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Notes by Summer D Clemenson
Presenter: Kendra Gritsch
Washington State Coalition With Domestic Violence (WSCADV)
HEARTH Act
On May 20, 2009, President Obama signed the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009. The HEARTH Act amends and reauthorizes the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act with substantial changes, including:
- A consolidation of HUD’s competitive grant programs;
- The creation of a Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program;
- A change in HUD’s definition of homelessness and chronic homelessness;
- A simplified match requirement;
- An increase in prevention resources; and,
- An increase in emphasis on performance.
Download PDF at https://www.onecpd.info/resources/documents/S896_HEARTHAct.pdf
Still thinking about whether DV Survivors should have to be part of HMIS. Larger cities are wanting to let people to opt out.
Commerce has not said we must go through a Coordinated Entry door.
50% of homeless women/children have been involved in DV.
The original need for ER shelters was not homelessness but to answer the need for safety. Many times abused women will stay in an abusive relationship if they think there is no where else to go. If they got services while in a ER shelter but funds were not available by a certain time they became homeless.
DV Advocacy is survivor driven. DV Housing First Strategy allows people to self-direct – This adds to housing retention.
What isn’t working:
- Duplicating services due to poor communication between programs.
- Lack of shelter space or housing
- Lack of employment
What isn’t working, especially in Coordinated Entry
- No housing or money after time is up at the shelter
- All agencies do the same thing – only giving referrals
- Not proper placement
- Too many connections hinder between DV Survivors and Rapid Rehousing Families
- If DV Survivors take priority, families in cars that don’t have DV issues are staying out of housing longer
- Lack of training around trauma
- Lack of housing for high barriers and Non DV Survivors
- Problems with mental health issues
- Duplicated entries when family enters through DV shelter with only a code and then coming back through another program with a name
What is working:
- DV Survivors and others are being prioritized
- Ability to make accommodation
- Proper contacts with DV client and provider
- Good connections/relationships between providers
Other Challenges
- Long wait for appointments in urban areas
- Impacts of trauma make it hard for DV Survivors to get services – no trust, unable to make or keep appointments
- People are being turned away because of drug use
- Counties that exclude DV Survivors or program access to resources
This to consider when working with DV Survivors
- Confidentiality
- Privacy
- Abuser sabotage
- Immediate safety – safety can change fast
- Many times resources/family/friends are the same for survivors and abusers
- Drugs/Alcohol may have been a coping mechanism
Download a Tool Kit at NAEH.org
http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/coordinated-assessment-toolkit
How to coordinate – Coordinated Entry & DV Survivors
Strategies for success
- Location
- Safe?
- Private?
- Alternatives?
- ER accommodations?
- Can service providers relate to survivors?
- Assessment and Process
- Screening for DV?
- Is staff trained to know the right questions?
- Are there partnerships with other agencies?
- Are there certification procedures for providers?
- Staffing
- Must use an empowerment, strength-based, survivor driven approach.
- Knowledge – must understand dynamics of rebuilding the life of the survivor
- Must collaborate with service providers
- Outcomes
- Are DV Service Providers working together with housing assistance providers to connect families to safe and stable housing?
Coordinated Entry with DV Survivors is working in Kitsap County.
- They are a medium sized community
- They are collaborating services well
- They have shared goals between agencies and individuals
