HomeMy WebLinkAbout091206 HomelessnessMayor’s Briefing –
Regional Homeless Issues from
the Southside Mayors and Chairs
And Virginia Beach’s Planning
Department of Housing
and Neighborhood Preservation
Andrew Friedman, Director
Sharon Prescott and John Boylan
September 12, 2006
1
Why Talk About
Homelessness?
Approximately 628 persons were homeless in
?
Virginia Beach based on our point-in-time
count in 2005. This means that over the year,
hundreds more went in and out of
homelessness.
Homelessness causes severe problems for
?
those who experience it.
Chronic homelessness costs our city and
?
community millions of dollars in public safety
and emergency services.
2
Not Enough Shelter
for Those Who Need it
People Seeking Shelter Exceeded Regional
Bed Capacity in Jan. 2005
2000
1,490
1500
339
1000
4951806
366
500
290
0
BedsIndividuals
Permanent TransitionalEmergencySeasonal
3
1,800 Persons or More are
Homeless in Our Area
1,800 homeless persons in Southside
?
Hampton Roads in January, 2005.
22
Of those, nearly 400, or %, met the
?
definition of “chronic,”having been homeless
for at least the past 12 months or four or more
times in the previous three years.
Nationally, the proportion of chronically
?
10-15
homeless is between %
4
Neither Wages nor Public Support
are Enough to Afford Housing
Affordable Housing Wage Compared to
Typical Monthly Income Available
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
AffordableTANFSSIMin. Wage
Wage
5
Chronic Homelessness is
Extremely Costly to Society
Average Cost Per Chronic Homeless Person Per Year
$150,000
$133,000
$120,000
$100,000
$40,451
$80,000
$50,000
$0
CulhaneSan DiegoSeattleSan Francisco
6
Chronic Homelessness is
Extremely Costly to Society
Based on the figures in the previous
graph, chronic homelessness could be
costing south Hampton Roads over $30
million annually in health care, courts,
Police, Sheriff, and other costs.
Being homeless once is a key risk factor
in becoming homeless again
7
History of City Involvement
Virginia Beach has funded homeless
?
programs since 1984 using Federal funds
We established the Lighthouse Center in 1995
?
using Federal and city funding
Our community receives over $1 million
?
annually in Federal funding for homeless
programs
To continue to receive HUD funding, all cities
?
must develop a ten year plan
8
Regional Considerations
In February, 2005 the Southside Mayors and
Chairs agreed to form a staff task force to
address homelessness issues that could best
be addressed regionally. Participating
localities are:
Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Norfolk,
?
Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach
The Planning Council participates and
?
provides administrative services.
9
Why a Regional Approach?
Persons in need of housing look wherever it is
?
available
Any one city working on its own could simply attract
?
people from around the region
Some effective solutions are too large or expensive
?
for any one city to do on its own
Regional partnerships allow sharing costs, sharing
?
benefits and getting the best possible solutions
Regional cooperation incentivizes support from
?
other funders
10
Regional Accomplishments
September, 2005 –Produced a Regional
?
Report on Homelessness
February, 2006 –held conference w/national
?
speakers -attracted 350 attendees
August, 2006-Established Affordable Housing
?
Database with United Way funding
December, 2006 -First-ever regional
?
apartments for the homeless to open in
Norfolk
11
12
13
14
Gosnold Apartments -Norfolk
15
Regional Initiatives:
(1)
Efficiency Apartments in VB
Establishment of the second project of
efficiency apartments for the homeless–
hopefully in Virginia Beach –approx. 60 units
Four cities would share the costs –Norfolk,
?
Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach
Would require a site and land use approval
?
Virginia Supportive Housing, developer of
?
Gosnold Apts., has briefed many of you on
this.
16
Regional Initiatives
(2)
A Healing Place
Establishment of a “Healing Place”for homeless
substance abusers –a highly effective
residential treatment model currently
operating in Tennessee, North Carolina and
Virginia (Richmond)
Would be owned and operated by a non-
?
profit
Regional cities would fund a feasibility study
?
and help initiate the project
17
A Healing Place
(cont)
Would need public and private support
?
for operating expense
“Campus-style”setting needed
?
18
What is the Healing Place?
The Healing Place is
?
a residential
substance abuse
program for
homeless single
adults.
It has a success rate
?
nearly five times the
national average
(65% vs. 15%).
19
Establishment of the first
Healing Place
The first Healing Place was started in
?
Louisville in 1989 by physicians who were
tired of the failure of homeless programs to
address the root causes of homelessness.
The core elements of the program are:
?
Recovery Dynamics (AA/12 steps), The
Community Model (therapeutic community),
and Peer Mentoring.
There are 4 in the US (2 in KY, 1 in NC, 1 in
?
Richmond).
20
Key Features of the Healing Place
Homeless adults enter
?
the program by police
escort, shelter referral,
or self-referral.
They first enter non-
?
medical detox, and then
(over time) two thirds
will voluntarily enter the
program.
21
Regional Initiatives
(Summary)
The efficiency apartments and the
?
Healing Place together would take
meaningful and long-term steps toward
addressing a serious, costly and long-
term problem in the most cost effective
way –with our regional partners.
22
Virginia Beach Planning
Virginia Beach’s Homeless Advocacy
?
and Resource Partnership (VBHARP) is
a coalition of city agencies, non-profits
and community stakeholders who work
together to develop our annual plan for
homelessness.
We must create and submit a ten-year
?
plan for HUD to continue providing
funding.
23
What will be the Elements of
Our Ten Year Plan?
Understanding the causes of and the
?
key barriers to overcoming
homelessness
Identifying current services
?
Identifying the stakeholders who can
?
help
Proposing actions at all levels
?
Developing an Action Plan and schedule
?
24
What Specific Issues will the
Plan Address?
Enhanced prevention programs
?
including early intervention and
financial assistance
Improved/centralized intake and
?
referral, and better access to housing
Development of more housing
?
resources
Enhanced and expanded support
?
services to help people overcome
barriers
25
Who Will be Involved in
Developing Our Plan?
City Agencies -Housing, Human
?
Services, Health, Police
Non-profit agencies serving the
?
homeless
Health care providers
?
Citizen and business groups
?
26
Request to Council:
Your awareness of the regional efforts
?
Your support of continuing with the two
?
regional initiatives
Future review and endorsement of our
?
Virginia Beach ten year plan
Be aware that there are potential future
?
funding needs
27
ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN
SOUTHSIDE HAMPTON ROADS
Development and
implementation of our city plan
combined with our participation
in regional initiatives will help
us make great progress toward
ending homelessness.
28
Thank you!
We invite your questions and comments.
-----------------------------------------
Andrew Friedman, 385-5752
Sharon Prescott, 385-5803
John Boylan, 385-5761
29