Ending Homelessness In Washington State:
What The Data Tells Us
Conference on Ending Homelessness
Yakima, Washington
MAY 22, 2014
Mary Schwartz
Washington State Department of Commerce
Melissa Ford Shah
Washington Department of Social
and Health Services
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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1
Roadmap
1. Two Efforts to End Homelessness in Washington
State
2. DSHS-Commerce Research and Data Partnership
3. Informing the Chronic Homelessness Policy
Academy
4. Data on the Ending Family Homelessness Pilot
Project
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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2
PART 1
Overview of Two Efforts to End
Homelessness in Washington
State
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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3
Chronic Homelessness Policy Academy:
Housing 3,000 Subcommittee
MISSION STATEMENT
Promote sustainable housing as part of recovery
for chronically homeless people
VISION
Ending chronic homelessness for most vulnerable
high cost system users
FOCUS
Develop and implement a model for ending the experience of chronic
homelessness for 3,000 people identified in 2013, and replicate the
model to a system-wide level by 2016
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
4
Chronic Homelessness Policy Academy:
Housing 3,000 Subcommittee
STEPS
1. End Chronic Homelessness in the State of Washington through
targeted, solution-oriented approaches that can be scaled for
efficacy around the State
2. Permanently house 3,000 people experiencing chronic
homelessness in the State of Washington
3. Build a collaborative, integrated approach to identify and
connect individuals who experience chronic homelessness
with comprehensive services to support permanent housing
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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Washington State Policy Academy Process
Key Activities:
WORKGROUP
FOCUS
NEXT STEPS
Expanding
Housing
• Meet with key stakeholders to
identify housing needs and
opportunities
• Bring together Federal, State and
County level agencies and
stakeholders
Data
• Integrate data to improve our
understanding of the needs of
homeless veterans
• Analyze medical and behavioral
health costs for homeless
Medicaid clients
• If awarded, a SAMHSA
supplemental grant will fund an
analysis of homeless veterans
• CSH and WLIHA finalizing a White
Paper that includes a medical cost
analysis for chronically homeless
individuals
System Design
• Configure the “pieces” of the
• Working to add supportive
overall Policy Academy activity to
services to Medicaid benefit
build a long term (and
• Implementing BRIDGES grant,
sustainable) solution to ending
which provides behavioral health
chronic homelessness in the State
supportive housing services
of Washington
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
6
Ending Family Homelessness (EFH):
Rapid Re-housing for Homeless Families on TANF
• In April 2013, five counties (Cowlitz, Mason, Snohomish, Spokane and
Whatcom) implemented a pilot program involving:
– Active coordination with local CSOs, WorkSource, and housing providers
– Goal of moving homeless TANF families into permanent housing immediately while
connecting them to services so income could support that housing in 6 months
• January 2014: Pilot program was expanded under the consolidated
homeless grant (CHG); continued partnership between Commerce, DSHS
and ESD
• Statewide technical assistance being provided to EFH providers in
partnership with Building Changes and the Gates Foundation
• Research being conducted by RDA on outcomes of 80+ households served
in the pilot
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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PART 2
DSHS and Commerce
Research and Data
Partnership
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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Washington State DSHS Integrated Client Database
Incarcerations
School Outcomes
Preschool – College
Education
Research Data
Center
Arrests
Charges
Community
Supervision
Convictions
Administrative
Office
of the Courts
Washington
State Patrol
Department
of Corrections
Dental Services
Medical Eligibility Medicaid, State Only
Hospital Inpatient/ Outpatient
Managed Care
Hours
Physician Services
Births
Prescription Drugs
Wages
Deaths
Housing Assistance
Emergency Shelter
Transitional Housing
Homeless Prevention
and Rapid Re-housing
Permanent
Supportive Housing
Health Care
Authority
Employment
Security
Department
Department
of Health
Department
of Commerce
Public Housing
Housing Choice
Vouchers
Multi-Family
Project-Based
Vouchers
Housing
and Urban
Development
Public Housing
Authority
De-identified
DSHS
