Melissa Erlbaum, ED
Clackamas Women’s Services
 Geographic region (urban, suburban, rural)
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Few nonprofit agencies
 Long standing
 Community based grassroots
Strong County government presence
Large % of services delivered through the County system
High value on long standing relationships
Community ripe for collaboration
Centralized intake system didn’t include all partners
Prevention efforts weren’t streamlined and inadequate
County’s homeless services/philosophy were deeply entrenched in the HUD
COC system
10 year plan included vision for prevention
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Homeless Service Providers
Domestic Violence Provider
Youth Services
DHS
Workforce development
Clackamas County: Social
Services & Community
Development
Rent Well Program (tenant
education)
Faith Based
School Homeless Liaisons
Special Needs Providers
Housing Authority
Benefits
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Experience with CCR
Strong advocacy skills
Expertise in safety planning
and crisis intervention
Experience with voluntary
services models
Access to different funding
streams
Understanding of trauma
informed services
Challenges
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HMIS
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Strict Confidentiality standards
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Less formal experience with
homeless service system
Historically focused on shelter
as primary means for safety
Resource competition
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Understand mission, values and limitations about
partner agencies
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Determine timeline and meeting schedule
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Build a conceptual program model
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Aligning networks
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Examine the diversity of perspectives
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Housing First Philosophy
Address current gaps
Joint resource acquisition
Streamline access points
Shared policies and procedures
Comprehensive data collection
Reporting/Evaluation
Cultural competency
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Map out current system
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Document need
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Determine target population
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Create unified assessment
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Shared policies and procedures
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Determine short/long-term goals and measures (outputs, outcomes etc)
In our community this took place over four months of bi-weekly meetings that followed an initial 4-5
meetings/trainings geared to get a “temperature read” of the propensity for change in the existing
system.
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County’s Department of Health, Housing and Human Services contracts HPRP funds to CWS & NHA.
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CWS is the lead agency for 3 year United Way Systemic Change grant (contracts to the County’s Rent Well
Program and NHA).
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CWS has Office on Violence Against Women Transitional Housing funding
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CWS & NHA have joint private foundation funding
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Culturally specific services – both partnership and inte
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Unified assessment tool
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Shared policy manual
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Engage in joint resource acquisition
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Cross training and joint training
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New prevention system has been created
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Streamlined process
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Effective use of resources
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Gained political will
Housing Rights &
Resources Line
CWS 24-hour crisis
line
Referral to CWS or
NHA for Assessment
Action Plan
Developed
Diversion
Prevention
Housing
Secured
Established physical
access points
Data Collection
-Centralized
Services
Shelter
Housing
search
Stabilization –
integration into
community
Clackamas Women’s Services Beyond Shelter Housing Initiative-Internal Program Model
Survivor at Risk of Homelessness/
Fleeing Violence
Homeless Prevention
CWS Emergency Shelter
(Victims of domestic and
sexual violence)- 14 beds +
hotel voucher s
30-40 households
•Arrears
•Utility Assistance
United Way Community Investment Grant
HUD- HPRP Funds
Private funds
(capacity expansion May
2012)
Casa HogarSpanish
Speaking Shelter
6 beds (master
leasing)
Rapid Re-Housing & Diversion
30-50 households
•Low to Moderate Barriers
•Economics are primary barrier
•Approx 6-12 month subsidy
•Shelter stay not to exceed 4 months
United Way Community Investment Grant
(Northwest housing Alternatives & CC Social
Services Rent Well)
HUD Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing
Private funds
Move In
Assistance
•Deposit
Assistance
•Arrears & Utility
Asst.
•3-6 month
subsidy
Shallow Rental
Subsidy
•Max monthly subsidy
•50% rent to income ratio
•Contribution to rent 3050% of income
•Market rate housing
•12 months (18 max)
Transitional
Housing
•Moderate to Severe
Barriers
•Special Needs
•18-24 months
Scattered Site –Tenant
Based
30-35 Households
•30% of income rent
contribution
OVW-VAWA THP grant
HUD- THP
Private foundation support
HACC24 units-set
aside for DV
voucher/priorityCWS provides
support services
Transitional
Housing
Facility
Currently
operated by
partner agencies
(Janssen, NHA,
B2H)
Permanent
Supportive
Housing
Shelter + Care
(County HA)
CWS PSHHUD)
Oxford Model
Housing for
DV Survivors
Pilot Project by
Recovery Abuse
Program
MACG funding
Other
Subsidized &
NonSubsidized
Permanent
Housing
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Salary differences
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Continuum of Care System & 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness
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Long standing HRR line
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Internal culture shifts within partner agencies (moving from shelter
based system to housing based system)
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County budget cuts- impact on County services and employees
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Utilize an MOU (revisit regularly)
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Cross agency team building activities and training
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Include culturally specific partners in all aspects of planning
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Establish communication systems
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Define roles and responsibilities
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Solicit commitment from all partners
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Regular meetings
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Shared learning and shared responsibilities
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High success rates
Staff satisfaction
Staff skill level increased
Increased participant feedback rates with high level
of reported satisfaction
System infrastructure remains solid despite
changes in funding patterns
Flexible system
Data informed
Political will and capital
Collaborative fundraising
Formative
evaluation
Summative evaluation
Program monitoring/evaluation
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Leadership
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Collaborative planning
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Financial leverage
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Provider infrastructure
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Credible data
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Network of allies
Melissa Erlbaum, ED
Clackamas Women’s Services
503-722-2366 Ext 106
melissae@cwsor.org