Rethink
Homelessness
April 23, 2013
Creating Community Through
Homeless Prevention
Rethink
Homelessness
Our Purpose Today
• To raise awareness of the problem of
homelessness in Plano, Texas.
• To connect faith communities and begin
collaborative efforts to proactively lead
community solutions to homelessness.
2012 Collin County Homeless Data
COLLIN COUNTY
2012 HOMELESS COUNT
AGE AND FAMILY
STRUCTURE
•Of the 531 counted
homeless, 320 are adults
and 211 are children
•90% increase in # of people
homeless > 1 year
•2012 = 531 – up 44%
•2011 = 368 – up 107%
•2010 = 178
•2009 = 182
•Chronic Homeless
increased > 400%
•90% increase in # of people
who have been homeless
for 1 year or longer
•More than half are
elementary school age or
younger
•More than 70% of the
families are single mothers
with children
ETHNIC & OTHER
STATISTICS
•
•
•
•
41% Caucasian
33% African American
19% Hispanic
7% Other
• Number of people sleeping
outside (parks, storage
units and cars) increased >
250% from 2011 – 2012
• 171 students documented
as unsheltered – literally
homeless living in parks,
cars, alleys, storage units –
places not meant for
humans
3
Primary Reasons for Homelessness
Source: Collin County 2012 Annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count
4
PLANO’S HOMELESS – WHERE ARE THEY?
CURRENT SHELTER CAPACITY
- FAMILIES
SAMARITAN INN total 161 beds turns away 57 people per week
that qualify for their program; in
2012 over
•
Over 25% of the
requests come from Plano folks.
• FAMILY PROMISE – overnight
lodging and meals for max of 14
people (to comply with Plano city
council); rotates weekly in 14
congregations, weekdays 6 pm – 7
am.
5
PLANO’S HOMELESS – WHERE ARE THEY?
CURRENT SHELTER CAPACITY –
Youth & Children
• CITY House – Transitional Living
Program
for ages 1621
• MY FRIEND’S HOUSE – Emergency
Shelter -
6
Plano & Collin County Available Shelter Resources
CURRENT SHELTER CAPACITY
– DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
• HOPES DOOR- Current domestic
violence victim • EMILY’S PLACE (formerly
Providence House) –
Transformational live-in program
from single women & with children
up to 10 yrs. Now has
. New
campus to open December 2013
with 1st of 3 units
Each of which will
provide 28-30 beds
(
.)
7
PLANO’S HOMELESS – WHERE ARE THEY?
EXTENDED STAY HOTELS –
Sun Suites and other extended
stay hotels in Plano serve as
make shift homeless shelter.
PISD PROVIDES BUS
SERVICE TO SUN SUITES
Dwayne Hill, his wife
Denise Collier and their 4
children shared 1 room at
Sun Suites; Dwayne has
a college degree
8
Invisible Homeless
An Explosion In Extended Families
The weak U.S. economy, and the high
unemployment that has come with it,
have forced many Americans to move
in with relatives. In 2010 there were
159 million Americans who were 35 or
older, up 14.1 percent from the year
2000. But the
Source: Census Bureau
Credit: NPR
According to census data, more
American households have “doubled
up” in recent years, as adults lose their
own housing and move into somebody
else’s home. In spring
, prior to
the recession,
. By spring
,
the number of doubled up households
had increased by more than 10 percent
to
.
9
Invisible Homeless – Especially children & youth
SOFA SURFING, staying with
friends, is the first stage on a relatively
.
The reasons for family breakdown are
often multiple and complex. Unless
there is meaningful intervention at an
early stage the results are always the
same, Street Homelessness.
10
PLANO POVERTY &
HOMELESS INDICATORS
PISD Students Reported Homeless
2013
APPROX 400
2012
402
2011
287
2010
187
PISD School Breakfast Program and National
School Lunch Program (SBP/NSLP)
TOTAL
SBP/NSLP
AS OF
STUDENTS STUDENTS
%
Mar-13
54,982
15,391
28%
Nov-11
55,654
14,461
26%
EST 2010
55,000
10,000
18%
Plano Independent School District Data: actual homeless students est.
to be 4 x reported; actual students on SBP/NSLP is < total who would
qualify. Pride and residency deter many applications.
Plano, Texas Profile
Population 2010 Census (quickfacts.census.gov)
poverty rate 2009 (city-data.com)
Est persons living at US poverty level
Plano residents under age 18 (quickfacts.census.gov)
Children below poverty level (city-data.com)
Est Plano children living AT OR BELOW US
poverty level
269,776
10.7%
28,866
25.9%
9.3%
6,498
The National Center for Children in Poverty states
that the
.