Aging and LongTerm Support
Nursing Facilities
In-home Services
Community
Residential
Functional
Assessments
WASHINGTON STATE
External
Department of Social and Health Services
Internal
INTEGRATED CLIENT DATABASE
DSHS
Children’s
Services
DSHS
Developmental
Disabilities
Child Protective
Services
Case
Management
Child Welfare
Services
Community
Residential
Services
Adoption
Adoption Support
Child Care
Out of Home
Placement
Voluntary Services
Personal Care
Support
Residential
Habilitation
Centers and
Nursing Facilities
Family Reconciliation
Services
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
DSHS
Behavioral Health and Service
Integration
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Assessments
Detoxification
Opiate
Substitution
Treatment
Outpatient
Treatment
Residential
Treatment
Child Study
Treatment Center
Children’s Longterm Inpatient
Program
Community
Inpatient
Evaluation/
Treatment
Community
Services
DSHS
Economic
Services
DSHS
Juvenile
Rehabilitation
Food Stamps
Institutions
TANF and State
Family Assistance
Dispositional
Alternative
General
Assistance
Community
Placement
Child Support
Services
Parole
Working
Connections Child
Care
DSHS
Vocational
Rehabilitation
Medical and
Psychological
Services
Training,
Education,
Supplies
Case
Management
Vocational
Assessments Job
Skills
State Hospitals
State Institutions
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HMIS Housing Program Clients with DSHS Service History
SFY 2013
HMIS
ALL Housing
Assistance
Recipients
Gave consent and
had sufficient
information
for linking
n = 91,524
n = 71,652
DSHS-HMIS
HMIS Linked to DSHS
Integrated Client Database
n = 64,974
The vast majority of housing
clients in HMIS have been DSHS
clients
• In State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2013, 78 percent
of HMIS housing recipients gave consent
and had sufficient information for linkage
to DSHS records (71,652 of 91,524)
• 91 percent of those who could possibly
be linked were found in the DSHS
Integrated Client Database (64,974 of
71,652)
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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PART 3
Identifying Chronically
Homeless Individuals
in Washington State
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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11
Data on chronic homelessness is missing for four counties
in Washington because it is not part of the HMIS data standards
WHATCOM
SAN JUAN
OKANOGAN
FERRY
STEVENS
SKAGIT
PEND
OREILLE
ISLAND
SNOHOMISH
CLALLAM
 Everett
CHELAN
JEFFERSON
DOUGLAS
LINCOLN
KITSAP

Spokane
KING
GRAYS
HARBOR
MASON

Tacoma
SPOKANE
GRANT
KITTITAS
ADAMS
WHITMAN
PIERCE
THURSTON
PACIFIC
LEWIS
FRANKLIN
GARFIELD
YAKIMA
WAHKIAKUM
COWITZ
COLUMBIA
BENTON
SKAMANIA
WALLA WALLA
ASOTIN
KLICKITAT
CLARK

Vancouver
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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Proportion of homeless population meeting criteria
for chronic homelessness
Chronically Homeless,
January 2013 Point in Time Count
Chronically Homeless,
CY 2012 HMIS Entries*
TOTAL HOMELESS IN STATE = 17,775
TOTAL CY 2012 ENTRIES IN HMIS = 22,158
Chronically
Homeless
Chronically
Homeless*
12%
20%
n = 2,219
n = 4,345
Homeless
Homeless
not chronically
not chronically
88%
80%
n = 15,556
n = 17,813
*NOTE: This data represents all HMIS entries in the state in CY 2012, with the exception of Clark, Pierce,
Snohomish, and Spokane counties. These records are not unduplicated at the client level.
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
13
Characteristics of Washington’s Chronically Homeless Population
DEMOGRAPHICS
TOTAL = 4,345*
n = 1,573
n = 2,760
n = 359
n = 1,462
n = 699
*NOTE: This data represents all HMIS entries in the state in CY 2012, with the exception of Clark, Pierce,
Snohomish, and Spokane counties. These records are not unduplicated at the client level.
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
14
Characteristics of Washington’s Chronically Homeless Population
HOMELESS EPISODES
TOTAL = 4,345*
Continuously
Homeless
83%
Frequently
Homeless
n = 3,627
48%
n = 2,076
Both Continuously
and Frequently
Homeless
31%
n = 1,358
*NOTE: This data represents all HMIS entries in the state in CY 2012, with the exception of Clark, Pierce,
Snohomish, and Spokane counties. These records are not unduplicated at the client level.
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
15
Characteristics of Washington’s Chronically Homeless Population
HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
TOTAL ENTRIES = 4,345*
n = 612
n = 3,037
n = 1,702
n = 1,968
n = 2,089
*NOTE: This data represents all HMIS entries in the state in CY 2012, with the exception of Clark, Pierce,
Snohomish, and Spokane counties. These records are not unduplicated at the client level.
