State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless, providing resources, supporting opportunities, forming partnerships: annual report 2010 [2010]

State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless
Providing Resources Supporting Opportunities Forming Partnerships
Annual Report 2010

Mission Statement
The mission of the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless is to support the efforts of organizations that provide housing and essential services for individuals and families striving to end their state of homelessness. These groups include:
Non-Profits Faith-Based Organizations Community Homeless Provider Networks, and Public Programs
The mission of the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless will be accomplished by: Providing Resources Supporting Opportunities that Promote Self-.Sufficiency, and Forming Partnerships with Organizations that Embrace the Goal of Ending Homelessness in Georgia

Homelessness in Georgia
How many people are homeless in Georgia?
The difficulties of counting the homeless in any single community, much less a large state, have been discussed in detail by both researchers and advocates for the homeless. Therefore, it is impossible to provide a single, definitive, and indisputable number of persons who are homeless in Georgia. However, it is important to have at least some understanding of the magnitude and scope of the problem. All of the count efforts around the state, along with a statistical model, indicate that there were over 21,000 people in Georgia who were homeless at a single Point-In-Time (a one-night snap shot) during the last week in January.
The homeless count surveys collected in January 2009 also included a question about the length of time that people had been homeless. Using a weighted average of those responses provides an estimate of over 90,000 people who experience homelessness in Georgia at some time during one year.

Serving Georgia's Homeless:

2008-2009 Statewide Bed Inventories

Type of Housing

Individual Beds

Emergency & Transitional Housing

(non domestic violence)

8,831

Housing for Victims of Domestic Violence

1,312

Permanent Supportive Housing

4,608

Total

14,751

SFY2010 Accomplishments

$20.7 million was expended for programs that provide shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, or services for homeless individuals and families. $26,105 was expended to provide accessibility improvements for lower income families with disabilities.
Under the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Program, on average, each day 3,056 individuals were provided emergency shelter, 2,007 individuals were provided transitional housing, and 2,217 persons received supportive services.
Under the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), 1,961 households received assistance during the operating year.
$11.9 million was awarded to 63 programs under the 2008 Continuum of Care Plan for the `Balance Of The State'. This included 20 Shelter Plus Care renewal projects in coordination with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. An additional 15 Shelter Plus Care renewal projects were awarded through the Continuums of Care of the Tri-Jurisdictions (Atlanta/DeKalb/Fulton), Augusta-Richmond County, AthensClarke County, Columbus-Muscogee/Russell County, and Savannah/Chatham County.
$7.3 million in Shelter Plus Care Program funds supported more than 1,333 housing units, which provided housing assistance to over 1,500 homeless persons with a disability.
Over $1.7 million was administered to 7 organizations through the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program to serve 993 persons affected by HIV/AIDS.
During the program year, 409 households consisting of one or more persons with HIV/AIDS were provided needed housing assistance (413 persons w/ HIV/AIDS and 331 other family members) and an additional 584 households consisting of one or more persons with HIV/ AIDS were provided supportive services under the HOPWA Program.
Project Homeless Connect Events to connect individuals and families with homeless service providers were held in Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, McDonough, Savannah, and Valdosta.
The Permanent Supportive Housing Program awarded $3,399,242 in HOME funds and $150,000 in State Housing Trust Funds to a project that will produce 26 special needs units.
During SFY2010, the Re-Entry Partnership Housing (RPH) Program assisted 199 eligible parolees with housing placement, meals and the opportunity to reintegrate into the general population to become reconnected with society. These placements, costing at total of $157,500, resulted in a net savings to the state of $5,168,645.

State Housing Trust Fund Programs
Fundamental Components of CoC System

Emergency Shelter

Transitional Housing

Affordable Housing

Prevention
Outreach/Intake Housing

Rapid Re-Housing

Supportive Services

Permanent Supportive
Housing

Permanent Housing

Supportive Services

Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing
The first line of defense against homelessness is to prevent it from occurring or to rapidly re-house families as quickly as possible. In State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2010, this assistance was provided through the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). Funds through HPRP can be used to pay utility bills, past due rents, moving costs, security deposits and short- to medium-term rental assistance, or storage fees. HPRP also provides agencies with funds to provide housing stabilization and relocation services for families receiving HPRP financial assistance. Generally, persons appropriate for this program are those who are currently homeless or about to be homeless because of a temporary economic setback. During this period, the State's HPRP program has expended $4,487,228 to assist 1,961 households.
Emergency Shelters
Emergency shelters and outreach to unsheltered populations are the points of entry for thousands of persons that have become homeless. In SFY2010, the Trust Fund assisted 72 grantees in providing 6,876 bed spaces in emergency shelter facilities with an average of 3,056 clients receiving housing per day. A total of 30,565 persons were housed by funded shelter programs this year. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of the persons housed by these shelter programs were individuals, and forty-one percent (41%) of the persons housed were persons in families. Of the total number receiving emergency shelter, 24% were children.
Transitional Housing
In SFY2010, the Trust Fund assisted 61 grantees in providing 5,213 bed spaces in transitional housing facilities with an average of 2,007 clients receiving housing per day. A total of 5,422 persons were housed by funded transitional programs this year. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of the persons housed by these transitional housing programs were persons in families, and forty-three percent (43%) of the persons housed were individuals. Of the total number receiving transitional housing, 37% were children.
Supportive Services
In addition to housing, the Trust Fund awards money to organizations that provide services designed to address issues that may have contributed to the individual's or the family's homelessness. The range of services includes case management, childcare, education, employment training, financial counseling, legal aid, mental health counseling, primary health care, and substance abuse therapy. In SFY2010, the Trust Fund assisted 70 grantees in providing supportive services to an average of 2,217 clients per day. A total of 67,680 persons received supportive services through programs funded this year.

