Annual report, state fiscal year 2011

State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless
Providing Resources Supporting Opportunities Forming Partnerships
Annual Report State Fiscal Year 2011

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 almost 20,000 people in Georgia who were homeless at a single Point-In-Time (a one-night snap shot) during the last week in January 2011.
The homeless count surveys collected in January 2011 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 62,000 people who experience homelessness in Georgia at some time during one year. This is 31% lower than the 2009 estimate.

Serving Georgia's Homeless:

2010-2011 Statewide Bed Inventories

Type of Housing

Individual Beds

Emergency & Transitional Housing

(including domestic violence)

10,639

Permanent Supportive Housing Total

5,558 16,197

State FY2011 Accomplishments
$29.2 million was expended for programs that provide shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, or services for homeless individuals and families.
Programs funded through the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Program served a total of 28,467 individuals with emergency shelter, 5,299 individuals with transitional housing, and 47,963 individuals with supportive services during the year.
Under the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), 12,036 individuals (4,046 households) received assistance during the operating year.
$13.3 million was awarded to 68 programs under the 2010 Continuum of Care Plan for the `Balance Of The State'. This included 24 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, Athens-Clarke County, ColumbusMuscogee/Russell County, and Savannah/Chatham County.
$8.2 million in Shelter Plus Care Program funds supported more than 1,495 housing units, which provided housing assistance to over 2,300 homeless persons with a disability.
Over $1.7 million was administered to 6 organizations through the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program to serve 1,813 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 (411 persons w/ HIV/AIDS and 259 other family members) and an additional 1,402 households consisting of one or more persons with HIV/AIDS were provided supportive services under the HOPWA Program.
20 grant awards were made to partner organizations for the 2011 Homeless Count.
Project Homeless Connect Events to connect individuals and families with homeless service providers were held in Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Hinesville, Jesup, and Valdosta.
The Permanent Supportive Housing Program awarded $2,904,988 in HOME funds and $200,000 in State Housing Trust Funds to a project that will preserve 76 units for individuals who are homeless with a disability.
During State FY2011, the Re-Entry Partnership Housing (RPH) Program assisted 551 eligible parolees with housing placement, meals and the opportunity to reintegrate into the general population to become reconnected with society.