11
GAPS IN THE SYSTEM: REAL STORIES – REAL LIVES
• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS – do not allow teen sons of
victims, who are themselves victims most likely to repeat cycle
Meet Mary and her sons
Thomas & James
(not their real names)
Mary fled a situation of severe domestic violence leaving everything but her
sons. Because her sons are > 13, NO shelter, including domestic violence
shelters, would take them. With the help of a Good Samaritan, Mary moved
into a 1 bdr apt in West Plano so her sons could continue in quality schools.
Their response to the violence, move, loss of friends and new poverty Thomas
ended up in Juvenile Detention. No job, no money, no food…and soon no
shelter led her to seek help from a church. Through the collaborative efforts of
several organizations, Mary was trained as a Certified Nurse Assistant, her
sons received mentoring and counseling, Thomas finished high school and
hopes for college. Community collaboration provided 1st steps to hope.
12
GAPS IN THE SYSTEM: REAL STORIES – REAL LIVES
UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH hundreds in crisis
eminently homeless and vulnerable
Meet Karen, 19, who is
guardian of her 17 year
old brother Casey
DETERMINATION: a mother on
probation, a father in jail and a 17 year
old brother to care for and keep out of
Juvenile Detention do not stop Karen
from pursuing her dream of college. The
Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) helps,
but does not solve problems of bed bug
infestation and flooding. Both youth work
& go to school, Karen to Collin College
and Casey to Plano East, but minimum
wage is not enough for them to live on.
Plano churches are collaborating to fund
2 weeks in an extended stay hotel… but
what next? There are NO apartments in
Plano they can afford even with a HCV.
(not their real names)
13
Children & Youth Suffer the Most
Collin County Youth >
½ of total – Plano is
largest city in county
2012 beyond abc; assessing Children’s Healthi n the North Texas Corridor.
Published by Children’s Medical Center Dallas
2012 US poverty
level for family of
4 = $23,050
In 2010 over 8,000
families were
living in poverty.,
up 166% over
2000
In 2010, 1,971
children were
homeless, up
113% since 2008
39,595 children
eligible for school
meals in 2012 up
211% over 2002
10% or 25k children
don’t have health
insurance.
In 2010, 40,130 children
in Collin County lived in
food insecure
households
7.7% of children live in
families with income
below federal poverty
levels
Premature Births of
11.8% in 2010 is 62%
higher than 2002 &
higher than March of
Dimes 2020 goal of
9.6%
Children
Suffer the
Most
In 2010 39,176
children lived in
single-parent
families, up 87%
over 2000
2010 teen
pregnancy rate of
7% is among worst
in the U.S.
“Low income
children and
youth… are
disproportionately
affected by mental
health challenges.
Challenges for Children in Collin County
2012 beyond abc; assessing Children’s Health in the North Texas Corridor.
Published by Children’s Medical Center Dallas
Increase in Children’s Health
Services
2005 – 564 Mental Health
& 94 Substance abuse.
10% or 25k
children don’t
have health
insurance.
Children enrolled
in CHIP*
2002 – 4,122
2012 – 10,965
59% of Texas
infant deliveries
are paid by
Medicaid
2011 – 1,085 Mental
Health & 235 Substance
Abuse
Children enrolled
in Medicaid
2002 – 7,530
2012 – 31,673
69% increase in
pediatric
Medicaid
enrollment from
2008 to 2011
2012 beyond abc; assessing Children’s Health in the North Texas Corridor.
Published by Children’s Medical Center Dallas
11,422 children
received services
through WIC
(2010)
16
GAPS IN THE SYSTEM WILL ONLY GET WORSE
• NO EMERGENCY SHELTER in Collin
County, INCLUDING PLANO
• ALL TRANSITIONAL SHELTER
PERPETUALLY AT CAPACITY leaving
thousands in crisis and eminently
homeless each year
NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING in Plano
and critically inadequate supply
county wide. Collin County had
1,585 low rent and Section 8
housing units for its 60,337
residents living in poverty in 2010.
17
GAPS IN THE SYSTEM WILL ONLY GET WORSE
•NO PLACE FOR CHILDREN to stay
beyond 30 days and only 12 beds in
Plano available for unaccompanied youth
• NO COORDINATED INTAKE SYSTEM
among agencies serving homeless.
