Homeward Pike's Peak Stratigic Plan

HOMEWARD PIKES PEAK

STRATEGIC PLANNING FRAMEWORK

Prepared September 2003

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

HOMELESSNESS IN THE PIKES PEAK REGION

Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region have developed a homeless services system that attempts to serve the needs of the hundreds of people each year who are homeless in our community.

	*	The homeless services system is now a multi-million dollar industry in our community.
	*	Single adults, primarily men, are the largest most visible population.
	*	Women and children are the fastest growing subpopulation. They are not visible to the general population.
	*	Homelessness is a complex, socio-economic issue.
	*	Far too many people in our community are susceptible to homelessness because they are precariously housed, mentally traumatized, financially unstable, underemployed, hopeless and/or disconnected from a stable support system.

THE CONTINUUM OF CARE
	Homeward Pikes Peak is leading a community wide planning process:

	*	The Strategic Plan is targeted toward creating an efficient, high functioning homeless delivery system
		ultimately aimed at ending homelessness in the region.

	*	It is a formalized process for defining and developing the components that make up the homeless service
		delivery system.

	*	The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has coined the phrase Continuum of Care.
		When it is used by HPP in the context of the strategic planning process, the continuum is defined more broadly.

	*	Our aim through this planning process is to enable the Continuum of Care to emerge as a comprehensive
		system based on our community's needs:

THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS

THREE COMPONENTS:


	1.	The initial planning body, whose function it is to set the plan's framework (see appendix
		for participant list) by defining vision, mission and goals.

	2.	The HPP Board, whose function is to review the framework, provide input into the vision,
		mission and goal recommendations, and endorse the framework for use with the broader planning groups.

	3.	Community input groups -the plan's framework and initial goals were be presented to
		the community of providers at The Conference on Homelessness on October 14. While no approval was required, it was HPP's intent to build awareness of the planning process and create buy-in for the framework among these key stakeholders.

		i.	A subset of the provider group, together with representatives from the local government,
			academia, the faith community, business community, Pikes Peak United Way and neighborhoods comprised the community planning group. Their function was to add the strategies, tactics and measurements to the plan, which will then be ratified by the HPP Board by the close of the calendar year. The community-planning group (CPG) was convened on October 28, 2003. A list of participants is attached.

			The CPG used the following process:

			(1)	Review of planning process and work to date

			(2)	Review and feedback on vision, mission and value

			(3)	The group, as a whole, reprioritized the five original goals based on
				feedback from HPP staff, counsel recommendations, and their own deliberation. As result, the group:

				(a)	Created the definition of the "Philosophy of Care"

				(b)	Integrated the planning goal into the provision of critical service goal

			(4)	Small groups were used to create strategies and tactics to support each of the three broad goals.
				Each group presented their S/Ts for entire group feedback and endorsement.
				Terminology:

	2.	Group leaders presented each subset group's work to the entire planning group.

	VISION
	A city and region where homelessness and related problems are addressed in innovative, compassionate and strategic ways through joint initiatives of public, private, religious and not-for-profit sectors.

	MISSION
	To be the catalyst in the Pikes Peak region's effort to eliminate homelessness by coordinating, facilitating and monitoring a strategic plan for homeless services and resource utilization.

	VALUE
	Everyone deserves the right to be self-reliant. If someone becomes homeless and is unable to take care of himself or herself or their family for any reason, it is the community's duty to provide readily accessible resources for basic human needs in the short-term and a system designed to help homeless people regain and maintain their self-reliance in the future.

	PHILOSOPHY OF CARING
	Colorado Springs provides a comprehensive continuum of care system to address the needs of the homeless. Our system creates pathways to move our clients from vulnerability to stability. We focus our interaction with the homeless on needs of the individual in order to maximize each vulnerable person's potential for self-sufficiency. We are compassionate and expect accountability from both the clients we serve and each of the agencies dedicated to helping this population. HPP facilitates a culture of empowering rather than helping. Through our work as a community, it is clear that we collaborate to help our clients realize self-sufficiency.

	GOALS

	The initial planning body employed a process of:


	*	Vision and Mission assessment and restatement

	*	SWOT analysis

	*	Identification of critical issues

	*	Definition of five (5) baseline goals for HPP as the permanent coordinating
		organization. These goals were later narrowed to three (3), as described earlier

	1.	Provision of Critical Services - HPP will Identify, prioritize, and facilitate critical services for
		both prevention and intervention of homelessness.

		i.	Using the CoC as a framework, HPP will employ a dynamic and inclusive planning
			process annually.

		ii.	HPP will leverage other communities' best practices.

		iii.	HPP will develop and employ an independent method of CoC evaluation to
			ensure the system is meeting client needs.

			1.	Through this evaluation, HPP will identify the gaps that need to be filled and convey
				those needs to the CoC providers.

				(1)	Utilize survey (2-way input from clients/providers) to ascertain community needs

				(2)	Conduct a comprehensive inventory of services being provided in the
					community along the entire CoC.

		iv.	Focus on leveraging the TAC and CHAP groups.