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
16
Identifying Chronically Homeless Population with the ICDB:
Medical assistance clients meeting HUD definition
Total Medical Assistance
Population
SFY 2012 = 1.5 million
Met HUD
definition of
Chronically
Homeless in SFY
2012
Homeless in SFY
2012 but not
in June 2012
n = 9,642
48%
n = 20,174
1.3%
No. Did not receive
HMIS-Recorded
Housing Assistance
n = 8,087
40%
Homeless
in June 2012
n = 10,532
52%
Yes. Got Assistance
12% n = 2,445
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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PART 4
Data on the Ending Family
Homelessness Pilot
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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Monthly EFH Enrollment Trends by Pilot County
APRIL – SEPTEMBER 2013
TOTAL = 277
249
245
235
Spokane
n = 94
167
128
Snohomish
n = 64
Cowlitz
n = 37
35
Whatcom
n = 30
Mason n = 20
SOURCE: The Ending Family Homelessness Pilot: Rapid Re-Housing for TANF Families, Ford Shah, et.al., DSHS Research and Data Analysis Division, January 2014.
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1498/
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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Average Monthly EFH Costs per Household
APRIL – SEPTEMBER 2013
Average cost per month of program participation for all heads of household
with reported EFH costs . . .
RENT
SECURITY DEPOSIT
UTILITY DEPOSIT
MOTEL/HOTEL COST
ALL COSTS
n = 71
n = 71
n = 71
n = 71
n = 71
$636
$180
$37
$36
$889
ALL COSTS
Average cost per service user per service month . . .
RENT
SECURITY DEPOSIT
UTILITY DEPOSIT
MOTEL/HOTEL COST
n = 70
n = 60
n = 16
n=8
$688
$592
$207
$800
n/a
SOURCE: The Ending Family Homelessness Pilot: Rapid Re-Housing for TANF Families, Ford Shah, et.al., DSHS Research and Data Analysis Division, January 2014.
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1498/
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
20
Prior Living Situation Recorded in HMIS for EFH Recipients
All others
57%
n = 158
Emergency Shelter
TOTAL = 277
38%
n = 105
5%
Place not meant
for human habitation
n = 14
67%
22%
11%
n = 75
n = 25
n = 12
TOTAL = 112
19%
78%
3%
n = 13
n = 53
n=2
TOTAL = 68
65%
35%
n = 24
n = 13
TOTAL = 37
64%
36%
n = 23
n = 13
TOTAL = 36
TOTAL = 24
96%
4%
n = 23
n=1
SOURCE: The Ending Family Homelessness Pilot: Rapid Re-Housing for TANF Families, Ford Shah, et.al., DSHS Research and Data Analysis Division, January 2014.
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1498/
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
21
Three-Year Shelter Use History for EFH Participants:
Chronic, Temporary, and Episodic Homelessness
Chronic
Homelessness
Episodic
Homelessness
2%
n=6
10%
Temporary
Homelessness
n = 29
No Prior
Shelter
14%
42%
n = 38
n = 115
Prior Shelter
Not Recorded
in HMIS*
32%
74%
n = 89
TOTAL CASES
= 277
n = 204
Three-Year History: EFH Clients with Prior
Shelter Use in HMIS
Average number of shelter episodes
Average number of days in shelter
Average number of days per episode
Temporary
Episodic
Chronic
TOTAL
(n = 38)
(n = 6)
(n = 29)
(n = 73)
1
9.8
9.8
2.3
6.3
3
1.1
89.1
86.6
1.1
41.0
39.8
*Program staff in the five pilot counties confirmed that these 89 individuals with prior shelter not recorded in HMIS were either 1) entering EFH from shelters not required
to report into HMIS or 2) fleeing domestic violence when served in shelter.
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
22
Issues Identified in the Comprehensive Evaluation:
EFH Parents Compared to Other TANF Parents
EFH
TANF
Other
EFH
EFH
EFH
EFH
TANF
Other
TANF
Other
TANF
Other
TANF
Other
0
n = 24
of 105
8,725 of
55,505
n = 23
of 105
4,578 of
55,505
n = 38
of 105
8,217 of
55,505
n = 22
of 105
5,962 of
55,505
n = 45
of 105
20,542 of
55,505
SOURCE: The Ending Family Homelessness Pilot: Rapid Re-Housing for TANF Families, Ford Shah, et.al., DSHS Research and Data Analysis Division, January 2014.
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1498/
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
23
Pregnancy and Ages of Children in the Household:
EFH Parents Compared to Other TANF Parents
EFH
TANF
Other
EFH
TANF
Other
EFH
0
EFH
TANF
Other
n=8
of 105
5,719 of
55,505
n = 55
of 105
25,491 of
55,505
n = 32
of 105
17,737 of
55,505
n = 25
of 105
TANF
Other
EFH
TANF
Other
n=0
of 105
973 of
55,505
11,974 of
55,505
SOURCE: The Ending Family Homelessness Pilot: Rapid Re-Housing for TANF Families, Ford Shah, et.al., DSHS Research and Data Analysis Division, January 2014.
