Greater Hartford CAN Meeting Notes

Friday, March 15, 2019

GH CAN Leadership / GH CAN Sub-COC 3/6/19

Greater Hartford Coordinated Access Network

Leadership Committee Agenda

Wednesday, March 6^th, 2019

In Attendance:
Steve Bigler - CRT
Kara Capobianco - DOH
Crane Cesario - DMHAS
Stephanie Corbin - Mercy Housing and Shelter
Sarah DiMaio - Salvation Army
Fred Faulkner - The Open Hearth
Heather Flannery - Interval House
Rosemary Flowers - My Sisters' Place
Mollie Greenwood - Journey Home
Audrey Kennedy - South Park Inn
John Lawlor - The Connection
Rebekah Lyas - ImmaCare
Tina Ortiz - CRT
Elijah McFoley - The Open Hearth
Matt Morgan - Journey Home
Lisa Quach - Journey Home
Lionel Rigler - City of Hartford
Zoe Schwartz - CRT
Barbara Shaw- Hands On Hartford
Kathy Shaw - My Sisters' Place / Community Housing Advocates
Cathy Zeiner - YWCA

2. City of Hartford ESG Prevention Discussion – Joan Barere

a. When we developed this program three years ago we were figuring out what Diversion and Prevention looks like in our community. We are required to spend no less than 40% of our ESG funding on prevention or diversion.

b. It’s the City’s intent to gain feedback from this meeting, with the goal of revisiting this discussion item in 2 weeks. $107,000 annually. Over the past few years Lionel has heard that this project is vital, but we want to get feedback.

i. If we’re in agreement that this program must continue, we need to RFP this project. The city is hoping to seek council approval in May, and then quickly RFP the funding.

ii. Stephanie explained this program, and outlined that it was really used as more of a prevention program than as a diversion program.

iii. Program requirements have generated some challenges in utilizing this program, because the program is a little restrictive.

3. City of Hartford ESG Allocations – Lionel Rigler

a. Lionel had previously presented allocations that focused on size of the shelters with a limited focus.

b. Two new allocations were presented today. One was aggressively focused on performance measures, and a third option was a hybrid based on utilization and performance measures.

c. Open Hearth increased dramatically in size.

4. Coordinated Exit:

a. Performance Measures – Crane Cesario

i. We’ve been talking over the past few months about performance measures. We’re looking at these measures that we’ve been receiving at a statewide meeting. We had been getting report previously from the Statewide Team. The CT DOH team is no longer keeping track of the 4 benchmarks that we had been using in the past.

ii. We’re being judged on our performance, and it’s part of our community mission to end chronic homelessness. We’re at the point where we have maybe under 40 people because they’re truly becoming chronic, or are aged into chronicity, or there are folks who are being consistently refused.

iii. We have a small end-group for us to discuss.

iv. We need to identify a way to prevent folks from staying in shelter in a really long-term way. We need to make sure that all of our organizations are operating in a very strengths-based way to ensure that folks are rapidly leaving the homeless services system.

v. So for future meeting, at next Ops meeting, we will bring some of the top folks there.

1. Mollie and Lisa will divide up this list and request updates.

a. In 2 weeks we’ll return with what we’ll talk about. We’ll likely come back with a shorter list.

b. Matt will submit a release bin item to request a flag full self-certifications so programs would know their limits.

b. Longest Stayers in Greater Hartford CAN – Lisa Quach

c. By Name List Weekly Report – Mollie Greenwood

i. GH Leadership agreed to use this as our data document to observe change over time.

d. Progressive Engagement – Kara Capobianco

i. The PE document is as finalized as it can be, but a meeting was postponed. Some national definitions at a national level have been changing.

ii. It’s really a complex issue to figure out how to do RRH in a way that focuses on equity rather than equality.

5. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Proposed Changes – Matt Morgan

a. The City of Hartford has sought a request for a proposal to update the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Preferences at Journey Home. Journey Home has requested a set aside of 20 vouchers per month. In addition, as they’re re-doing the program and need to put the program up for public comment, we also wanted to make some suggestions.

i. One suggestion is to open up the project-based Moving On program for folks who are literally homeless.

1. There was a suggestion to allow folks coming out of RRH and PSH to be eligible for these openings as well.

2. There was also a suggestion to add points onto the family and youth preference to give additional points on the waitlist based on months spent in RRH.

3. Finally, there’s a suggestion to open a new preference that would be available for folks who are failing out of PSH and returning to homelessness AND for folks who are 9+ months homeless.

