SNAPS Weekly Focus:

Rapid Re-Housing

Last week, we talked about the Housing First approach and how it is both a cost-effective and successful model for addressing the needs of the people we serve. This week, we’re going to discuss another model that has proven to be effective and which follows a Housing First approach: rapid re-housing. When I am out doing public speaking I find that people are asking me “what exactly is rapid re-housing?” I realized that in the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program interim rules, we tell our recipients what funds can be used to do rapid re-housing, but not how to do rapid re-housing. While that is appropriate for regulations, which define how federal funds can be used, it points to the need for information about the model itself. However, that is a challenge because there are many successful models at the local level which are different depending on the population they are serving, what their local housing market looks like, and the scope and nature of homelessness in a given community. But there are some core elements we have identified as critical to the model: The people assisted come from the streets or shelter and would remain homeless but for this assistance. The household being served is helped directly into a community-based unit it will retain after the program ends. Service plans for program participants are individualized based on their needs, circumstances and market conditions, and focus on helping households find and keep housing. This typically includes landlord outreach and help with the process of housing search. Other types of supportive services may be provided as needed by links to mainstream programs or partner agencies (i.e., mental health services, substance abuse treatment, medical services, child care, etc.). Financial assistance is provided to support housing, and is time limited. The amount of monthly assistance is typically flexible and may be adjusted over time. Because the program is individualized and flexible in its response to each household’s needs, to do this type of program successfully takes good project administration, tracking, and follow-up. HUD encourages communities to think critically about how rapid re-housing can benefit homeless individuals and families, and work to include rapid re-housing as part of the overall homeless program portfolio. As you saw in the recently released Fiscal Year 2013 CoC Registration Notice, this type of intervention is one of only two allowable types of new projects created through reallocation in the CoC Program competition. While rapid re-housing can be used effectively for many homeless populations, preliminary evidence indicates that it is particularly effective for households with children. Data from HPRP indicate that as high as 90 percent of families that receive rapid re-housing assistance exited the program to permanent housing. Here are some reasons why communities are encouraged to create more rapid re-housing: By exiting households from literal homelessness more quickly, rapid re-housing may reduce the known, negative impacts of prolonged homelessness (loss of employment, increased substance abuse, failure to comply with medical/mental health instructions, and reduced school attendance/performance/graduation rates). By reducing the length of stay in emergency shelters, beds become available for other households whose homelessness could not be prevented; this enables the community to maintain their basic safety net. Short-term assistance is frequently sufficient to help most individuals and families secure permanent housing quickly and successfully, which means there are more resources available to assist more households to move out of homelessness. Many communities have reported to us that only a small number of those served through rapid re-housing programs later returned to the homeless system. To help guide your local discussions and program design, HUD will be releasing two products in the coming weeks: a webinar to be conducted with our federal and national partners on why rapid re-housing is an important component of an effective system, and a short guide on the model itself. Don’t forget to check back to SNAPS Weekly Focus page over the coming weeks as we will continue to post related materials and TA products related to each weekly focus, as they become available. As always, we thank you for your commitment to ending homelessness. Ann Marie Oliva Director, Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs Download this SNAPS Weekly Focus

 

Leeway Residential Care Facility

Leeway, Inc.

Residential Care

                                                          

ADMISSIONS

40 Albert Street

New Haven, CT  06511

203-865-0068 phone

203-865-0399 fax

www.Leeway.net

 

Leeway’s Residential Care Facility Mission

Leeway’s Residential Care Facility, an integral part of the continuum of AIDS care, is committed to being a center of excellence in providing residential, personal and supplemental care so that those with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and/or related conditions can live as independently as possible.  This expert care is respectfully provided with compassion and without regard to race, national origin, age, religion, handicap, gender or sexual orientation with the focus on the integration of body, mind and spirit.  We are committed to promoting quality of life and dignity to all.

Eligibility Criteria for Admission into Leeway’s Residential Care Facility

1.     An individual must be:

      - age 65 and older; OR

      -disabled between the age of 18 and 65; or receiving SSI and/or SSD entitlements; OR

      - blind

2.    An individual must have:

      -HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and/or related conditions

3.    An individual must meet the following income requirements:

a.    Must have a minimum monthly income of $710.00

b.    Must have a maximum income of $2130.00

c.    If an individual has SSD the individual or Leeway staff will need to call Social Security to verify that the individual can get SSI supplemental to meet the minimum income requirements

d.    If the individual has SSI or SSD and their income is below $710.00 then the individual or Leeway staff needs to call Social Security  to verify that Social Security will increase the minimum income up to $710.00 to meet the minimum income requirements

     

4.    An individual must have the ability to live independently or with minimal assistance.

5.    An individual or representative agency  must complete the Leeway Residential Care Facility application and provide all required documentation.  Leeway’s Admissions Coordinator reviews the application and documentation to ensure that the packet is complete and offers assistance to the individual and/or referral source.

6.    An individual or representative agency must provide a current medication list and diagnoses verified by a physician or licensed clinician to ensure the continuity of care.

7.    An individual or representative agency must provide the following:

PPD

a). Results of a recent PPD or QuantiFERON test (within 30days)

b). Complete clinical information about any current or past history of TB, whether latent or active, including treatment history.

                 c). For any current respiratory illness for which TB has not been            

                      excluded as the cause, the referring medical staff needs to discuss the

                    case with the  Medical Director or the Director of Nursing.

It is especially important to know an individual’s TB status when considering admission to Leeway’s Residential Care Facility where patients with HIV live. Individuals with HIV/AIDS are at high risk for TB infection and disease.  Both for individual patients’ health and that of the entire residential community, we must be sure that anyone with potentially infectious TB is being adequately treated and is not at risk of transmitting TB to patients, residents or staff. In order to do this, we must have complete information about all applicants’ current and past TB status before they can be accepted for admission to any program at Leeway.

 

Insurance Information

a). Provide  written verification of payment source

Advance Directives

a)    An individual or representative agency must provide Advance Directives in the event of an emergency or incident. This data will assist  Leeway staff to address the residents wishes for their care if their Home Care provider is not accessible..