COORDINATED
ENGAGEMENT FOR
YOUNG ADULTS
Hannah Fisk, NWYS
Emily Harris-Shears & Erin
Maguire, CCSWW
Washington State Conference
on Ending Homelessness
May 21, 2014
Hannah Fisk, MSW
“NWYS collaborates with at-risk, runaway and
homeless youth to foster self-reliance.”
Turned Away
Homeless
Prevention
System Entry
Targeted
Screening
Housing Interest
Pool and Case
Management
AND/OR
Diversion
Services
Housing Program
Entry
Youth Interest
Pool and Case
Management
Homeless Management
Information System
(HMIS)
• An additional entry option for youth
• Two Housing Interest Pools (HIP and YIP)
• Removing off the waitlist
– Weekly notifications
– Additional attempts to contact
– Approval from youth serving agency
• Brain development/ Cognitive functioning
• Relationship focused
– Continuum of care between programs
• Empowerment based- options
• Positive Youth Development focused
Sun House
Emergency
Shelter
Northwest
Youth
Services
Shelter
Plus Care
Program
Catholic
Community
Services
Referral and
enrollment to
partner
programs
Coordinated entry,
intake,
and assessment for all
ages
Targeted
Homeless
Prevention
City Gate
Re-Entry
Housing
Lydia
Place
Women
Care
Shelter
Opportunity
Council
Housing
YWCA
I-Street
House
Bridge of
Hope
House
Veterans
Affairs
Supportive
Housing
• In April 302 non-youth households were on the HIP
– 96 youth household were on the HIP
• 47 additional youth are on the YIP only
– Reasons for any difference in numbers include:
• Prefer not to be on the HIP
• Not literally homeless
• Example of movement from HIP to Housing
– HIP to Permanent Housing Program
• 55% went from HIP to the Permanent Housing Program
• 16% went from the YIP to the Permanent Housing Program
• One Housing Interest Pool list with two entry points
– No shared data entry program
– Couch surfing
– Lack of relationship
• Increased Communication
– More difficult for the agencies
– Easier for the youth
• Lot’s of Advocating
• Shared access to single Housing Interest Pool
• Continued training on how this system came
into place for new staff
• Prioritization of youth
Implementing A Coordinated
Engagement System For
Young Adults
Youth Housing
Connection
WLIHA Conference
on Ending
Homelessness
May 2014
Community Sign In
• Youth and young adults (YYA) ages 13 to 25 complete
Community Sign In the first time they arrive at any
drop in center, meal program, or young adult shelter in
the homeless YYA continuum.
• Launched in December 2013
• 1,217 YYA have responded to Community Sign-In
• 67% identify as currently experiencing homelessness
Community Sign In
1.Divert YYA from homeless services when possible
through family reunification
2.Promote consistent data collection on YYA
homelessness
3.Obtain a more comprehensive number of YYA who are
using our continuum by aligning data collection at every
drop in center, meal program and young adult shelter in
the continuum of care.
Youth Housing Connection
• One single access point for young adults (17.525) in King County who are currently
experiencing literal homelessness or within 14
days of losing their housing and in need of
connection to housing resources
• Youth Housing Connection launched July 8,
2013
Where do young people come from?
Demographics
Assessment Process
• Meet young adults where they are already
accessing services and support
• Assessments are offered at nine youth serving
drop-in centers, shelters and meal site
programs each week
• Capacity to provide 200 assessments/month
• Over 800 assessments completed
Assessment Tool
• One hour assessment
• Capturing relevant information related to
young adult’s experiences in housing
• Directly corresponds to eligibility criteria of
community housing providers
• Measures a young adult’s current risk while
remaining homeless through the vulnerability
score
Housing Inventory
• Partner with 25 housing programs made up of seven
youth serving agencies
• 300+ units/beds
• Range of services:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Chemical Dependency
LGBTQA Youth
Exiting Foster Care
Domestic Violence
Mental Health
Culturally Tailored Services for African American and Native American young
adults
• 191 referrals made since launch
• 90 young adults in housing
Program Staffing
• Two Housing Specialists: Completes housing
assessments with young adults
• YHC Lead: Makes housing referrals and
facilitates mobility requests
• Program Manager
• Program Director
Vulnerability Scale
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Length of current experience of homelessness
Interest in Chemical Dependency Support Services
Safety
Interest in Mental Health Support Services
Number of experiences of homelessness
Interest in programs that require YA to have a
disability
7. Community Supports
8. Length of time on the YHC Placement Roster (Point
added for 6 months or longer)
9. Receiving SS/Disability Benefits
Vulnerability Scale
Vulnerability # of Young
Score
Adults
% of Young Adults
Zero
2
0%
44
7%
131
20%
196
30%
172
26%
Five
74
11%
Six
Seven
39
6
6%
0%
Total
664
100%
One
Two
Three
Four
Vulnerability Scale
Mobility Requests
• Supports young adults moving through the continuum
of housing resources as their needs change
• Young adults with approved mobility requests receive
priority for open resources
Youth & Young Adult Voice
Focus Groups
Marketing
Assessment Questions
Response Timeline
Mockingbird Society – Youth Advocates Ending
Homelessness
Ongoing User Feedback
System Implications
Provider Voice
•
•
•
•
Feedback Forums
Continual Training
Individual Stakeholder Check In’s
Task Force → YHC Work Group
– Monthly meetings of housing and service
providers
– YHC successes and challenges
– 12 month work plan
Next Steps
• Family Reunification Pilot
Contact Information
Hannah Fisk, Northwest Youth Services
HannahF@nwys.org
Emily Harris-Shears, Catholic Community Services of King County
EmilyHS@ccsww.org
Erin Maguire, Catholic Community Services of King County
ErinMa@ccsww.org