Research & Evaluation Committee
Organization of Governing Board
Role of Oversight Working Group Members selected by community Activities
General oversight and management Information and feedback to community Investigate and resolve complaints or
concerns Evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of
process Review Performance Data Recommend changes or improvements
Coordinated Assessment: Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Standardized assessment tool at every location, including Prevention/Diversion screen Focused evaluation for a high volume
community Housing Barrier Assessment System standards around prioritization Dynamic waitlist
Before Coordinated Assessment
Charlotte–Mecklenburg Now
Coordinated Assessment
(3 Locations + Outreach)
Emergency Shelters
Permanent Supportive
Housing Programs
Rapid Re-
Housing Programs
Transitional Housing
Programs
Discussion & questions
Mecklenburg: What have we learned so far
Impacts client seeking housing assistance Provides opportunities to pay more attention
to details Engaging in diversion activities can positively
impact system Creates coordination and dialogue within
system Allows for transparency with funders This is hard work!
BoS: What have we learned so far
Mapping exercise shifted perspective from agency to system performance
Working on coordinated assessment strengthens and empowers Regional Committees
There’s no done Embrace the freak-out
Discussion Topics
How coordinated assessment has impacted work in the community
What the vision is for going forward
Want to help?
For more information, look up your CoC/Regional Lead contact Come to meetings Get involved with the work
Educate others about the current state of homeless service system Community-level responsibility Coordinated assessment
Advocate for affordable housing
Contact Info
Emily Carmody & Corey Root [email protected] ncceh.org
Rebecca Pfeiffer [email protected]