*(See
attached addenda for progress report.)
2004*
Implement
HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) on a small scale
for several initial agencies.
(Combine with beta testing of HMIS software.)
Plan
to use HMIS to monitor homeless intake.
Expand
homeless headcount to twice per year,
January (per HUD) and July. Develop a computerized paradigm for collection
and organization of data.
Plan
for multi-site food service operations.
Plan
for a card system to
be used for food services
utilizing a sub-set of the HMIS.
Develop
a plan for improving access to mainstream resources,
consisting of standardized and expedited procedures, that will have
a positive impact on homeless individuals, homeless service providers
and social service agencies. As a subset of this plan investigate
and implement as possible a communications paradigm among the computer
systems of HMIS, Department of Human Services and Local Health Care
Services.
Develop
and implement a community-wide philosophy of helping
individuals and families to achieve
their
maximum state of self-sufficiency,
and assure that no one is enabled or tacitly encouraged to maintain
a
homeless state. Formulate this philosophy with input from attendees
at the First Annual Forum on Homelessness.
Continue
the concept of the Annual Conference on Homelessness.
Homeless
Service Providers, citizens and CSPD (Colorado Springs Police Department)
work to mitigate the ,"enabling", practice of panhandling.
Plan
and begin to implement community education program to differentiate
between enabling and compassionate helping.
Continue
to provide alternative housing for chronically homeless.
(e.g. request for $750,000 S-NOFA funding of 53 units through Consortium
Grant application)
Expand
housing stock across the continuum
of housing for homeless and low-income households and individuals.
Export
Partners In Housing Life Skills program to other agencies;
and reciprocally, utilize the expertise of other agencies to enhance
the scope of the current program.
*(See
attached addenda for progress report.)
2005
Complete
implementation of HMIS for all homeless service providers.
Establish a synergistic working relationship between HMIS and 211 informational
system. (Ideally, 211 will supercede the ,"Survival Manual,"
of 2003.)
Implement
multi-site food service operations at three or more locations
which will double as intake agencies. At this time, any agency will
be able to serve as an intake, because of implementation of HMIS and
standardization of procedures in 2004.
Direct
the energy and resources of the faith-based weekend food service programs
toward either taking responsibility for one or two day a week feeding
or volunteering to serve in other capacities as needed.
Combine
food service multi-site program with writing and computer skills,
basic education GED (General Education Developement) and job training
programs;
i.e., a homeless individual may eat at the same location where he is
receiving training.
Develop
small business enterprises to coincide with job training programs
to provide incentives and employment for graduates.
Study
daycare possibilities for homeless
who are in education or training programs or who are engaged in employment
or searching for employment.
Develop
a comprehensive data base
re: homeless through intake information.
Standardize
homeless headcount procedures and
requirements for data.
Continue
the Annual Conference on Homelessness
in the fall and the Annual Forum on Homelessness in the winter.
Work
to minimize panhandling in Colorado Springs through the efforts of
the CSPD, service providers and citizens;
i.e., eliminate behavior that encourages panhandling and request that
the City of Colorado Springs and any other interested entities financially
support increased, consistent police presence to enforce applicable
ordinances.
Plan
to eliminate homeless ,"camping," in the region.
Combine promulgation of
information that shelter beds are available and camping is unnecessary,
with consistent enforcement of trespassing laws and environmental
modifications that discourage transient camping.
Continue
to provide alternative housing for chronically homeless
through S-NOFA funding.
Address the problem of the required match of funds by soliciting city,
foundation and community funding sources. (Goal: 50 units)
Expand
housing stock across the continuum
of housing for homeless and low-income households and individuals.
To help achieve this goal, form a committee of housing and life-skills
providers to host a forum of housing providers in Colorado Springs
to determine the following:
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Housing: |
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1. |
Current
housing capacity across the continuum of housing |
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2. |
Expected
changes (increases/decreases) in housing |
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capacity across the continuum of housing |
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3. |
Current
and potential stakeholders for funding of housing units |
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4 |
State-wide
initiatives in which the service providers |
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of
Colorado Springs could participate to obtain affordable housing
programs |
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Life
Skills: |
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1. |
Identify
life skills and self-sufficiency programs in the community |
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2. |
Inventory
types of life skills and self-sufficiency services provided |
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3. |
Identify
the gaps, i.e., life skills and self-sufficiency programs |
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needed,
but not provided |
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4. |
Identify
current and potential funding for life skills and |
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self-sufficiency
programs |
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Report findings
to Five Year Blueprint Advisory Committee by May 31, 2005.
Plan for an initiative
of education, advocacy and funding for substance abuse prevention
and treatment as well as treatment for mental illness.
Develop and implement
an ongoing evaluation and coordination process for homeless services
through the leadership of CHAP. (Comprehensive
Homeless Assitance Providers).
2006
Continue
development of small business enterprises.
Use ,"profits," to fund benefits for employees, e.g. daycare,
health insurance, continuing education. Assure a positive career path
for motivated employees.
Expand
affordable daycare facilities for working mothers
to assure their ability to keep working and avoid crisis homelessness.
Eliminate
aggressive panhandling and transient
camping in the region.
Develop
a plan to re-finance permanent supportive housing
units whose grants are terminating.
Continue
to provide alternative housing for chronically homeless
through S-NOFA funding. Continue
to address the problem of required match funds by soliciting city, foundation
and community funding sources.
Expand
housing stock across the continuum
of housing for homeless and low-income households and individuals.
Continue
and bring to fruition the substance abuse and mental health initiative
mentioned in 2005.
Manage
ongoing evaluation and coordination process for homeless services
through the leadership of CHAP on a yearly basis.
2007
Realistically,
a good part of the final year
of the plan should be reserved as a ,"buffer," of sorts
for uncompleted items.
