Preparing for Lease Up: Staff Training

for Successful MHSA Supportive

Housing OperationsMHSA Operations TA Call

January 5, 2011Anne Cory, CSH

www.csh.org

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Staff Attitudes and Expectations

Ensure that staff members understand your target population:– Understanding mental illness– The impact of the homeless experience– Understanding substance abuse– The services needs of special populations

served in supportive housing Establishing a professional relationship with

tenants

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Staff Attitudes and Expectations

Education on Supportive Housing principles: Housing First, Voluntary Services

– Housing is a choice, not a placement– Housing is a person’s home, not a residential

treatment program– People have a right to safe, affordable housing– All tenants hold property leases and have the full

rights and obligations of tenancy– Participation in services is voluntary and not a

condition of tenancy– User friendly services driven by tenant needs and

individual goals

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Staff Attitudes and Expectations

Education on Supportive Housing principles: Consumer Driven

– Consumers are active community members– Tenants are involved in planning and program

design, services implementation, evaluation and policy development

– Tenants are encouraged to make lifestyle choices even though they may conflict with the provider’s preferences

– Leadership development and skills training is offered

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Staff Attitudes and Expectations

Education on Supportive Housing principles: Harm Reduction

– People deserve safe, affordable housing regardless of their special needs

– Services aim to help people reduce the harm caused by their special needs, such as substance abuse, mental illness or health-related complications

– Services focus on helping tenants stay housed by assisting with the management of problems that interfere with their ability to meet the obligations of tenancy, such as paying rent

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Staff Attitudes and Expectations

Assessing staff and organizational readiness:– Alignment of Supportive Housing principles with

agency mission, goals, values– Organizational policies and management

practices – are changes needed?– Staff skill sets– Involvement of Board, staff and other

stakeholders in planning for PSH– Communication structures

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Key Training Topics for ALL Staff in Supportive Housing

Fair Housing Law Reasonable Accommodation Confidentiality and the security of tenant

information Safety policies and procedures Tenants Rights and Responsibilities Organization Training: Policies and

Procedures, Grievance Process Record Keeping and Documentation

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Key Training Topics

Applicable local, state, federal laws, regulations and standards

MHSA Housing Program guidelines Compliance with funder requirements If project has a Capitalized Operating Subsidy

Reserve, guidelines for the COSR

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Key Training Topics in Property Management

– Application and Screening process– Reasonable Accommodation– Lease Enforcement and Rent Collection– Tenant File Maintenance and Record Keeping– Eviction Prevention/Problem Solving– Eviction Procedures– Building and Tenant Security– Physical Plant: Maintenance, Janitorial

Services, Pest Control– Move-Out and Unit Turnaround Procedures

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Components of Property Management

Tenant Selection

Maintenance

Fair Housing

Operations

Fiscal Management

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Key Training Topics in Supportive Services

– Outreach and Engagement strategies– Harm Reduction– Motivational Interviewing– Crisis intervention/de-escalation– Making effective referrals to meet tenant

needs– Effective service coordination

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Training to Support Coordination

Staff should be oriented about the mission, philosophy and goals of the supportive housing program and the MOU among the organizations.

Orientation of services staff to property management/property management staff to supportive services.

Joint training on policies and procedures. Communication structures between PM and SS Record keeping and documentation

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Areas of Overlap Between Property Management and Supportive Services Intake: Tenant Selection and Interviewing Orientation of Incoming Tenants Rent Payment and Arrears Dealing with Disruptive Behaviors Procedures in Crisis Tenant Grievance Procedures Tenant Council Support Community Building

Roles and Coordination

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Keep Lines of Communication Open

Understand each other’s roles and responsibilities

Understand the program and funding source missions and goals (why are you all here?)

Schedule regular meetings to discuss policies, procedures, and resolve conflict

Establish clear decision making process and clear lines of authority within and between property management and social services

Provide joint training and retreats for team building

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Activities to Supplement Training

Job Descriptions Employee Orientation Supervision Peer-to-Peer Mentoring and Support Performance Reviews Assessments Incentives

Resources for staff training:(all available on CSH website)

Seven Dimensions of Quality for Permanent Supportive Housing

Supportive Housing Training Series (HUD Publications)

Coordination of Property Management and Supportive Services in Permanent Supportive Housing: Self Assessment Tool

www.csh.org