4th Annual Homeless Summit Session Summaries

The theme of the 4th Annual Summit on Ending Homelessness was "Change that Makes a Difference" and the breakout sessions portrayed how to implement changes that have been occurring across Michigan. Again this year, session presenters were Michigan leaders who wanted to share their new strategies on ending homelessness.

• System Change in Action: Implementing Strategies of the Grand Rapids' 10-Year Plan

  Presenters: Betty Zylstra, The Salvation Army Booth Family Services; Anna Diaz, Community Rebuilders; Janay Brower, Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness; BriAnne McKee, Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness

  "System change is hard, but it needs to be done," commented Ms. McKee. During the session, the group from Kent County reviewed the steps they have taken to develop a new service delivery system, with resources being shifted from long-term shelter stays to rapid re-housing and prevention. They presented their community-based case management model also. Highlighted was their strong faith-based support, the development of a State Emergency Relief Specialist position for assisting with homeless and at-risk households, and the willingness of the community to look differently at homelessness. In a short period of time, they have reduced shelter stays in their area by 38%.

  For more information on Grand Rapids and Kent County's 10-year plan, contact Ms. Brower, the Continuum Coordinator, at jbrower@usc.salv ationarmy.org.
  To view the session PowerPoint, click here. The Continuum's plan is available online at http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/6 53.

• Leasing Assistance Programs for People Who are Chronically Homeless

  Presenters: Jennifer Williams and Emmet Jones, Community Housing Network (CHN); Frank Johnson, a former program participant.

  The Chronically Homeless Leasing Assistance Program (CHLAP) provides monthly rental assistance and program-related supportive services to participants through scattered-site rental units. CHN partners with the Michigan Department of Community Mental Health for service delivery, serving primarily people in Oakland and Macomb counties. The Supportive Services Specialist maintains a very intensive relationship with participants, including two or three visits per week in the rental unit. Housing within this program is not considered permanent, so participants are encouraged to seek housing vouchers or other subsidized housing.

  For case management functions, CHLAP uses the Health Management Information System (HMIS), and specialists use tablet PCs to enter data into the system from anywhere that cell service is available. Specialists also create prevention plans to avoid termination when problems arise. The number one reason for relapse is that clients expect failure or have too much idle time.

  A former program participant, Mr. Johnson, described his experiences before entering the program, which included a history of mental disorders and an abusive family. He called his life before the CHN program "a nightmare." Now, Mr. Johnson is now taking positive steps to becoming "a more productive citizen" by participating in supportive service programs. He emphasized the need to create a paper trail that documents one's illnesses and efforts to address them in order maintain eligibility for services.

  To view the detailed PowerPoint presentations from this session, click here. CHN contact information is provided at the end of the CHN presentation.

• The HEARTH Act and What it Means to You

  Presenters: Lindsey Bishop and Beverley Ebersole, Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)

  The HEARTH Act reauthorizes the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program. The bill makes transformative changes to the program that will affect many Continuums of Care (CoCs). Since the last reauthorization of the McKinney-Vento Act in 1987 much about homelessness has changed. One driving new approaches within the HEARTH Act is the increase in family homelessness. The Act redefines who can be considered for services, like including families with the chronic homeless category, for example. In addition, those cities receiving direct allocations will be required to participate in HMIS; those receiving funds through MSHDA are already required to use the system. The Act also places greater emphasis on permanent housing and prevention, such as with its increase in percentage of funding for Emergency Solutions Grants (formerly Emergency Shelter Grants) and the expansion of eligible services. MSHDA currently matches the ESG funds at a much higher rate than required, so this increase may or may not change funding levels seen in Michigan.

  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charged with creating new rules and regulations, which should be available in the fall/winter of 2009 for public comment. The final regulations are required to be released by May 20, 2010 and will take effect three months after the release date, but no later than November 20, 2010. CSH is planning to conduct focus groups around the state to gather input to submit to HUD before the regulations are finalized. While it is difficult to anticipate what the regulations will mean for CoCs and others, communities can prepare by considering how their current funding and services might be affected by the changes in the Act. The new funding will not happen for a few years, but communities should think strategically now to prepare for the inevitable changes to come.

  Further information is available by contacting CSH, MSHDA, or by consulting the National Alliance to End Homelessness resources at: http://www.endhomelessness.org/section/p olicy/legislature/mckinney_vento. You can view the PowerPoint presentation by clicking here.

Michigan planted itself firmly in the National Partnership of results oriented, performance based, jurisdictionally led, and community based 10-year planning efforts with the simultaneous unveiling of 60 community commitments to 10-Year Plans to End Homelessness covering 100% of Michigan's 83 counties. This unprecedented state achievement of 100% participation was celebrated at a two day Michigan Homeless Summit held in Lansing attended by more than 650 people that marked the official launch of Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness. Homeless advocates from around the country, state and local officials, and service providers came together to celebrate the completion of the plans on the first day of the conference. The second day was devoted to implementation strategies, as leaders attempted to equip the counties with the tools they need to move forward with the ten year plans. This development in Michigan significantly increases the number of completed ten year plans around the country.

Mitch Albom Message to the Michigan Homeless Summit