Welcome Home Billings Ten-Year Plan to Impact Homelessness
Welcome Home Billings MYTHS / FACTS
Homeless people want to be homeless FACT: In Billings half of the homeless are actively seeking a place to live. Permanent housing is their first choice.
Homeless people just do not want to work FACT: Almost one third of the homeless in Billings are employed full or part-time.
If you build it, they will come FACT: They are already here. Almost 60% of the homeless in Billings have been here for more than two years. At least 20% have been in Billings their whole lives.
Welcome Home Billings WHY?
Why work on homelessness? It costs too much to do nothing $15,534 / individual $115,690 / chronically homeless individual $54 million total cost
Why work on homelessness? 500+ homeless children 125 families 42% of homeless families are American Indian Over 2,000 homeless people in Billings / year 600 people at any point in time
Welcome Home Billings HISTORY / BACKGROUND
Background United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Montana Council on Homelessness Established by former Governor Martz 2004 Chose Billings as a pilot project in late 2005 Mayor s Committee on Homelessness Established by Resolution 06-18409 in 2006 Community Development Division facilitates 20 Appointed Members Welcome Home Billings Adopted by City Council October 2009
Mayor s Committee Members Mary Lou Affleck Affleck Consulting / NeighborWorks Montana Sheri Boelter District 7 HRDC Joseph Chalupa Director, The HUB, Mental Health Center Bill Cochran Public Library Director Larry Gaalswyk Executive Director, Team Mentoring, Inc. Bruce MacIntyre Chamber of Commerce Sue Runkle Homeless Education Liaison, Billings Public Schools John Hines Homeless Community Liaison Judy Stewart RiverStone Health Adela Awner Director, Interfaith Hospitality Network Lucy Brown Executive Director, Housing Authority Paul Chinberg Executive Director, Family Service, Inc. Ken Chase Veteran, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program Lisa Harmon Director, Downtown Billings Partnership Linda Price Congressman Rehberg s Office Kathie Shandera United Way Claire Coleman Retired, MT Dept. of Health & Human Services Mona Sumner COO, Rimrock Foundation Stephanie Iron Shooter Honorary Member, Montana - Wyoming Tribal Leader s Council
Other involved organizations Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Billings Job Service Work Force Center City of Billings Aviation & Transit MET District 7 HRDC Family Service, Inc. Head Start, Inc. Interfaith Hospitality Network Montana Center on Disabilities Montana Rescue Mission Rimrock Foundation RSVP Yellowstone County Second Chance Homes St. Vincent Care Management Department Tumbleweed Willson LLC Yellowstone AIDS Project Billings Adult Misdemeanor Drug Court Business Improvement District Community Crisis Center DPHHS Addictive & Mental Disorders Friendship House of Christian Service RiverStone Health - Healthcare for the Homeless Mental Health Center Montana Dads Incarcerated Passages Roots of Promise Salvation Army Southside Neighborhood Task Force Billings Public Schools Volunteers of America MT & WY YCCOA Resource Center Yellowstone Co. Drug Treatment Court Yellowstone County Office of Public Assistance
Accomplishments!
And I Know Venture Theatre A play based on real stories of homeless kids. 500 people saw the show. Raised $11,000 in sponsorships / donations. Generated $8,000 in ticket sales / buy outs. www.ci.billings.mt.us/homelessplay
Housing First Project Interfaith Hospitality Network 4 housing units for homeless families. City generated $500,000 for project. Served 12 families to date!
Social Enterprise Rimrock Foundation & The Salvation Army Housing & business enterprise for homeless men. City generated $323,000 for project. www.ci.billings.mt.us/socialenterprise
Aquaponics
Community Gardens & Food Security City-MVP Supported: Whitetail Run Community Garden Veteran s Garden at Independence Hall Youth Garden at The Salvation Army Housing Authority s Pumpkin Patch Head Start Children s Garden Friendship House Children s Garden www.ci.billings.mt.us/garden
Downtown Resource Map www.ci.billings.mt.us/resourcemap
Billings Community Connect Formerly known as Project Homeless Connect 2006 to 2013 One day, one-stop event
Spare Change for Real Chance & Purple 5K Generated over $20,000 for homeless services
Welcome Home Billings PLAN DEVELOPMENT
Plan Development: Demographics Overall Temporary Continuum of Care Data: 2005 2006 2007 2008 Chronic Individuals Families American Indians Disabled Veterans Data Findings & Illumination Points
Plan Development Local Services / Housing Analysis Billings Service & Housing Inventory via Survey Prevention: Public Assistance Housing Counseling Mortgage / Rent / Utilities Assistance Housing Support Groups / Legal Assistance Tenant Rights Education Outreach: Street Outreach Mobile Clinics Showers / Laundry / Toiletry Supplies Clothing / Food Telephone Day Center Law Enforcement Support: Case Management Financial Management Life Skills / Mediation Treatment / Counseling Employment Assistance / Child Care Health / Dental / Medications Pre-Release / Re-Entry Service / Housing Identification & Gap Analysis
Plan Development Costs, Service & Housing Preferences Billings Addendum in tandem with Continuum of Care 2007 # Days: City / County Jail State / Federal Prison Emergency Room Hospital Ambulance Shelter Treatment,: Inpatient / Outpatient End Homelessness: Getting a Job Clearing a Background Check Credit Repair Monthly Rental Assistance Deposit / Application Fee Assistance Utility Deposits Treatment, etc. Average Cost & Illumination Points Housing: Seeking? First Choice of Housing Type
Welcome Home Billings PLAN DESIGN
Plan Design Introduction I: Homelessness in Billings Data Estimating # Homeless Cost to Serve the Homeless II: Local Services Survey Responses Urgent Needs Service Gap Analysis Housing: - Definitions - Inventory - Needs III: Ten-Year Planning Teams / Accomplishments Initiatives: - Social Enterprise - Business Consortium - Continuum of Care - Data Systems - Cost-Benefit Analysis Panhandling Floating the Homeless
Plan Design IV: Recommendations V: Plan Implementation VI: Appendices Performance Measurements Plan Development Strategic Framework: - Cross-Cutting Goals - Programmatic Goals Policy Recommendations Public Review Action Plan Development Resource Development Project Development Ending Info Data Findings Cohorts: Overall Temporary Chronically Individuals Families American Indians Disabled Veterans Billings Addendum Other Data Sources Provider Survey / Housing Inventory Cost-Benefit Form
Strategic Framework
Welcome Home Billings Community Action Plans Mayor s Committee on Homelessness FY 2009-2011 FY 2011-2013 Billings Area Resource Network FY 2009-2011 Other Community Plans
Welcome Home Billings QUESTIONS?