The Foundations have directed support to its seventeen county rural service area primarily through the Rural Homeless Initiative for Southeast and Central Ohio (RHISCO). RHISCO includes Athens, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Hocking, Jackson, Knox, Licking, Madison, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Pickaway, Ross, Union, Vinton, and Washington counties. The Initiative is designed to improve the health and quality of life of homeless individuals, families and those at-risk of homelessness through a comprehensive, coordinated plan to end homelessness. The Initiative phases include capacity building, implementation, and evaluation. As RHISCO enters its final year of funding, the Foundations have developed an Exit Strategy and have released the final Request for Proposal for RHISCO Phase III. Information regarding the final year of funding can be found below.
Capacity Building Phase
During the Capacity Building Phase, the Foundations engaged the National Alliance to End Homelessness to facilitate the development and implementation of comprehensive, coordinated plans to end homelessness, with local planning led by county-level coalitions. The Capacity Building Phase resulted in a national model for planning to end homelessness.
Implementation Phase I
During Implementation Phase I, the Foundations, coupled with funding from Fannie Mae, focused investments on three overarching themes (prevention, provider coordination, and data systems) that were identified in the Capacity Building phase. Funding was designed to achieve outcomes related to housing stability, economic independence, family and/or individual self-sufficiency, access to and coordination of mainstream services, agency and community capacity building, and community support in the region.
Implementation Phase II
Phase II investments focus on successful homeless prevention strategies, including continued development of local Housing Coalitions (regular meetings, training, education); emergency level prevention (short-term subsidies, home repair, landlord/tenant mediation, case management); system level prevention (transportation, information and referral, longer-term subsidies, case management).
Phase III Exit Strategy
In April 2010, the Foundations released the final phase of the RHISCO Initiative which will include support for direct services provided at the local level and continued capacity building at the provider and coalition level. Support will be allocated in two categories: Direct Service and Capacity. The categories will allow coalitions to demonstrate a sustainability plan for direct client services, beyond funding from the Foundations, and to enhance capacity relative to key elements and specific indicators of highly performing rural coalitions. The application period has ended. Click to read more about the Exit Strategy, Key Elements of Highly Performing Rural Coalitions and Phase III RFP.
Evaluation
Public Service Consulting has been engaged by the Foundations to assist with on-going monitoring and assessment of the RHISCO Initiative. Public Service Consulting has compiled executive reports which summarize outcomes, successes and opportunities experienced by local coalitions during the implementation phases.
RHISCO Reports
RHISCO Convening Materials
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