Shelter Plus Care (S+C)
The Shelter Plus Care program is designed to provide housing and supportive services on a long-term basis for homeless persons with disabilities and their families. There are 68 current projects with 1,399 units under contract. Thirty-six (36) programs are operating in a five-year grant period while 32 programs are operating in a renewal term for a 12 month period. The programs benefit and estimated 2,000+ persons who are homeless or chronically homeless and have a disability as along with their family members.
Permanent Supportive Housing Program
DCA's Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSHP) finances the development of affordable rental housing with accompanying supportive services for eligible homeless tenants with special needs. The program offers 100% capital financing combining the resources of the federal HOME block grant program and the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless. In addition, project based rental assistance through the federal Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is available from the DCA in communities where DCA administers the HCV program for 100% of the PSHP units occupied by eligible tenants. Eligible tenants include head of household or family members that must be either homeless or threatened with becoming homeless and an individual with a disability. The disability must be of long-continued and indefinite duration, substantially impedes their ability to live independently, be improved by more suitable housing conditions, and may be a physical, mental, developmental, or emotional impairment including impairment due solely to alcohol or drug abuse. During SFY2010, DCA awarded $3,399,242 in HOME funds and $150,000 in State Housing Trust Funds to one project that will produce 26 special needs units. Since its inception, the total number of units completed and/or under construction is 851. The total amount of HOME and HTF funds committed to the program exceeds $60,000,000.
Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA)
HOPWA is a federally funded program that has been in operation since 1994. Borne out of Congress' desire to address the housing crisis associated with the AIDS epidemic, the program serves individuals and families affected by HIV/ AIDS. In SFY2010, the Trust Fund administered $1,726,278 in HOPWA funds to seven organizations that serve persons affected by HIV/AIDS. The State drew down $52,818 in HOPWA funds for administration, so the total amount of HOPWA funds expended during SFY2010 was $1,779,096. During the program year, 409 households consisting of one or more persons with HIV/AIDS were provided needed housing assistance (413 persons w/ HIV/AIDS and 331 other
family members) and an additional 584 households consisting of one or more persons with HIV/AIDS were provided supportive services. Using the data sets on housing stability, Project Sponsors were able to report the percentage of clients in stable housing at the end of the operating year. Of the clients served with TenantBased Rental Assistance, 87% were determined stable at the end of the year, 68% stability was reached in Facility-based housing, and 71% stability in Short Term Rent Mortgage and Utility Assistance.
Re-Entry Partnership Housing Program
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles, DCA, and the Department of Corrections have entered into an agreement to accomplish the Re-Entry Partnership Housing (RPH) for the ResidenceProblem Inmates (RPI) project. This program provides housing to convicted felons who remain in prison after the Parole Board has authorized their release due solely to having no residential options. Re-entry housing partners must provide released offenders stable housing and food. The goal of the RPH program is to provide short-term financial assistance to help stabilize an individual's re-entry process to enhance his or her ability to remain crime free. During SFY2010, the RPH assisted 199 eligible parolees with housing placement, meals and the opportunity to reintegrate into the general population to become reconnected with society. DCA disbursed $711,759 of RPH funds to agencies providing the required services.

