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Funding Priorities
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Combined HPRP Funding Areas,
Unique County Needs
Pickaway County’s Pilot Program
RHISCO grantees in Pickaway, Fayette and Ross counties partnered with coalitions in Highland and Clinton counties to create a combined service area for receipt of HPRP funding. In doing so, the unique and common characteristics of the at-risk and homeless populations in their communities were identified, and strategies to prevent homelessness were developed. For example, one county is experiencing more issues with families and children, and another is dealing with adult unemployment, skill building and job training issues resulting from the closing of a major employer in the area.
Becky Hammond, emergency services director for the Pickaway County Community Action Agency, reported that collaboration among RHISCO counties and the development of a unified form, a thorough assessment tool and an intake packet helped prepare them for a seamless transition to apply for and receive HPRP funds. The counties have already met four times in the last six months, and have established planning meetings every three months. “The assessment tool helps us get to the bottom of why folks are homeless or at-risk of being homeless, and the funding flexibility with RHISCO will help meet the needs of individuals and families,” Hammond added.
Hammond affirmed that while all of the counties have homeless needs and all are rural, each has different needs and opportunities. She identified lack of public transportation in Pickaway County as a key issue. “RHISCO permitted us to allocate resources to support direct client supports, so there was flexibility to help individuals with emergency situations, such as car repairs, credit assistance, and short-term housing subsidies. Families are encouraged to participate in financial education, attending classes at the Community Action Agency. One of the programs is Budget in a Box, wherein a case manager reviews how a household budget works and provides envelopes for car payments and rent.”
“Without the Foundation’s assistance, the collaboration among the counties wouldn’t have happened,” said Hammond. “Until we brought together the five counties, we didn’t know what services each provided. The Foundation’s commitment to RHISCO has helped advance our local efforts to prevent and end homelessness.”
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Transforming how local governments view, redevelop affordable housing
The Land Bank in Newark, Licking County
Land banks are a promising solution to address problems of lost tax revenue and vandalism due to housing vacancies and abandoned properties. Newark’s land bank in Licking County has gained momentum and is showing transformational results for redeveloping properties and preserving affordable housing. The land bank allows the city to take possession of, and convert to productive-use, tax delinquent properties that are free and clear of all liens and have been vacant and abandoned for a year.
The Licking County Continuum of Care identified the creation of a land bank as a priority through the RHISCO project. The initial phase of development included research and exploration of how to establish a land bank. Research provided the necessary groundwork for the City of Newark to take advantage of Neighborhood Stabilization funds offered through the federal government and utilize the funds to establish the land bank.
The land bank may have residential or commercial planning uses, and may enable the city to focus on certain neighborhoods for redevelopment or reuse. Further, Newark’s land bank will allow Habitat for Humanity to purchase land inexpensively and rehab houses so that they are livable and affordable. Another affordable housing non-profit, Licking County Housing Incorporated, is also planning to rehab land bank properties, and looks forward to the flexibility in timing that land-banking allows.
Lisa Minklei, who serves as the RHISCO and HPRP grants manager for the Licking County Coalition for Housing, indicated that up to 12 properties will be back in productive use this year after being rehabbed and sold through the land bank. The homes will be sold to families with limited or restricted income levels, with assistance from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) for down payment assistance.
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Project HouseCall, Fairfield County
Housing and Landlord Lists Make for Effective Intake and Referral,
Helping to House Families More Quickly
Persons seeking housing or other assistance are often frustrated and confused by the complexity of requirements and how to access needed services of each program. In the No Wrong Door model, service agencies simplify service delivery by responding to needs through direct services or by connecting them with appropriate programs. Patti Morrow, housing specialist for Fairfield County 211, is working to move rapid re-housing efforts for the county toward the No Wrong Door model.
Morrow’s position was created by the Fairfield County Housing Coalition, under the umbrella of the Fairfield County Family and Children First Council. She coordinates Project HouseCall, a central database for Fairfield County residents and landlords, designed to assist individuals in locating housing. The database includes specific information on available and affordable housing: the location of housing units available, number of bedrooms in each, appliances, utilities, handicap accessibility, pet restrictions, income/age restrictions, Section 8 or subsidized support availability, credit check support, and deposit and application fee information. The database is consistently updated and is distributed to service agencies, readily available to individuals and case managers.
Individual housing programs are developed for certain populations, such as single adults, families, recovery programs, mental health or people with disabilities. Morrow said, “With this one resource, Project HouseCall, we can help people with differing needs, asses their current assets and determine appropriate housing referrals and supportive services, as needed.” Project HouseCall benefits both the at-risk populations, those seeking housing, and the local landlords who have available units.
Partnering with local landlords has proven to be a successful strategy in Fairfield County. Project HouseCall also belongs to the local landlord association, which provides an opportunity to dispel myths about Section 8 and subsidized housing. “The myths might include misunderstandings that all poor people who move in will tear up the residence, and then move out in the middle of the night, never making payments,” said Morrow. “In reality, renting to someone on a housing voucher is one of the safest bets a landlord can take. They are guaranteed with getting at least the voucher portion of the rent on time every month. Also, the Fairfield Metropolitan Housing Authority conducts housing inspections, including safety checks, which can help alert clients and landlords of potential problems,” said Morrow.
RHISCO prevention strategies that align with the goals of HPRP are supportive of Fairfield County’s Project HouseCall. The database was started several years ago and fulfills an HPRP requirement that a housing service be established. The database is ideal for rural communities like Lancaster and the surrounding villages, where there is no public transportation and housing information as well as potential clients are geographically spread out. “With gas prices up, we don’t want to send clients running all over the county on a frustrating experience,” said Morrow. “I can assess their needs, print out a list of available units, and get them directly to where they need to go,” she said.
“HPRP resources available for immediate use, such as first month’s rent, are helpful in getting people housed in a week or less, depending on the landlord and background checks,” Morrow said. She cited an example of a couple with nowhere to go who could not get into a shelter because they owned a dog. According to Morrow, “A volunteer with Forgotten 4-Paws helped by taking the dog on a temporary basis and the couple was also assisted with help for the first month’s rent. It takes all agencies working for solutions.”
Morrow credits the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation for organizing meetings of homeless service providers from different counties. “Providing a venue in which providers can share and network was important. It is difficult to talk every day with people who are at-risk or literally homeless. Listening to each other and sharing insights helped us regain our enthusiasm,” said Morrow.
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Click here to learn more about the Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), and click here to learn more about HPRP funding in Ohio.
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