Three Days on the Hill2016

Training Day

1. HUD-FASH proposal (overview, history, updates, next steps)2. Chafee proposal3. Circle diagram4. Legislative Visit role-plays5. Youth work in groups to prepare6. Youth report out7. Question and answers8. Travel to HUD (we must leave by 3 pm)9. Waiting at HUD (everyone will need their photo ID)10.Meeting with HUD (starts at 4 pm)

Today’s Schedule

• In December of 2014, Ohio foster care youth proposed and designed a transitional housing model call HUD-FASH and requested that it be piloted in Ohio.

• Their proposal is modeled after an existing successful program, the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, which combines Housing Choice Vouchers and rental assistance with case management.

HUD-FASH

• HUD-FASH is specifically designed to serve former foster care youth experiencing homelessness (including couch-surfing) through a Housing First approach that combines a housing choice voucher rental assistance with case management and clinical services where needed.

• The primary goal of this program is to prevent homelessness for this vulnerable population, and to lay the foundation for future housing stability.

• A key component of the program is case management service, designed to improve foster care alumni's ability to achieve and maintain stable housing in the future.

HUD-FASH

• On Tuesday, May 19, 2015, our youth leaders met with HUD representatives. Staff were very supportive.

HUD-FASH:Meeting last year

• At their suggestion, our next steps were to identify two legislative champions (Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Congressman Steve Stivers). They hosted a delegation dinner in support of our proposal.

HUD-FASH:Champions on the Hill

• Ultimately, the state of Ohio's entire Congressional delegation signed on to support HUD FASH, and jointly requested: "We would ask that HUD create the HUD-FASH program as quickly as possible and then devote 1,000 vouchers to it and monitor its results."

• Letters of support were also submitted by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Public Children's Services Association of Ohio, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, and county commissioners and child welfare agencies from each area referenced in the pilot proposal.

HUD-FASH:Letters of Support

Response letter from HUD:

• HUD cares about ending homelessness for youth - particularly cost-effective suggestions

• HUD welcomes new and innovative proposals, like HUD-FASH

• HUD had already turned in their FY2016 budget, so there wasn't funding available to support a full implementation of HUD-FASH right away

• The letter reminded us of existing programs (Respectfully, barriers to availability and access of those particular programs are why youth drafted their proposal)

HUD-FASH:Current outlook

Continued advocacy for a demonstration project of HUD-FASH, in order to address the high rate of homelessness among former foster youth.

HUD-FASH:Next Steps

The money has to come from somewhere

Resource DetailsOhio ranks dead last in the nation when it comes to state funding for child welfare

Counties have a general revenue fund

The amount of funding varies by county (inconsistency)It’s based on county tax levies, and county commissioner’s decisions on what to appropriate money towards…

State and federal programs Every program has specific purposes for which it can be used

Some programs have a local matching requirement

Funding for transitional housing

Resource Details Challenges

IV-E Can be used for housing placement for foster youth who are still in custody, but placement must be supervised 24/7 and IV-E approved.

Further use of funds would require the state to extend foster care until age 21, in order to receive federal reimbursement.

IV-E if Ohio extended fc to 21

If we did this, that would expand use of IV-E funds for transitional housing options, such as: host homes, college dorms, shared housing, semi-supervised apartments, and supervised apartments

Ohio hasn’t extended foster care until 21 yet.

This is something we need to keep advocating for on a state level (not on the Hill)

TANF-IL Requires Chafee to be spent down first. For emancipated youth, can be spent on security deposits, utility deposits, rent and utility payments for 4 months.

Can’t be used for room and board for youth still in custody. They have to be emancipated.

Chafee funding Up to 30% of a state’s Chafee allocation can be used on housing.

Flat-funded since 1999.

IV-E*State guidelines to get reimbursed

Funding for transitional housing

Resource Details ChallengesHUD Section 8 vouchers Long wait list

FUP (Ruthie can add this part) Not every county is eligible. Requires partnership between local child welfare and local public housing authorities

Foster care alumni are only one of the populations listed as being able to benefit from this funding allocation. Adults who are pregnant or parenting are prioritized over single, childless former foster youth

HUD-FASH This proposal was created and developed by Ohio foster care youth, alumni and allies, specifically to meet the needs of foster youth.

We are still advocating for a pilot demonstration

Possible funding streams for transitional housing for emancipating foster youth

in Ohio 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Age

TANF Independent Living funds Up to 30% of a county’s Chafee allocation

FUP if county applied for and was approved for it

Title IV-E if Ohio extends foster care supports to 21

Regular Section 8

Finding a reliable roommate

Chafee challenge:No funding increase

since 1999

Chafee challenge:Serving additional

youth

Chafee challenge:Serving additional

youth

Starting independent living services at age 14 is the right thing to do in order to improve lifelong outcomes. It also means that the state of Ohio now has 1516 additional youth to serve.

Part of what makes Chafee vulnerable to flat-funding and cuts in the future is that it's considered "discretionary funding.”

This spending is an optional part of fiscal policy.

In contrast to entitlement programs for which funding is mandatory.

Chafee challenge:It’s considered

“optional” by the feds

Making the Case for Public Policy