6. Advocacy Day Preparations – Matt Morgan

7. Sub-COC Updates – Crane Cesario, Zoe Schwartz

8. Coordinated Entry:

a. Cold Weather Protocol Updates – Sarah DiMaio

9. GH CAN Shelter and Housing Data

a. GH CAN Housed Data (see p.2)

b. GH CAN Waitlist Data (see p.2)

10. Future Agenda Items?

a. Comparison of longest stayers vs. potentially chronic.

11. Announcements

a. CAN Data Dashboards are available at www.CTCANData.org . Please check out your organization’s data and work on cleaning up any incorrect data so that we can start using these dashboards to inform our system work.

b. CT Department of Housing has distributed a survey on CAN performance, please encourage your staff and colleagues to complete this survey by COB March 8^th.

GH CAN Housing Data

Data Element	Number	Notes
Chronically homeless individuals housed in 2015	102	This includes clients housed through GH CAN programs as well as through other subsidies or independent housing
Chronically homeless individuals housed in 2016	211	This includes clients housed through GH CAN programs as well as through other subsidies or independent housing
Chronically homeless individuals housed in 2017	179	This includes clients housed through GH CAN programs as well as through other subsidies or independent housing
Chronically homeless/potentially chronic individuals housed in 2018	151	This includes clients housed through GH CAN programs and bridges to PSH as well as through other subsidies or independent housing
Chronically homeless/potentially chronic individuals housed in 2019	28	This includes clients housed through GH CAN programs and bridges to PSH as well as through other subsidies or independent housing
Total Chronically homeless individuals housed in GH CAN	671
Verified Chronic Matched	30
Verified Chronic Not Yet Matched	12	We currently have 12 chronic verified clients who have not yet been matched to housing.
Potentially Chronic Refusers	0
Verified Chronic Refusers	2
Not Chronic (Verified) Refuser	1
Potentially Chronic Matched	8	These households did not disclose a disabling condition, and are matched to various programs.
Not Chronic Matched	19
Potentially Chronic Not Yet Matched	32	Right now we believe 32 households have the chronic length of homeless history, but none of these individuals have their homeless and disability verifications completed.
Individuals - Active – Not Matched	339	This is Enrolled in CAN, Enrolled in TH, and In an Institution
Families – Active – Not Matched	39	This is Enrolled in CAN and Enrolled in TH
Families - Verified Chronic – Not Matched	0
Families – Potentially Chronic – Matched	1
Families – Potentially Chronic – Not Matched	1
Families – Not Chronic (Verified) – Matched	9	This includes RRH bridges
Families – Verified Chronic – Matched	2

SmartSheet Shelter Priority List Data

Individual Men	Individual Women	Family Stabilization List
89 unsheltered	85 unsheltered	17 families on Stabilization List
109 total	102 total

Thursday, February 7, 2019

GH CAN Leadership / GH Sub-COC 2/5/2019

Greater Hartford Coordinated Access Network

Leadership Committee Agenda

Wednesday, February 5^th, 2019

In Attendance:

Kathy Shaw- Community Housing Advocates / My Sisters’ Place

Rosemary Flowers – My Sisters’ Place

Sonia Brown - CRT

Steve Bigler - CRT

John Lawlor – The Connection

Beau Anderson – CT Dept of Housing

Lionel Rigler – City of Hartford

Matt Morgan – Journey Home

Kara Capobianco – CT Dept of Housing

Lisa Quach – Journey Home

Mollie Greenwood – Journey Home

Zoe Schwartz - CRT

Audrey Kennedy – South Park Inn

Heather Flannery – Interval House

Fred Faulkner – The Open Hearth

Barbara Shaw – Hands On Hartford

Lauren Fair – Salvation Army

Rebekah Lyas - ImmaCare

Sarah DiMaio – Salvation Army

Steve MacHattie –Mercy Housing and Shelter

Amy Robinson – US Dept of Veteran Affairs

Crane Cesario – DMHAS, Capital Region Mental Health Center

1. Sub-COC Updates – Crane Cesario, Zoe Schwartz

a. Next CT BOS Meeting is at the Middletown State Library.

b. Thanks for everyone who participated in the PIT, including Hands on Hartford, Journey Home, VA, CHR, Chrysalis Center, YWCA, Salvation Army, DMHAS, CRT, ImmaCare, InterCommunity, Cornerstone, DOH, Mercy, and The Open Hearth.

c. Renewals were published and all of our renewals got approved. We hope to know soon about new funding.