Navigating a complicated and critically
under resourced homeless resources
while in crisis adds to stress and critically
adversely impacts effected children &
youth
• NO COUNTY HOSPITAL – 25 % of
Texans are uninsured; Minimal access to
affordable healthcare for children and
adults
• NO CONTINUUM OF CARE PLAN for
Plano or county wide
18
Plano’s 5 year Strategic Plan Proposal
Given the top needs identified by the special needs population
analysis and during the public input process, the city has
developed the following priorities for homeless and homeless
prevention request over the course of the Consolidated Plan
• The creation of additional shelter, supportive services, and transitional
housing for homeless and under- housed. (High)
• Housing accessibility modifications for elderly an disabled residents
within the City of Plano. ( High)
• Support to organizations that engage in public services for Plano
residents, especially special needs populations, including but not limited
to low income elderly, persons with disabilities, persons with HIV/AIDS
and at risk youth. (High)
• The creation of a homeless shelter with supportive services (a campus)
and transitional housing was mentioned by the community service
providers as a top need.
• Emergency and /or transitional housing for youth, especially youth ages
18 – 20, along with supportive services. Survey respondents also rated
services and facilities for abuse/neglected children a top priority.
19
City of Plano Public Housing Access
•
As 12/2009, Plano had 24 public housing units, 842 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs)
administered by Plano Housing Authority (PHA ) and an additional 306 HCV’s within the
city administered by other housing authorities. All reported to be in suitable living
conditions.
•
Access to public housing units is in demand. There were
and
.
According to 2009 PHA Plan, households on the wait list
for public housing an HCV included:
74% were
families with
children
73% were
African
American
.
20
City of Plano PHA continued
• The last time the PHA wait list were open in
approximately
.
• The majority of families have never previously applied for social service
assistance and are
. The request are coming from an entirely different part of the
population who commonly do not need assistance.
• Therefore the projected housing
residents is most
likely
with this number continually increasing
as the weekly request for assistance continues on.
• The most recent City of Plano 2010 – 2014 Consolidated Plan can be
obtained on line at:
– http://pdf.plano.gov/planning/PlanoConsolidatedPlanFinal3-15-10.pdf
21
City of Plano PHA continued
2008 Block groups % of population earns low to moderate income
(LMI = household earns < 80% of HUD median family income
HUD MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME
Dallas, TX HUD Metro FMR Area
80% FY MFI
Estimate
FY MFI Estimate
2008 $
64,800
$
51,840
The most recent City of Plano 2010 – 2014 Consolidated Plan can be obtained on line at:
–
http://pdf.plano.gov/planning/PlanoConsolidatedPlanFinal3-15-10.pdf
22
City of Plano PHA continued
Block groups IN 2012 where Household earns < 80% of HUD median family income
HUD MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME
Dallas, TX HUD Metro FMR Area
80% FY MFI
FY MFI Estimate
Estimate
2013 $
67,400
$
53,920
The most recent City of Plano 2012-2013 Action Plan can be obtained on line at:
–
http://www.plano.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2009
23
City of Plano PHA continued
Housing Cost and Affordability - 2008
ACCORDING TO 2010 -02014 CONSOLIDATED PLAN, PERCENT
OF PLANO RESIDENTS WHO WERE (IN 2008):
RENTERS (gross median rent $959; income needed
to afford median price - $38,360)
34%
RENTERS who CANNOT afford to rent
38%
% OF OWNERS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO OWN
(median price of homes, MLS - $210,900; Income
needed to afford median price - $60,900)
20%
% OF RENTORS who CANNOT afford to buy
63%
2012 poverty level
for family of 4
$23,050
The most recent City of Plano 2010 – 2014 Consolidated Plan can be obtained on line at:
–
http://pdf.plano.gov/planning/PlanoConsolidatedPlanFinal3-15-10.pdf
24
COLLABORATION FOR SOLUTIONS
Faith Based Community to pursue a
New Approach to address & prevent homelessness
STRATEGY
Gather Intelligence and
Identify Resources for
Current Solution &
Opportunity for
Prevention
EXECUTION
Differentiate Our
Plan from others &
Assess why we will
succeed
REPORT
Coach and Develop
Analytics and Progress
25
COLLABORATION FOR SOLUTIONS
Faith Based Community to pursue a
New Approach to address & prevent homelessness
STRATEGY
Gather Intelligence and
Identify Resources for
Current Solution &
Opportunity for
Prevention
26
Study and Understand Past
National and Regional
commitments to end
homelessness.
Find past strategies, look at how
it was executed and see if we
can improve the processes.
Thought –
Bring together people, churches
and strategic leaders to help
build a plan.
