|
Homelessness response system launches |
|
January 25, 2018 |
Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) and
local housing and homeless service providers
have partnered to establish a new standardized
approach within the statewide homelessness
response system to address the needs of persons
experiencing a housing crisis and help them gain
access to the supportive programs and services
they need.
This change went into effect on January 22,
2018.
The new response system ensures homeless persons
or those at risk of homelessness who are seeking
long-term housing solutions have consistent
access to housing resources. The system brings
together a network of community partners across
Idaho to create a collaborative, objective
environment that offers an informed and
consistent way of prioritizing and providing
housing and supportive services to the most
vulnerable people experiencing or at risk of
homelessness.
“We are hopeful that by implementing this change
and creating increased provider collaboration
even those with the most extreme cases of
homelessness will be able to find stable housing
faster,” said Brady Ellis, vice president of
IHFA and chairman of the Idaho Homeless
Coordinating Committee (IHCC).
The cornerstone of the new system is the
creation of Access Points across the state where
homeless or at-risk persons are assisted in
identifying appropriate resources based on their
needs.
This offers a more centralized approach that
prioritizes those with the greatest needs rather
than the “first-come, first serve” approach
previously employed among all providers. The
Access Points will now work to coordinate
housing and service referrals with a network of
community providers who offer housing and other
essential services.
“The new homelessness response system focuses on
creating strong partnerships within the
community to help the homeless and provide easy
access to housing programs and assistance in one
stop,” says Gerald M. Hunter, president and
executive director of IHFA. “This change is a
substantial improvement to the way we care for
Idaho’s homeless population, providing a
progressive first step on the way to housing.”
Local housing and homelessness providers within
the homelessness response system share guiding
principles and a set of common operational
policies to efficiently connect those in need
with appropriate resources. Each region of the
state has an identified access point for
homeless or at-risk persons to connect with. The
access points will help homeless persons
identify specific resources based on their
needs.
The goals for the Homelessness Response System
are to:
• Provide easy access to community resources for those in need.
• Prioritize those with the most severe needs and vulnerabilities to
receive housing and assistance first.
• Maximize the use of local resources for the greatest impact on the
population being served.
• Produce better outcomes with referrals based on the specific needs of
those experiencing homelessness.
• Reduce first-time homelessness, length of time being homeless, and
returns to homelessness.
• Identify gaps in available services so that new programs can be
developed to more fully address local needs.
Those in need of immediate shelter will continue
to access emergency shelter services in their
communities.
Shelters and other community support programs
have been educated on the establishment of
Access Points and will assist homeless or
at-risk persons in connecting with Access
Points.
The homelessness response system is a component
of the Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to
Prevent and End Homelessness, a federal policy
introduced by the U.S. Interagency Council on
Homelessness in 2010 and updated in 2015.
For local comment on the new change to the
homelessness response system, please contact the
Access Point in your region. For Region 1,
that's St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho, Coeur
d'Alene, (208) 664-3095. |
|
Questions or comments about this
letter?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