At
the end of five years, any homeless person or family should have access
to emergency shelter
and later transitional housing leading to a rental and eventually to
home ownership in a program that will enable him or her to acquire/finish
an education and learn vital life skills in the process.
Simultaneously,
any chronically homeless person should have access to emergency housing.
Depending upon an individual's ability, the next step could be acquisition
of food services and training leading toward self-sufficiency or placement
in a permanent supportive housing unit.
Every
homeless person will be able to avail him/herself of a comprehensive
plan of service
that will include maximum flexibility based on one's ability; however,
all persons receiving assistance must be moving toward some manner of
self- improvement.
In
either scenario, those who demand total independence from case management
will be apprised that their decision is respected,
but that the corollary to true independence means that no services will
be forthcoming.
The
City of Colorado Springs will be known as a compassionate area
which is a great place to receive assistance in getting off the streets,
but a bad place to live a purposely homeless life.
ADDENDA
PROGRESS
IN 2003
Coordinating
Organization:
Homeward
Pikes Peak was formed in November, 2002, to be the coordinating organization
for homeless service providers in the Pikes Peak region. An Executive
Director was hired in March of 2003.
Survival
Manual:
The
,"Colorado Springs Survival Manual," was compiled by Matt
Parkhouse and has been updated and reprinted twice since 2003. It is
promulgated widely across the area to homeless service providers and
directly to the homeless.
Improve
Super-NOFA Funding:
The
Super-NOFA funding approached the maximum available in 2003 at $1,800,000.
The
Monitoring and Evaluation Committee is actively interviewing and monitoring
grant recipients.
Homeless
Headcount:
A
homeless headcount was done in May of 2003. Another was done in March
of 2004 and now HUD has asked all municipalities to count in January,
so we will comply and add a July count, as well for 2005. The first
headcount was a literal count only. The second added demographic information.
We continue to refine our techniques, continually striving for increased
accuracy.
Move
from Enabling to Helping Homeless:
An
educational program was carried out during 2003, culminating in the
First Annual Forum on Homelessness, where the concept of requiring accountability
from homeless aid recipients was debated. A philosophy of helping the
homeless resulted from these efforts:
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"The philosophy of helping the homeless in the Pikes Peak
region shall be to expect
the entire community: organizations, individuals and governments
to act in
a responsible and efficient fashion to prevent homelessness
and to assist and hold
accountable each homeless individual in moving toward self-sufficiency
in a manner
commensurate with his or her capabilities."
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Begin
to Expand Housing Stock:
The
main area of success in 2003 was the funding of Colorado House, a
transitional program consisting of thirty SRO units.
Implement
HMIS on a Small Scale, Beta Test It and Plan to Use It to Monitor
Homeless Intake:
Several
agencies are ready to proceed, with the only delay at this point
being software development. Four organizations are prepared to start
when the software is completed, hopefully in the early spring of
2005.
Expand
Homeless Headcount to Twice per Year:
We
are not only on schedule for January and July Homeless Population
estimates, but we believe the format used for the January 2005 count
has provided the most accurate data ever.
Plan
for Multi-Site Food Service Operations:
Planning
continues with a schedule of beginning implementation in the Spring
of 2005.
Plan
for a Card System to be Used for Accessing Food Services:
Planning
is proceeding with a scheduled implementation of mid-year 2005.
Develop
a Plan for Improving Access to Mainstream Resources:
Four
seminars were offered through the CHAP organization, coordinated by
the Social Security Administration, to familiarize caseworkers with
programs and how to properly apply for them. We are already seeing
specific examples of individuals being more expeditiously helped because
of the knowledge imparted in the seminars.
Develop
and Implement a Community-Wide Philosophy of Helping:
Our
philosophy was developed in January of 2004 as a result of the First
Annual Forum on Homelessness, and stresses accountability on the part
of the individual receiving assistance:
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"The
philosophy of helping the homeless in the Pikes Peak region
shall be to expect the entire community: organizations, individuals
and governments to act in a responsible and efficient fashion
to prevent homelessness and to assist and hold accountable
each homeless individual in moving toward self-sufficiency
in a manner commensurate with his or her capabilities."
|
Continue
the Concept of the Annual Conference on Homelessness:
The
conferences continue: The topic for 2004 was a review of and solicitation
of comments on the Five Year Blueprint to House Every Citizen of
Colorado Springs.
Mitigate
the "Enabling," Practice of Panhandling:
To
this end Homeward Pikes Peak has recommended an anti-panhandling
ordinance to the City Council of Colorado Springs for consideration.
Additionally, cards were printed and promulgated warning merchants
and shoppers of the pitfalls of giving money to panhandlers, while
on the other side of the card informing panhandlers how to access
assistance. Additionally, over 5,000 copies of the ,"Colorado
Springs Survival Manual," have been distributed to merchants
and service providers, again to help those in need access services.
Continue
to Provide Alternative Housing for the Chronically Homeless:
Through
this year,"Super-NOFA HUD grant, we have received funding
for an additional 25 Shelter + Care housing units for chronically
homeless, recidivist substance abusers.
Expand
Housing Stock Across the Continuum:
Through
the cooperation and combined efforts of the private sector, transitional
housing agencies, Habitat for Humanity and local builders, we
are gradually expanding the region-wide housing stock across the
continuum.
Export
Partners in Housing Life Skills Program to Other Agencies:
Partners
in Housing presently accepts visitors to their Life Skills programs
on a space-available basis. More work needs to be done to package
the Life Skills programs in a format that would be conducive to
exporting to other agencies.
<Page
1 "FIVE YEAR BLUEPRINT INTRO"
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3 "PREVENTION COMPONENT">
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4 "EVALUATION, RESEARCH AND VARIABLES">
