Clallam County- Partnering with Peninsula Housing

Authority to end homelessness

Clallam County –rural Northwest Washington

Began as loose partnership of two distinct systems:

PHA homeless preference for families exiting TH-10 vouchers

Tenant Based Rental Assistance- for homeless families inshelter—15 vouchers

Ten Year Plan changed that dynamic:

From Shelter to Housing First, including permanent housing for most vulnerable and disabled

Overlapping goals and mutual benefits to partnership

2011- 124 SHP, TBRA, Section 8 vouchers linked to homeless housing

Peninsula Housing Authority:Access to decent affordable housing for low-income

Acquisition and PreservationTargeted Capital InvestmentSelf Help Home Ownership

Housing Land Trust and Housing Finance Commission

Serenity House of Clallam County:Access to decent affordable housing for special needs populationsHousing and financial stability in permanent housing

Acquisition and some developmentIntegrated and coordinated assessment and assistance. case management and services

Funding for supportive services and effectivecommunity and mainstream support

Local Ten Year Plan to end homelessness-focus on logical decisions and accountabilityIncludes overlapping and integrated strategies

for affordable housing and Housing FirstWas very specific and focused on measurable

outcomesBuilt-in reporting mechanism

Had broad-based supportPolitical leadership at county and state level

Blending resources, abilities, expertise:PHA:Development, capital resources,

track recordFacilities maintenanceCapital Needs Assessment, Community DevelopmentAdministrative and specialized staff

SHCC: Professional case management and supportive servicesSpecialized administrative---community organizing, publishing and media expertise, connected and politically influential boardNon-profit status expanded funding opportunities, homeless preference in competitions.

Began Developing Special Needs Housing in Partnership: 4 projects completed, 2 in pipeline

1-Coordinated intake and assessment- Housing Resource CentersHPRP and Supportive Services for Veterans

2-Permanent Supportive Housing for families-Cornerstone and Catholic Community Services

3-Family Unification Vouchers-Cornerstone FUP

4-Countywide HMIS use and data sharing

Service Partnerships:

Innovations and New Partnerships: Family Therapeutic Court, DSHS, Mental Health and Treatment Providers, Hospital Districts

Influence, Impact at local and state level

• Political leadership-local BOCC, state legislators

• Advantage of combined advocacy stance

• Benefits to local community: –Planned Housing inventory–Economic stimulus and support for

landlords and property managers--Capital investment, job creation--Effective outreach, education effort

Taking Effective Strategic Approach Regional:

• Peninsula Housing Authority now two county housing authority serving entire North Olympic Peninsula

• Regionalize effective strategies, build new partnerships

• Regional projects and resource development

• Long-term governance and capacity

Partnerships fraught with challenge

• Top down and bottom up ‘re-learning’

• Board and public understanding and support may be complicated

• Mission and values divergence

• Failure to understand partner commitments and implications, time and effort

• Willingness to sacrifice

Housing

Referral

Intake

• Other examples of Housing Authority role in local Ten Year Plans: Seattle and King County, Longview, Whatcom, Yakima

• ASPE Research Brief on linking human services and housing supports to address family homelessness:

• Logical program structure with services tied to goals• Strong and effective partnerships, mutual benefits• Non-traditional community resources• Strong ties to local for-profit housing community• Value of services-enriched housing to build long-term stability• Standardized intake and assessment, data-sharing---streamlining

processes for housing placement, lease up, etc• Expand funding sources across systems, non-profits, mainstream