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) 2011, 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, short- to medium-term rental assistance, and 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 initiative has expended $11,200,026 to assist 12,036 individuals (within 4,046 households).
Emergency Shelters Emergency shelters and outreach to unsheltered populations are the points of entry for thousands of persons who have become homeless. In SFY2011, through 75 project grants, the Trust Fund assisted in providing 2,598 bed spaces in emergency shelter facilities with an average of 2,262 clients receiving housing per day. A total of 28,467 persons were housed by funded shelter programs this year. Forty-one percent (41%) of the persons housed by these shelter programs were persons in families, and fifty-nine percent (59%) of the persons housed were individuals. Of the total number receiving emergency shelter, 25.5% were children.
Transitional Housing In SFY2011, through 68 project grants, the Trust Fund assisted in providing 1,963 bed spaces in transitional housing facilities with an average of 1,762 clients receiving housing per day. A total of 5,299 persons were housed by funded transitional programs this year. Fifty-six percent (56%) of the persons housed by these transitional housing programs were persons in families, and forty-four percent (44%) of the persons housed were individuals. Of the total number receiving transitional housing, 37.2% 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 supportive services available through provider programs included housing support services, outreach, case management, childcare, employment training, financial counseling, legal aid, mental health counseling, health care, and substance abuse therapy. In SFY2011, through 74 project grants, the Trust Fund assisted in providing supportive services to an average of 1,844 clients per day. A total of 47,963 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 67 current projects with 1,495 units under contract. Thirty-two (32) programs are operating in a five-year grant period while 35 programs are operating in a renewal term for a 12 month period. The programs benefitted an estimated 2,300 individuals or heads of families who are homeless or chronically homeless and have a disability.
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 a disability. The program offers 100% capital financing combining the resources of the federal HOME Investment Partnership program and the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless. Eligible participants include heads of household and their families who must be either homeless or threatened with becoming homeless and be an individual with a disability. The disability must be of long-continued and indefinite duration, substantially impede 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 SFY2011, DCA awarded $2,874,988 in HOME funds and $200,000 in State Housing Trust Funds to one project that will produce 76 special needs units. The total number of units completed and/or under construction is 532. Since the program's inception, the total amount of HOME and HTF funds committed to produce these units completed or under construction equals $45.2 million ($41.7 million HOME and $3.5 million HTF) with an additional 203 units in the pipeline.
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 SFY2011, the Trust Fund administered $1,723,140 in HOPWA funds to six organizations that serve persons affected by HIV/AIDS. The State drew down $63,768 in HOPWA funds for administration, so the total amount of HOPWA funds expended during SFY2011 was $1,786,908. During the program year, 411 households consisting of one or more persons with HIV/AIDS were provided needed housing assistance (411 persons w/ HIV/AIDS and 259 other family members) and an additional 1,402 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 Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, 92.4% were determined stable at the end of the year, 85% stability was reached in Facility-based housing, and 74.5% 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 Residence-Problem 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 SFY2011, the RPH assisted 551 eligible parolees with housing placement, meals and the opportunity to reintegrate into the general population to become reconnected with society. DCA disbursed $855,400 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 327 homeless service providers use Pathways HMIS. The Georgia HMIS was used to t rack services provided to 224,022 homeless or at-risk Georgians in the twelve months ending June 30, 2011. Of this total number, 90,152 were children and 5,207 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 chaired by DCA Commissioner Mike Beatty, 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 `homeless-only' 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 Georgia 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. Seven (7) of these events were held in seven 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 provide on-going training and technical assistance to new grantees, at-risk grantees in renewal that have a training need in any area, those grantees with a history of findings, and persons who are interested in starting new homeless projects. Technical Assistance training is provided on an as-needed basis, at any time. In an effort to maximize program performance during SFY 2011, DCA established a goal to visit all Shelter Plus Care sponsors and accomplished a 100% monitoring rate. The HOPWA monitoring goal was to visit all HOPWA grantees, and the HOPWA monitoring team achieved an 85.7 monitoring completion rate by June 30, 2011. The goal for Emergency Shelter Grant Program grantees was to monitor each agency once within a 2 to 3 year period, dependent upon risk and previous findings. Sixty-five (65) ESG grantees were monitored during FY2011. On average, one or more members of the HTF compliance staff visit up to ten (10) non-profit agencies, to monitor grant compliance each month. Moving forward, DCA determined that select HUD Supportive Housing Program grantees would begin receiving monitoring visits starting in the fall of 2011. The SHP grantees to receive monitoring were those that had a less than 70% rate of clients successfully exiting to permanent housing destinations.

Finances
Expenditure of Funds From July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, $28.9 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 $13.2 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 2010, HUD awarded an additional $4 million in new CoC awards in Georgia. Overall, $30.9 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. $3.3 million of the $29.2 million expended represents State HTF Commission resources. $25.9 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 SFY2011.

Final SFY 2011 State Housing Trust Fund Expenditures

Program Name

Amount

%

Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG)*

$3,819,363

13%

Matching Funds

$878,042

3%

Shelter Plus Care

$8,203,140

28%

Re-Entry Partnership Housing

$889,600

3%

Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS

$1,783,912

6%

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

$749,737

3%

Administration

$1,100,719

4%

Permanent Supportive Housing

$606,000

2%

Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP)

$11,200,026

38%

Total

$29,230,539 100%

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

Source of Funding Expenditures For Major Programs

State-HTF $3.3 M D

Federal-HUD and other $25.9 M D

Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

*Continuum of Care Coordination *Project Homeless Connect *Homelessness Prevention *Essential Services *Permanent Supportive Housing Program *Service Match for Shelter Plus Care *Re-Entry Partnership Housing Program

*Shelter Plus Care (S+C) Program *Housing Opportunities for Persons
With AIDS Program *Homelessness Prevention and Rapid
Re-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.

2012 Commissioners State Housing Trust Fund For The Homeless
Honorable Mike Beaudreau Commissioner, Gwinnett County National Accounts Manager, Ricoh Business Solutions, Inc.
Lawrenceville
Randy Glass Vice President, Atlanta Mission
Smyrna
Douglas Hanson Board Member, Good News Clinic
Gainesville
Bernard H. Reynolds Principal, True North Public Affairs, Inc.
Atlanta
Barry Maurice Slay President, Terco, Inc. (d/b/a Fairytales Learning Center & Academy)
Atlanta
Joyce C. Stevens Partner, The Stevens Group Board Member, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Good Hope
Brian Williamson Assistant Commissioner, Community Development & Finance
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Chris Yaughn Fostering Bulloch
Statesboro
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 and/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)
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