600K Homeless in the US on average. About 2900 in CT..Notes from a talk 3/9/23

Here are some notes I am takoing while listening to a virtual program about CT homelessness.

Family and Children's Agency (FCA) of Fairfield County CT hosting a virtual forum to inform people about homelessness. They take a PIT (Point In Time) measure in one day to get a snap shot of what is happening for homelessness and those who are housed. In CT, 2900 hundred people were homeless, and just under 650 in Fairfield County were homeless (that's from the 2023.)

The US Congress uses that PIT to base funding and programs on. Then there is a 'By Name" List for real time data ...in CT that measure included157 youth (48 youth in Fairfield) and higher numbers for the state and county for adults and famlies.

The data is gathered from many providers to get an accurate count. The Homeless Response System then uses that data. Homeless Management Information  System and History is used to capture all of the client info in CT. That includes HUD and other programs. Other communiites look to Fairfield County in the state and in the country when they are designing homeless response systems and resources.

Metrics given include that it costs 89K a year to qualify for some of the housing or afford housing in Norwalk and Fairfield CT. Many waitlists are closed and vouchers are not easy to access and to qualify with documentation (which can be hard to do when homeless.) Many landlords do background and credit checks and that makes it harder for many to qualify for housing. Some individual cases can be reviewed and given support.

The question was raised, "Who Are the Homeless?" That can include those who are street homeless, some of whom have had mental health or other struggles whether substance abuse or other setbacks. Families who are not earning enough income to afford high rents can become homeless when their lease is up. A landlord may realize they can charge more for the same apartment due to economic factors.

A coordinated system called "Open Door Fairfield County", a collective that leads prevention, advocacy, employment and support for homelessness to help people not enter back into the system. All citizens in CT and in Fairfield County should be able to have support. The terms are seeking to formalize the components of being efficient and effective, have funding and housing opportunities to apply for what becomes available. Social work has been 'warm and fuzzy' to help people. What they find is effective is that decisions are data-driven. Everyone who is a service provider should be at the table for discussions and improve services.

Asking agencies what they are providing and how effective and affordable are those is a key ongoing part of the process. More of who the homeless may include minors, someone who is working but cannot afford the housing, community college students may have housing instability. Norwalk and Housatonic Community College are doing more to help more students have housing in school. There is a case manager who helps with the needs along the lines of first and last month rent or help them catch up if they are in arrears. They want to empower rather than enable so they are more secure when they are done with their college studies.

If more help is needed for helping them find better employment are also offered (resume building, job searches.) What are the main barriers for people to secure housing? "Housing, housing, housing...is the critical barrier bar none that is preventing people from having housing. The housing cannot be found readily. "

The affordability and access for housing is prohibitive to people having housing. Units are needed (1 bedroom even are so few available.) If that is the problem, how are we going to fix that lack?  More needs to be done engaging landlords who may have appropriate units, small deveolpers and bigger developers. It's important to build relationships as well. The cost of housing is a huge problem. The 1-bedroom list has been closed for many years. It becomes burdensome. The vouchers are mainly taken. 

A solution that is needed includes helping the landlord with added funds so they do not raise the rent beyond what can be afforded. Above the two months of security, they will back more damage that may be done for two months more of rent. Guaranteed rent for some who lose their jobs may be an option. A full-time person is working with the landlords to help those with vouchers or homeless help.  The cost of housing is in the top 1-2 per cent in Fairfield County CT.

David Rich has been helping build this system for almost 15 years. There are many factors to consider in terms of providing nicer options which may drive up the costs of the housing. There are systemic factors that are blocking which kind of housing can be set up where. Those issues are critical to review and consider changing. Is it a money issue or a housing availability issue? There are only so many public housing units in Norwalk (1K.)

The vounchers primarily come from the federal government and as many are offered are obtained. Many landlords can be picky about who they take. Many are still left out. Many Section 8 tenants are getting extensions to have time to find a unit.

Are there resources for victims of violence, seniors, minors,assault? Lorraine Reid-James shared that a pilot program in Fairfield County to create a community care team comprised of many who provide services for youth in need or other referral. There is a collective impact model working together. It's a 'one stop shop' and they discuss how they can help the client.

As far as senior services, there is a case manager assigned to serve that sector.What are some of the solutions to the practical and economic barriers? Open Doors Fairfield County and Housing Collective are some responses. FCA is important at the system and agency and community levels. The collective housing efforts are important and key to the success. The final mile is only able to be achieved if the start and journey is supported. The community level is important to keep a pulse on. We need to look at the way affordable housing and 'gated communities' have created tension but can be reviewed to help include more people across the board.

A model that shows what you are doing is really working. A "housing first' model (from Oregon) says that stable housing is key to have support. Rather than stabilize people first and then find them housing, the housing first model achieves a lot for stability. The actual work people do when people are homeless. Often a family needs money (a quick exit from homeless) with security deposits and then they can get more secure with other systems and work. Rapid rehousing is for people to get into permanent housing and provide them with financial assistance (for short-term rental or utilities cost.) Then earned income takes over. 

Supportive housing involves 120 supportive housing is a longer term rental assistance. That is a wrap around services with a case manager and helping with monthly rent. A monthly rent is 2K  plus utilities.Each community knows what is needed and often having the money can support that being implemented. 

The issue of evictions is addressed as one that had a moratorium during the pandemic. Then when that was lifted, there was an influx of evictions happening 'all at once.' Some families thought they no longer needed that they did not need to pay the rent or would be let off the hook. There was rental support for many bu much of that ended as well. More resources have been put in place to help prevent evictions. The communication was misunderstood...'when half of the message goes out and did not play out clearly' then there can an increase in confusion and result in more evictions. The work that advocates are doing helps during good times but during times of stress more efforts are needed to maintain 'good results.'

Are the neighborhoods around Norwalk also seeking to understand and engage with the needs of homelessness or affordable housing. There is some legislation that says there should be a minimum percentage of  housing. Real resources need to be put into the suburban communities. Westport CT has a homeless shelter to their credit.

There are  essentially gated communities and exclude many by limiting the amount and number of people who can live there. A narrow self-interest of only wealthy people living in communities is a serious problem for more to consider who have had it one way for decades. A much larger community that needs to be part of the solution. Homelessness is largely a reflection of systemic racism. We need to supply outreach and support to the unsheltered populations. Lorraine went to a national conference on homelessness.

There were experts who dealt with the national, state and local level. The lens with which the issues are being viewed is key to having more people at the table and input. People who have experience with being homeless as well as people who have benefitted from early intervention and prevention is important as well.

Robert Cashel mediated the discussion. Chris Jachino spoke to advocating for the homelessness systems. Many out West have serious challenges with a homeless population.Adam Bovilsky offered that higher wages were needed, having corporations provide those and more benefits could help more afford housing. Lorraine Reid-James asked why pockets of  communities are unwilling to have affordable housing come to their area. David Rich says 'keep on the advoacy train' to work with local constituents and funders (FCA, Family and Children's Agency helps as well.) The state of CT is not supporting the homeless (not a nickel in his first 5 years!)