Housing First: Where it
Works
Chela Sullivan, Housing Director, UMOM New Day Centers
TOPICS
Agency Overview
Housing First – Emerging Strategy
Continuum of Housing Services
Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Project
OUR MISSION
UMOM New Day Centers mission is to
provide homeless families and individuals
with safe shelter, housing and supportive
services to assist them in reaching their
greatest potential.
Founded in 1964 by United Methodist Church
Provides a full continuum of services from Emergency Shelter to
Permanent Housing
OUR CONTINUUM OF HOUSING SERVICES
Watkins Overflow Shelter- Low demand emergency shelter
for up to 20 families each night.
Emergency Family Shelter - 80 units of emergency
shelters with allowable maximum 120 day stay
Transitional Living for Families- 54 units of transitional
shelter with allowable maximum 2 year stay
Rapid Rehousing- 40 families per year for 3 years with
allowable maximum of 15 months rental subsidy
OUR CONTINUUM OF HOUSING SERVICES
(CONT’D)
Permanent Housing- 346 units of permanent affordable housing
for families, seniors and SMI individuals
Subsidized housing through Sec.8 contracts
Privately subsidized permanent housing
Low-income Housing Tax Credits
Permanent supportive housing: Families, Disabled Veterans, SMI
TRIAGING VULNERABLE FAMILIES
Emergency
Shelter
Permanent
supportive
Permanent
affordable
housing
Transitional
Living
UMOM
Orientation
Assessment
Subsidized/
Section 8
Eviction
prevention
Rapid
Rehousing
HOUSING FIRST – EMERGING STRATEGY
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Obtaining housing is the focus and as quickly as possible.
Housing is not time limited.
Services are delivered during housing search and after
placement.
Focus of services is on addressing issues and barriers that
directly impact housing stability – as identified by the
participant.
Amount of time services are accessed is based on individual
needs.
Housing is not contingent on compliance with services, but on
compliance with standard lease agreements.
National Alliance to End Homelessness
HOUSING FIRST – KEY COMPONENTS

Assessment-based that targets most appropriate housing
options.

Assistance locating rental housing, relationship
development with private market landlords, and lease
negotiation.

Housing cost assistance – ranging from security deposit
and one month’s rent to provision of a long-term housing
subsidy.

A housing placement that is not time-limited.

Case management to coordinate services (time-limited or
long-term) that follow a housing placement.
National Alliance to End Homelessness
EMERGENCY SHELTER

Any facility whose purpose is to provide
immediate and time limited (30-120 days)
shelter to homeless individuals/families.

May work with special populations, such as
those temporarily displaced in housing due to
domestic violence.
TRANSITIONAL SHELTER

Any project that provides time-limited and affordable housing
(up to 24 months - tenant usually pays no more than 30% of
income toward housing) for homeless individuals-families

Usually provides supportive services to address barriers to
housing and help increase income and employment to move
the homeless into permanent housing.
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Individuals and families must meet eligibility guidelines related
to homeless status and income.
RAPID RE-HOUSING
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT OVERVIEW
3 year (May 2010 – May 2013) Federal
Demonstration Project from HUD Granted to
UMOM and Save the Family
23 communities across the country received
Demonstration Grant and this is the only one in
Arizona
240 families will be Rapidly Re-housed during life
of grant
RAPID RE-HOUSING OVERVIEW
Designed to move homeless families RAPIDLY out
of shelter or unsafe – uninhabitable locations
into safe, affordable rental housing in the
community.
Provides homeless families, assessed to have
minimum to moderate housing barriers, with
short-term rental subsidies and supportive
services (Max. 15 mos.)
ELIGIBILITY

Homeless definition (for demonstration grant only)
Family in one of the following situations for at least
7 days:
 shelter
(homeless or domestic violence)
 In place not meant for human habitation (i.e. streets, car,
park)

Willing and able to increase income to afford rent and
living expenses without a subsidy within 12 - 15
months

Willing to work with a case coordinator and landlord to
obtain a lease and utilize support services to address
barriers to housing stability.
PRIMARY FOCUS AND OUTCOMES

Obtaining and maintaining permanent housing
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Increase income and savings

Decrease debt

Address ongoing barriers to housing by
connecting to mainstream services and
resources
OUTCOMES…..SO FAR
(MAY 2010 – JAN. 2012)
Total families served as of 1/15/2012
 82
Families served (42 families have exited)
83% or 35 families exited to permanent housing
29 families maintained market rate units
6 families transitioned into subsidized housing
5 families are unknown
2 other/ noncompliance with lease
0% return to UMOM emergency shelter
COST FOR SERVICES
UMOM Shelter
1 year of shelter averages $24,000*
Rapid ReHousing
averages about $10,000 per family
* Cost does not include childcare
SUMMARY
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We need to target our resources to provide the best
intervention based on family needs.
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More vulnerable families may need longer-term transitionaltype shelter or subsidized/ permanent supportive housing.
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Less vulnerable families may not need shelter or transitional
programs.
CONTACT
Chela Sullivan
Housing Director
UMOM New Day Centers
csullivan@umom.org