Moving Out of Moving Out of PovertyPoverty

Suzanne F. CliffordPresident of inspiring Transformations, Inc.

Former Director of Mental Health and Addiction for Indiana

June 2009

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AgendaAgenda

The critical combination: employment and housing

Policy issues and barriers to employment

What can you do?

Questions and comments

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Housing and EmploymentHousing and Employment

A critical combination

Hard to sustain one without the other

Housing provides stability, promotes health and sleep, facilitates personal hygiene, etc.

Employment generates income to pay for housing and other needs, builds social network and self esteem, etc.

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Barriers to EmploymentBarriers to Employment

Perceived and actual cash, housing and healthcare disincentives

Lack of access to affordable healthcare

Lack of follow-along services to help people keep a job

Discrimination

Lack of outreach to businesses

Criminal histories

Gaps in employment

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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:Healthcare Healthcare

Healthcare work disincentives Lack of affordable healthcare creates a dependence on Medicaid and Medicare However, people can earn money up to a certain point without losing their Medicaid & Medicare eligibility (Get benefits counseling!)

If a person is receiving SSI or SSDI, they are entitled to free benefits counseling & access to the Ticket to Work program

Improvements are needed!!!!

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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:CashCash

Cash work disincentives – Social Security

Work with your service providers to maximize the New Ticket to Work program

If you are receiving SSI or SSDI, you are entitled to free benefits counseling

More improvements are needed!!!

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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:HousingHousing

Housing work disincentives

Income limits

Lack of affordable housing

Shelter rules that unintentionally discourage employment

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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:Criminalization Criminalization

Criminalization of homelessness

Arrests and convictions on a person’s record significantly limit employment and housing opportunities

Diversion programs are critical and have a high human and economical impact re: employment

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What can you do?What can you do?Areas within your controlAreas within your control

Focus on employmentDo you know the job goals and financial stability interests of each individual?

Promote an employment-oriented culture and system that helps people reach their financial stability goalsHelp with resume writing, applications, and interview skillsFocus on a good job match

Understand the needs of the business!!!Interests of the job seekerSkills of the job seekerWork environment, hours, etc.

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Benefits of a Good Job MatchBenefits of a Good Job Match

Improves fiscal stability and the ability to pay for housingIncreases self-esteemProvides structureEnhances social integration and friendshipsEncourages the person to think about something other than their problemsIncreases society’s understanding of people who are homeless

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What can you do?What can you do?Leverage resources and build Leverage resources and build

partnerships partnerships Coordinate with other service providers currently working with the indivdual

Work with your local service providers to maximize the New Ticket to Work program

Work with your local service providers to maximize employment programs and streamline the processes for Vocational Rehabilitation, TANF, criminal justice re-entry, etc.

Strengthen relationships with primary care, mental health, and addiction treatment providers (Example: Homelessness & Mental Health Work Group)

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What can you do? What can you do? Leverage resources and build Leverage resources and build

partnerships (cont.)partnerships (cont.)

Collaborate with Workforce Investment Boards/Work One offices and educational institutions to leverage training, understand business needs/trends, design training

Foster peer support focused on employment

Increase the use of asset building techniques and financial literacy programs

Partner with organizations that have transportation

Refer people who receive SSI or SSDI to free benefits counseling

Partner with or build supported employment programs

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Foster the Principles of Foster the Principles of Supported Employment*Supported Employment*

A single-minded focus on competitive employment

Eligibility for services based solely on client choice, with no exclusion on the basis of work readiness, substance use, lack of motivation, treatment non-compliance, etc.

Rapid job search upon program admission

Attention to client preferences in job search, rather than dependence on a pool of available jobs

Close integration between the employment services and mental health treatment team

Ongoing, individualized support after clients obtain employment

Systematic benefits counseling

* Bond, 2004

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What can you do? What can you do? Communicate – Write letters/talk Communicate – Write letters/talk

with elected officials, the media, etc.with elected officials, the media, etc.

Reinforce the importance of employment at national, state and local levels

Reduce state and federal healthcare work disincentives (Medicaid, increase access to affordable healthcare, etc.)

Reduce federal cash and housing work disincentives

Increase federal resources for benefits counseling

Improve supports and benefits to employers

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What can you do?What can you do?Partner with businesses Partner with businesses

Ask businesses what they need and create win/wins

Customize services and supports

Work with the business people on your organization’s board

Maximize the federal bonding program for job seekers with criminal histories

Provide tax credit training and support

Work with a business leaders to engage other businesses (Example: The Employment Network in Indiana)

Form training and employment projects that fill workforce gaps (Example: Hospitality Certification Program in Indianapolis)

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The Employment Network of IndianaThe Employment Network of Indiana

CMHCsVR & VA

Medicaid OthersSocial Services

DMHAConsumers,

Families&

Advocates

HomelessPrograms

Employ&

Educat

City

Lilly & Other

businesses

To increase employment for the citizens of Indianapolis that

have a disability and are often homeless

Questions or Questions or comments?comments?

For more information, contact

Suzanne Clifford at Clifford@InspiringTransformations.com