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1498/
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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Percent Homeless or Unstably Housed:
April 2011-March 2012
EFH Parents
Other TANF Parents
2011
2012
SOURCE: The Ending Family Homelessness Pilot: Rapid Re-Housing for TANF Families, Ford Shah, et.al., DSHS Research and Data Analysis Division, January 2014.
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1498/
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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Behavioral Health and Medical Risk Indicators
AMONG THOSE WITH MEDICAL COVERAGE
Alcohol and/or Other
Drug (AOD) Use
24-month baseline period
Mental Health
Medical Indicators
24-month baseline
period
12-month baseline period
EFH
EFH
TANF
Other
TANF
Other
EFH
EFH
TANF
Other
EFH
TANF
Other
0
n = 26
8,575
of 105 of 55,505
EFH
EFH
n = 20
4,436
of 105 of 55,505
n = 52
20,579
of 105 of 55,505
n = 52
19,374
of 105 of 55,505
n = 16
4,958
of 105 of 55,505
TANF
Other
n = 29
11,525
of 105 of 55,505
n = 24
6,853
of 105 of 55,505
SOURCE: The Ending Family Homelessness Pilot: Rapid Re-Housing for TANF Families, Ford Shah, et.al., DSHS Research and Data Analysis Division, January 2014.
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1498/
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
26
EFH children were less likely to have had a foster care placement
and more than twice as likely to experience poor health conditions
IN BASELINE YEAR
Foster Care Placement
Proportion with Poor Health Status
In 12-Month Baseline Period
Among those with Medical Coverage
EFH
TANF
Other
EFH
TANF
Other
0
n = 4 of 145
4,156 of 104,899
0
n = 6 of 145
2,164 of 104,899
SOURCE: The Ending Family Homelessness Pilot: Rapid Re-Housing for TANF Families, Ford Shah, et.al., DSHS Research and Data Analysis Division, January 2014.
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1498/
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
27
Coming Attractions . . .
• Youth at Risk of Homelessness (YARH) Planning Grant
 Predicting homelessness among youth exiting foster care
• Vulnerable Families Partnership and TANF PRISM
 Predicting homelessness among TANF households and providing information to
caseworkers on key risk factors
• Ending Family Homelessness (EFH)
 Evaluating the impact of the program on key outcomes for EFH participants
compared to a statistically matched comparison group of their peers
• Housing and Essential Needs (HEN)
 Evaluating the impact of HEN on key outcomes for recipients compared to a
statistically matched comparison group of their peers
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
28
Identifying Homeless and Unstably Housed DSHS
Clients in Multiple Service Systems
APRIL 2012 • Shah, Black, Felver
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1457/
The Housing Status of Individuals Discharged
from Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities
JULY 2012 • Shah, Black, Felver
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1460/
Impact of Housing Assistance on Short-Term Homelessness
Among TANF, Disability Lifeline, and Basic Food recipients with recently
recorded spells of homelessness
SEPTEMBER 2011 • Shah, Estee, Mancuso, Black, Felver
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1443/
A Profile of Housing Assistance Recipients in Washington State:
History of Arrests, Employment, and Social and Health Service Use
MARCH 2011 • Shah, Estee, Albrecht, Yette, Felver
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1438/
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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Permanent Options for Recovery-Centered Housing:
Year 1 Annual Report
JUNE 2012 • Galvez, Lucenko, Black, Felver
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1462/
Intensive Case Management within a
Supportive Housing Facility
OCTOBER 2008 • Shah, Mancuso, Nordlund, Felver
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1367/
Washington State’s Housing and Essential Needs Program
Impacts on Housing Status, Use of Food Assistance, Arrests,
Incarcerations, and Health Outcomes
JANUARY 2013 • Mancuso, Ford Shah, Black, Felver
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1476/
Behavioral Health Risk among TANF Parents: Links
to Homelessness, Child Abuse and Arrests
DECEMBER 2010 • Shah, Mancuso, He, Estee, Felver, Beall, Fiedler
http://publications.rda.dshs.wa.gov/1429/
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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For more Information . . . .
Mary Schwartz
mary.schwartz@commerce.wa.gov
Melissa Ford Shah
shahmf@dshs.wa.gov
DSHS | Research and Data Analysis Division ● MAY 22, 2014
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