Long Range Plan to Reduce Homelessness 
in Milwaukee County for 2000 To 2004

V.                 Action Plan

The LRPC analyzed both the needs of various homeless sub-populations (see Appendix B) and the services currently being provided to the homeless in Milwaukee (see Appendix C). The ultimate goal of the homeless service system is to assist people in moving to permanent housing. In order to do so, the LRPC recommends the following action agenda for the next three years:

 A.   Housing Objectives:

The Milwaukee community needs to increase its capacity for a range of housing for the homeless from emergency shelters, transitional housing, to a continuum of housing options for homeless individuals and families. The higher priority at the present time among the types of housing is an increase in affordable permanent housing. Limited capacity at this end of the housing continuum only serves to create more demand on already over-extended emergency and other temporary housing programs.

There continues to be a need for more emergency shelter capacity, although the development of additional capacity in transitional and permanent housing could reduce some of the demand on emergency shelters.

Also important is the development of new models for as well as additional capacity in transitional housing, especially given that in some situations, it takes considerable time and support to prepare homeless individuals and families for permanent housing. Without that preparation and support in transitional housing, placement in permanent housing can result in additional episodes of homelessness. It is with this in mind that the LRPC presents the following objectives:

1.      Increase the amount and quality of both emergency and transitional housing options that ultimately lead to and support permanent housing.

Activities:

a.      Develop more flexible models of transitional housing that link directly to permanent housing.

b.      Develop ways to assist transitional housing in becoming more supportive of diversity.

c.      Determine how much additional emergency housing is needed and for what sub-populations.

Timelines:

¨        Initiate discussion on new transitional housing models as part of 2000 and 2001 CoC Exhibit I planning processes as well as with other funders in March, 2000 and March 2001.

¨        Initiate analysis on the need for additional emergency housing subsequent to the development of new transitional and permanent housing options as early as 2001.

2.      Increase the use of subsidized housing (e.g., Public Housing, Section 8, Section 42, Section 202, Section 236, and Section 811 Housing) as permanent housing for homeless individuals and families. (See Appendix D for definitions.)

Activities:

a.      Identify what subsidized housing resources might be available.

b.      Explore with municipal, county, state and HUD officials what the possibilities are for expansion of such use of subsidized housing.

c.      Identify and eliminate barriers for homeless use of subsidized housing.

d.      Create collaborations to facilitate movement of homeless into subsidized housing.

e.      Explore real estate development, including SROs.

Timelines:

¨        Begin exploration process by mid-2000.

¨        Develop a plan by the end of 2000.

¨        Initiate use of subsidized housing for homeless by mid-2001.

3.      Increase the use of unsubsidized housing, e.g., Habitat For Humanity, affordable rental property.

Activities:

a.      Explore the availability of unsubsidized housing.

b.      Work with interested landlords, bankers, and other community representatives to support efforts to use affordable units for the homeless.

c.      Explore bonding for high-risk renters.

Timelines:

¨        Begin exploration process by mid-2001.

¨        Develop a plan by the end of 2001.

¨        Implement the use of additional unsubsidized housing by mid-2002.

B.   Prevention and Support Service Objectives:

Many homeless individuals and families who achieve permanent housing at times find themselves homeless again within relatively short periods of time. There needs to be a broader comprehensive set of support services available in Milwaukee to help sustain housing permanency for two groups: 1) those who are transitioning into permanent housing and 2) those already in permanent housing who may be at-risk for becoming homeless.

There is a wide range of health, behavioral health, and other support services in the community that provides services to a small population of homeless persons.  This includes major heath systems i.e., Aurora, Covenant, and Horizon.

Homeless people encounter difficulties in accessing the services provided by “mainstream” or “conventional” providers because of the prevailing, and often erroneous, community attitudes about this population. This is the reason that separate services are often set up for the homeless which creates two problems, i.e., 1) the creation of duplicate services for the homeless which often are not cost efficient and 2) the false notion that homeless people need to be kept separate.

Therefore, the LRPC proposes the following:

1.      Increase support service provision (e.g., behavioral health services, services to those experiencing family intimate violence, services to persons with HIV/AIDS) to those transitioning into permanent housing who may be at-risk for becoming homeless.

Activities:

a.      Explore with local housing authorities, W-2, child welfare, and veteran’s agencies ways of identifying those individuals and families who are already in permanent housing but at-risk for becoming homeless. Explore what obstacles they are facing.

b.      Work with existing service providers to develop appropriate crisis intervention mechanisms to protect those in high-risk situations.

c.      Explore with providers, community groups and funders ways to develop continuing care components for those in existing permanent housing programs to prevent future homelessness.

