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TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH: WHAT WORKS?
Presentation to NAEH Conference
JULY 13th, 2011
Sam Cobbs, Chief Executive Officer
First Place was founded in 1998 to end poverty and homelessness among transition age youth (age16-24)
Homeless youth are 18 times more likely to use serious drugs than their non-homeless counterparts 2-3 times more likely to be raped or assaulted 11 times more likely to experience mental health challenges
The Problem
For youth transitioning from foster care, we know that 65 percent face imminent homelessness 20 percent will be arrested or incarcerated Only 3 percent will graduate from college
The Problem (cont.)
A continuum of transitional support services for youth ages16-24 that includes:
Access to permanent, safe affordable housing with a transitional rental subsidy
Employment training, employment case management, and job development Education assessment and academic support Adult guidance, emotional support and positive peer relationships
The Solution
A Brief History
1998 - First Place is
founded
2001 - FPFY is a key participant in developing THP+ funding
2002 - FPFY houses 30
youth2004 - FPFY houses 50
youth
2006 - FPFY houses 122 youth and
THP+ becomes
100% state funded
2008 - FPFY houses 239 youth and is in 4 Northern
California counties
2010 - AB12 passes, FPFY has expanded
to LA and houses 303
youth statewide
My First Place Service Model
Housing
• Scattered site, master lease,
permanent• Graduated rental
subsidy• Move-in assistance
• Strategic
partnerships with developers
•Separate property management arm
Connections
•Weekly check-ins with mobile Youth Advocate•Case loads ≤ 15•Healthy connections with family, friends and others•Cohort model
Education & Employment
• EE Specialists: one-on-one
• EE Manager: develops
partnerships with employers
•“Next Generation” EE services
LONG TERM GOALS: 1) 2 years of PSE 2)Living wage employment 3) Permanent housing 4) Avoidance of risky behaviors, such as incarceration or early pregnancy
My First Place Intake Process
Eligibility/ Orientation
•Age 18-23•In foster care at 18•Probation placement at 18•Shelter stay within 2 yrs
Assessment
• Screens for risk factors such as homeless, no GED, disconnected• Prioritize highest risk youth for services
Step it Up
•Complete 2 week economic literacy training•Budgeting, goal setting, circles of support, CASAS exam•Must complete or can come to next class
Waitlist
•Youth moved in housing as it becomes available•Single youth replace single youth, parents replace parents•PRIORITY TO HIGHEST RISK YOUTH
Housing Options
Scattered Site 85% Youth are placed in 1 and 2-bedroom apartments throughout the community with intensive support services.
Host Home 8% Youth identify a Permanent Adult connection and live with that person in the family home
Clustered 7% Sites in which we partner with affordable housing providers to obtain set aside units for youth in larger housing developments (i.e. 20 units for youth in a 80 unit building).
Measures of Success
Stable Housing Up to 65% of former foster youth are at risk of homelessness
84% of our youth maintain stable housing
Employment advancement Over 50% of former foster youth are unemployed
77% of First Place participants are employed
Education advancement 64% of former foster youth do not complete high school and only 10% enroll in post secondary school
76% First Place participants earn a diploma/GED and 71% enroll in college
Healthy Living 25% of former foster youth will be incarcerated before their 20th birthday and 60% of females will give birth before their 22nd birthday
Less then 6% of First Place participants are incarcerated and less then 5% give birth
Funding Sources
Government Grants 63% • THP+• HUD• CDBG• HPRP
Foundation, Corporate and Individual gifts
34% • Edna McConnell Clark
•Robert Wood Johnson• Tipping Point
Community• Andrus Family Fund
• James Irvine Foundation
Miscellaneous 3% • Rental Income• Donated Items and
Services
Lessons LearnedHousing Model
Housing first, with a focus on permanent housing, allows for emphasis on education, employment and other interpersonal gains
Scattered site housing works for many populations: youth with a range of mental health issues, probation youth, parents, singles, etc. when services are individualized
Scattered site model allows quick start up in new communities- we had 30 youth housed in Los Angeles 8 months after starting a program there
Can be funded by range of sources: HPRP, HUD-SHP, THP+, etc. Fits “rapid rehousing” and “transition in place” models
Lessons LearnedProgram/Service Design
Basing work in positive youth development allows for meeting youth where they are at and building on success
Harm reduction approach, where focus is on consequences of negative behaviors instead of the behavior itself allows for more honesty with Advocate and creative solutions. Also keeps youth in program longer (ie statewide THP+ study found that involuntary exits among all providers is 45%, due largely to zero tolerance policies. By contrast, First Place’s involuntary exit rate is 20%.)
To create real-world housing experience (signing leases, receiving notices, etc.) program must separate property management function from case management
Rent collection and rent rates tied to actual rent, as opposed to income, an important teaching and empowerment tool
Key to success are intensive services and staff support Staff ratio is 1:10 for MFP youth Strong partnership between EE Specialist and Youth Advocate is lynch-pin Staffing/Service budget comprises 50% of program expenses
Lessons LearnedPolicy and Evaluation
Significant investments in data tracking and analysis lends to continual improvement of program, strong performance management, and evidence for funding support
Sustained policy/advocacy work critical for ensuring public funding streams are available and appropriate for supporting youth programs
Federal Fostering Connections to Success Act provides opportunity for new funding to support youth to the age of 21