2. SSVF Letter of Support – Matt Morgan and Crane Cesario

a. No concerns were raised. Matt and Crane will prepare a letter of support.

3. Coordinated Entry:

a. Cold Weather Protocol Updates – Sarah DiMaio

i. During Cold Weather activation the maximum number of people we had overnight was 60. Last night there were 55. Most nights we have been around 40 folks once we transfer out of the shelter.

ii. There is a large cohort of clients who join only for one night. We aren’t able to get them into year-round beds. We’re trying to make sure that we are getting familiar with who these folks are who are refusing shelters.

4. Coordinated Exit

a. Countdown to Chronic Dashboard

i. Chronic Verified >90 Days – Lisa Quach

1. New property management have generated slowdowns for the whole system. It sounds like one way to start is to get potentially chronic folks identified as chronic or not.

2. If you’re a service provider with an MOU with a property, please make sure you’re communicating with the property management company about why the folks they may be receiving as referrals are coming into the building.

a. Rebekah had success reviewing the property management application software.

ii. Potentially Chronic: Currently on By-Name List – Mollie Greenwood

1. Shelters all received emails regarding anyone who hit their 12^th month of visible homelessness in CT HMIS. These are the folks who are determined to have a chronic length of homeless history. All of these households are missing a disabling condition form. Some of these folks are connected with Capitol Region, some are connected with services.

2. We discussed the need for case managers to meet clients where they’re at.

a. We also discussed the pressure that’s on case managers to be case managers and do housing search and also do outreach.

3. At the Warming Center, Sarah said that the clinicians who were on site should be able to assist with disabling condition verifications. We need additional capacity to manage the intense needs of folks who are most vulnerable.

4. Crane will talk with Lisa offline about how to connect with clinicians at Capitol Region. When Journey Home refills the Homeless Outreach Coordinator position they should be able to help.

5. Andrea discussed the opportunity for CSP to assist.

6. Barbara mentioned that uber can be a great gap filler for transportation issues.

7. Rebekah mentioned that disabling condition verification forms have been a challenge for folks who may have a disabling condition related to substance use.

a. Kara recommended folks who are working with Charter Oak could maybe work with Charter Oak to just document ongoing substance use. Many folks may be reluctant to go to a clinic because they aren’t interested in substance use treatment.

b. New YHDP Resources and YHDP Resources

i. DOH Prioritization for YHDP RRH Guidance – Mollie Greenwood

ii. Rapid Exit Funds for Youth – Mollie Greenwood

iii. Watch List –

1. All youth in adult shelters will be added to the youth navigators for enrollments in CT HMIS, and all shelters with youth will be asked to provide updates for every young person currently in their shelter.

c. Progressive Engagement – Kara Capobianco

i. We aren’t moving forward with any written documents just yet – we’re working on establishing local processes on doing the work of ramping up services for those who need more intensive documentation.

5. City of Hartford NOFA Process – Lionel Rigler

a. ESG and HOPWA deadlines are two weeks from today, Wednesday February 20^th at 3PM. Please get your updates in before. We want to talk about the actual allocation of ESG funds. We want to make a decision without a month. It’ll be up for discussion for two weeks, then we can make a decision. The formula for funding shelters if 45% based on capacity, 45% based on utilization, and 10% based on permanent exits. We have talked previously about increasing the percentage that is focused on permanent exits. We’re open to another measure besides permanent exits. Lionel’s open to another measure of performance, and we could also revisit different breakdowns on basing the information on utilization and capacity.

6. Performance Measures Related to Shelter – Matt Morgan, Beau Anderson

a. Beau works on the Data and Estimated Needs working group statewide.

b. HUD has some system performance measures, and we as a COC are consistently judged against our past system performance. If we’re comparing against ourselves, how can we plan to get better? We need to set a goal for ourselves to drive towards.

c. Emergency shelter seemed like the part of our system where it made most sense to start this process.

d. These are very ambitious targets. These are also related targets.

7. Review of Affordable Housing Programs – Matt Morgan

8. Advocacy Day Preparations – Matt Morgan

9. GH CAN Shelter and Housing Data

a. GH CAN Housed Data (see p.2)

b. GH CAN Waitlist Data (see p.2)

c. ESLC Data

10. Future Agenda Items?

a. ESG funding – Lionel Rigler

b. Performance Targets for Emergency Shelter. Feedback on targets. Set goals.

c. Advocacy Day

d. Review of Affordable Housing Programs