Collaboration & Training
Homeless Management Information System
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has mandated that Continuums of Care utilize a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for their federally funded programs directed to the homeless. In Georgia, six of the seven Continuums have adopted the use of the same system provided through Pathways Community Network. Statewide, over 343 homeless service providers use Pathways HMIS. The Georgia HMIS was used to track services provided to 207,946 homeless or at-risk Georgians in the twelve months ending June 30, 2010. Of this total number, 68,235 were children and 5,200 were senior citizens. Trust Fund staff provides leadership to the Southeastern Regional HMIS Collaborative (SERHC). This collaborative provides an opportunity for sharing challenges and innovative solutions with other HMIS implementers throughout the Southeast.
State Homeless Interagency Coordination Council
Established by Executive Order by Governor Perdue and co-chaired by DCA Commissioner Mike Beatty and DHS Commissioner B.J. Walker, the Homeless Action Plan (The State's Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Ten Years) developed by the Council was endorsed by the Governor on November 29, 2004, and significant work is underway. This collaborative initiative is focused on ending chronic homelessness; policies that will eliminate discharging clients back into homeless situations; improving state agency coordination; improving access to SSI with a consideration given to presumptive eligibility; evaluation of fiscal effectiveness; effective homeless prevention policies; and coordination strategies that will best achieve the Council's and the Governor's goals for ending chronic homelessness in Georgia. In recognizing that the planning and strategizing necessary to address homelessness cannot be confined to `homelessonly' planning processes, DCA actively participates in mainstream planning efforts throughout the State such as the Mental Health Planning Advisory Council, the Prisoner Re-Entry Policy Team, and the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Regional Planning Partnerships
DCA regularly attends local homeless coalition meetings as well as the Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Homeless Commission. Staffed by the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Commission's vision is to address needs in the larger metro region. Using State HTF dollars, DCA is able to fund and support local sponsors of Project Homeless Connect events in all of Georgia's 12 regions. Six (6) of these events were held in five of the State's regions last year. Project Homeless Connect is designed for agencies to coordinate and sponsor one-day, one-stop events to deliver services to people experiencing homelessness in the community.
Staff Directed Technical Assistance and Grantee Monitoring
Trust Fund staff provides on-going training and technical assistance to grantees and persons who are interested in starting new homeless projects. Each week on average, one or more members of the staff visit several facilities around the state and during those visits, one-on-one technical assistance support is offered. Another important function of Trust Fund staff is the monitoring of each Grantee's participation in the various programs to ensure compliance with program regulations. Monitoring visit reviews include such areas as financial record systems, program benefits, and compliance with other program rules.

Finances
Expenditure of Funds
From July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, $20.8 million was expended by the State Housing Trust Fund to support homeless assistance programs operated by non-profit organizations, including faith based organizations, and local governments throughout Georgia. Funds for these programs come from federal and state resources.
The Housing Trust Fund's support for DCA's competitive Continuum of Care (CoC) planning process led to $12 million in new awards for the 152-county DCA-sponsored Continuum of Care. Moreover, Shelter Plus Care (S+C) projects supported by the Commission in each of the state's competitive homeless Continuums of Care enhance competitiveness and lead to HUD awards for new projects. In 2009, HUD awarded $4.6 million in new CoC awards in Georgia. Overall, $30 million in CoC funds were awarded throughout the state. Most likely, this would not have been possible without Housing Trust Fund support of S+C projects and other work by DCA within each Continuum. These resources were also used to leverage over $2 million of Federal ESG funds. $3.9 million of the $20.7 million expended represents State HTF Commission resources. $16.9 million is from outside resources, the majority of which was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The chart below illustrates how these dollars were distributed to projects in SFY2010.

Final SFY 2010 State Housing Trust Fund Expenditures

Program Name

Amount

%

Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG)*

$4,060,666 19.6%

Matching Funds

$560,119 2.7%

Shelter Plus Care

$7,341,688 35.3%

Re-Entry Partnership Housing

$309,000 1.5%

Home Access

$26,105 0.1%

Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS

$1,726,278 8.3%

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

$460,523 2.2%

Administration (Includes 5-YR S+C Awards)

$1,310,281 6.3%

Permanent Supportive Housing

$631,638 3.0%

Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP)

$4,357,590 21.0%

Total

$20,783,888 100%

*ESG includes shelter, transitional housing, supportive services only, and Homeless

Connect grants as well as final 2009 reimbursements for homeless prevention.

Source of Funding For Major Programs

State-HTF $3.9 MD

Federal-HUD and other $16.9 MD

Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

*Continuum of Care Coordination

*Shelter Plus Care (S+C) Program

*Project Homeless Connect

*Housing Opportunities for Persons

*Homelessness Prevention

With AIDS Program

*Essential Services

*Homelessness Prevention and Rapid

*Permanent Supportive Housing Program

Re-Housing Program

*Service Match for Shelter Plus Care

*Home Access Program

*Re-Entry Partnership Housing Program

For a copy of the Audit Report, please contact the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless at 404.679.4940.

COMMISSIONERS STATE HOUSING TRUST FUND FOR THE
HOMELESS
Honorable Mike Beaudreau Commissioner, Gwinnett County National Accounts Manager, Ricoh Business Solutions, Inc.
Lawrenceville
Walter R. Huntley, Jr. President, Huntley & Associates
Atlanta
Nick Masino Vice President of Economic Development,
Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Suwanee
Jo E. Maypole, Ph.D. President/CEO, Southeastern Firefighters' Burn Foundation
Augusta
Bernard H. Reynolds Principal, True North Public Affairs, Inc.
Atlanta
Brian Williamson Assistant Commissioner, Community Development & Finance
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Neatha Young Retired, Wachovia Bank President Pro Tem, Flipper's Chapel AME Church
Savannah
The State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless is administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs / Georgia Housing Finance Authority
Mike Beatty, Commissioner
Note: Commissioners &/or Staff of the State Housing Trust Fund can be contacted at: State Housing Trust Fund
Georgia Department of Community Affairs 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329
If you have a disability and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please contact the Georgia Department of Community Affairs at 404.679.4915 (TDD)
Equal Housing Opportunity