2.      Increase support and enhance service provision (e.g., behavioral health services, services to those experiencing family intimate violence, services to persons with HIV/AIDS) to homeless individuals and families as they enter the housing continuum and transitioning into permanent housing.

Activities:

a.      Work with existing providers to explore ways to open up existing services for homeless individuals.

b.      Identify resources and seek additional funding for identified gaps in support services.

c.      Develop formal collaborations and agreements to ensure that support services are seamlessly woven throughout the system. Form innovative partnerships with diverse service providers to leverage existing resources.

d.      Incorporate other communities successful solutions into service delivery, and solicit input from consumers utilizing the services to make improvements.

Timelines for both 1 and 2:

¨        Initiate efforts for both of the above objectives in July 2000.

C.  System Improvement Objectives:

In order to accomplish the many goals and objectives contained in this plan, the “system” needs to be administered and managed more effectively. In the absence of a better-managed system, many of the other changes being suggested in this document will not happen. The LRPC, therefore, recommends that the following system-wide enhancements be made:

1.      Create better access to appropriate levels of service for those already experiencing homelessness as well as those at-risk for becoming homeless.

Activities:

a.      Create a common mechanism or process for accessing homeless services.

b.      Create standardized assessment tools and service plans for use across the system.

c.      Create a web-site capacity on all subsidized and unsubsidized permanent housing in collaboration with the new 211 I and R system scheduled to be implemented in April 2000.

d.      Create a manual on where services are provided. (Data on web site should be able to be downloaded continuously.)

e.      Develop consistent guidelines across the system on making referrals for service.

Timelines:

¨        Begin developing a common access process for homeless services between July and December 2000.

¨        Create/modify the database for all homeless services for inclusion in 211 web site by December 2000.

¨        Pilot the new common access process in 2001 and fully implement it in 2002.

2.      Develop both a program outcomes reporting system for all programs serving the homeless and consumer input mechanisms in order to determine what programs are working well, and engage in a process of quality improvement.

Activities:

a.      To develop program outcomes, measures, and performance standards in collaboration with agency representatives.

b.      Develop and implement outcomes data collection mechanisms.

c.      Standardize other forms of data collection, e.g., demographics and utilization.

d.      Develop a way to ensure that data collection procedures protect the interests of the homeless population.

Timelines:

¨        Initiate the development of outcomes and measures in January 2001.

¨        Pilot test outcomes reporting in last quarter of 2001.

¨        Implement outcomes data collection in 2002.

3.      Enable the homeless to have a greater voice in how services are structured and provided.

Activities:

a.      Develop and implement mechanisms for consistent consumer input and consumer satisfaction.

b.      Develop a trained leadership pool of former homeless persons (Homeless Council) to assist in above activity.

Timelines:

¨        Develop Homeless Council in last half of 2000.

¨        Develop and implement consumer input mechanisms in 2001.

D.       Community Awareness Objectives:

It is very important to create more community support for meeting the needs of Milwaukee’s homeless population. In addition, the community needs to become aware that the homeless population is not homogeneous. The population has many faces. The often-portrayed stereotypical image of a disheveled street person does not do justice to the range of persons and families who are unable to find and sustain themselves in permanent housing. The LRPC, therefore, recommends the following objectives:

1.      Develop an accurate image of the homeless population and increase awareness in Milwaukee about the causes and the human costs of homelessness.

Activities:

a.      Create a pool of funds to develop a marketing strategy and outreach.

b.      Create a media/marketing strategy on homelessness in the community, which incorporates existing efforts of the agencies.

c.      Engage in active outreach in the community on homeless issues, e.g., sharing information at fairs, festivals, malls, community meetings.

Timelines:

¨        Approach local foundations, including the Non-Profit Management Fund, for funds to support the development of a marketing plan in the second half of 2000.

¨        Hire a marketing firm to develop a media/marketing plan in the first half of 2001.

2.      Promote the seeking of solutions to homelessness in the community.

Activities:

a.      Take the Long Range Plan document to area businesses, foundations, and other funders and policy-makers to create support for increasing the community’s efforts to reduce homelessness.

b.      Recruit political leaders and community activists to collectively embrace homeless issues.

c.      Involve grassroots volunteers to promote advocacy for the homeless.

Timelines:

¨        Ongoing