Market AnalysisIdentify and share data. Share
past thoughts, ideas and how the
current planned solution came
about.
COLLABORATION FOR SOLUTIONS
Faith Based Community to pursue a
New Approach to address & prevent homelessness
EXECUTION
Differentiate Our Plan
from others &
Assess why we will
succeed
27
Leverage resources through
volunteer commitments –
Logistics to organize church
members for volunteer hours.
Local Centralized Support and
extended hoursWork with other programs to
become a Central Point of
Contact to track success and
identify opportunities to improve.
People, Process & Technology
–
Come to the congregation with
the plan. Introduce opportunities
to help. Categorize the areas of
need . Begin the processes
needed to tackle the issue and
improve on the initial process.
COLLABORATION FOR SOLUTIONS
Faith Based Community to pursue a
New Approach to address & prevent homelessness
REPORT
Coach and Develop
Analytics and Progress
28
Voice of the Customer- Gather
feedback from people we assist
and look for ways to reach others
and improve our program.
Establish management
accountability –
Ongoing Tracking and Reporting
of Results in place via
SalesForce.com
Performance Analytics:
Track the results. Most Cities
look at homeless numbers and
base results off of that. We will
look at actual feedback and have
true outcomes to identify from
our efforts.
What Can Your Faith Community Do?
Get
started!
STEP 1 –
EMBRACE THE
RESPONSIBILITY!
• COMMIT to Collaborate to be PART OF THE SOLUTION
• SEND delegates to Faith Community Connection
• RAISE FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE TOP 5 NEEDS of 2012
homeless: food, shelter, health & dental services, bus
passes and gas cards
• PROVIDE meals, toiletries & laundry quarters & soap for
those in Emergency Shelter
• HOST A HOMELESS AWARENESS LUNCH & LEARN at
your faith community or interest groups
• Host a “Hygiene Kit Party” to put together the essential
toiletry needs for families and individuals in crisis
• WRITE CARDS of encouragement for families and
individuals in crisis
• PRAY … for guidance, support, resources & community
What Can Your Faith Community Do?
Get
involved!
STEP 2 –
SHOW UP!
• Serve with & support agencies that provide
SHELTER & TRANSFORMATIONAL SUPPORT
• the Samaritan Inn
• Emily’s Place (formerly Providence House)
• CITY House & My Friend’s House
• Family Promise
• Serve with & support FOOD PANTRIES, especially
those with high volume and low resources
• Serve with and support TRANSFORMATIONAL
PROGRAMS such as training, tutoring, budgeting
• Become a HOST FACILITY for Family Promise
• Participate in the 3 X 4 SHELTER PLAN
• Help BUILD a connected INVENTORY OF SHELTER
resources for Plano
What Can Your Faith Community Do?
Faith
Collaboration
Connection
Services
STEP 3 –
COLLABORATE!
• CRITICAL – Create & facilitate EFFECTIVE
PROGRAMS to transform homelessness to selfsufficiency, with a high emphasis on prevention
(prevention costs less than rehabilitation).
• Advocate policy change to address current
homeless problem and initiate prevention action
• Close the gap between cost of housing and
available household income for shelter
• Support Plano Housing Authority to increase and
maintain access to safe affordable housing
• Collaborate with City of Plano to assist in the
timely and effective accomplishment of its 5 year
plans for addressing homelessness
• Address homelessness with your voice during
voting season..
What Can Your Faith Community Do?
Stay
Connected
STEP 4 –
COMMUNICATE!
• Help develop and maintain a Faith Collaboration
Connection communication network including web
site, newsletter, awareness events, life skills
training programs & sharing of resources & needs.
• Monitor web site & meet specific needs of
collaborative agencies
• Share the progress with your faith community
• Raise awareness through articles and speakers in
community connections and organizations
• Invite others to get involved
What Can Your Faith Community Do?
TAKE THE FIRST STEP!
“Be the change you want to see
in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
A journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step. Lao-tzu
“What would you attempt to
do if you knew you could not
fail?” Robert Schuller
“Never doubt that a small group
of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that
ever does.” Margaret Mead
“Poverty is the worst form of
violence.” Mahatma Gandhi
“We cannot do great things on
this Earth, only small things with
great love.” Mother Theresa
“With God all things
are possible.” Jesus
“The solution to adult problems
tomorrow depends on large
measure upon how our children
grow up today.” Margaret Mead
“Up to this point the Lord has helped
us.” Samuel’s Ebenezer, 1 Sam. 7:21