			1.	Merge CHAP/TAC, which becomes the forum for identifying priorities
				and ideas for engaging the larger universe of providers.

				(1)	Assemble like providers routinely to address the CoC implementation.

				(2)	Provide expert speakers to highlight larger issues related to community planning
					and service implementation to address homeless issues.

				(3)	Conduct general meetings to engage the CHAP/TAC.

				(4)	Solicit input and feedback from providers to assure their needs are met in terms
					of CHAP/TAC.

				(5)	Create partnerships to meet grant needs and provider broader services.

				(6)	Annually identify the "do-able" priority projects.

					(a)	Seek small activities that leverage big results

		v.	HPP will facilitate Strategic Partnerships among and between CoC, government,
			faith-based and tangential providers to address the CoC services required without redundancy

			1.	Conceptualize partnerships as moving coalitions.

			2.	Maximize the HMIS by establishing a community-wide case management network/system.

			3.	Encourage, advocate, and convene potential strategic partnerships
				without stifling the innovation among individual organizations.

		vi.	HPP will, through stakeholder input, identify and facilitate priority issues for the continuum.
			The current list in priority order includes:

			1.	Affordable Housing

			2.	Mental Health

			3.	Substance Abuse

			4.	Transportation

			5.	Emergency Services

			6.	Childcare

			7.	Healthcare

			8.	Employment

	2.	Public Education - Communicate the CoC needs, its progress and results to the community
		at large through public awareness activities.

		i.	Key message: This is the community's plan.

			1.	Create a strategic communications plan that connects the general public to
				understanding the issues of homelessness in the Pikes Peak region.

			2.	HPP create the strategy and message, but each organization is responsible
				for participating in the "story-telling" of their own organization's role in the CoC.

			3.	Seek ways to effectively publicize the interdependent action between and
				among providers and HPP.

			4.	Success stories build the case - tell the good story of the collective work among the
				providers within CoC. Tell it right. Help the community celebrate Colorado Springs' strategic and collaborative work that is already heralded elsewhere in the state.

	3.	Funding - Leverage and expand the pool of funding resources -public and private - available for
		Continuum of Care services.

		i.	Maximize the Super NOFA

			1.	Enable all providers to recognize that permanent housing for homeless people
				with disabilities is a critical component for any HUD grant and is a fundamental part of the CoC as defined earlier.

			2.	Write outstanding Exhibit One each application cycle.

			3.	Recognize that supportive services are becoming less important for HUD.
				Nonetheless, the community must demonstrate how it provides supportive services.

			4.	Help providers understand how to match housing projects with supportive services if a project is approved by
				HUD (matching contingent funds).

		ii.	HPP will facilitate collaboration among providers to enhance funding.

			1.	Leverage the CHAP as a forum for identifying funding opportunities.

			2.	Coordinate with the state and MDHI to identify opportunities at the state level to share with the CHAP.

			3.	HPP will investigate opportunities for funding, promulgate the information to service providers and,
				where appropriate, facilitate collaborative funding.

			4.	Develop financially creative ways to facilitate such things as:

				(1)	Volume buying

				(2)	Office options (rent vs. buy)

				(3)	Strategic alliances and strategic restructuring

				(4)	Explore the establishment of a Development Task Force to provide access to resources for the CoC

			5.	Assure adequate opportunities for housing "when and if" people are prepared to assume the
				responsibility for their situations.

WHAT IS HOMEWARD PIKES PEAK?

HOMEWARD IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CREATED IN 2002


	Borne of the recommendation of the Commission on Homelessness in Southern Colorado to institute a
	permanent coordinating agency (PCO) to facilitate the homeless service delivery system in the Pikes Peak Region:

	*	Modeled after the successful program, Homeward Richmond;

	*	HPP has a diverse board of directors comprised of representatives from local government,
		service providers, academia, the faith community, business community and neighborhoods;

	*	Original funding for HPP came from the El Pomar Foundation as part of a larger RFP effort to
		support homeless programs in the region;

	*	HPP currently receives funding from El Pomar Foundation and supportive services from the
		City of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak United Way.

HPP'S ROLE AND FUNCTION IN THE PIKES PEAK REGION

	Permanent Coordinating Organization/ HPP brings together:

	*	homeless service providers;

	*	local governments;

	*	the faith-based, academic and business communities;

	*	homeless and formerly homeless individuals; concerned citizens.

	HPP ensures that the combined efforts, resources, knowledge and talents of these groups
	create integrated, powerful and effective strategies and solutions to solve the problem of homelessness in Colorado Springs and El Paso County.

EXPERT ON HOMELESSNESS IN THE REGION

	*	Become the central hub of information and action regarding
		the homelessness community problem solving process.

	*	Provide information, technical assistance and recommendations to funding decision makers.

FACILITATOR OF THE COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS

	*	Promote services and system integration between public and private service providers by
		appropriately involving a cross section of stakeholders in the decision making process.

	*	In partnership with local government and concerned others, prepare the required Continuum of Care Plan.

	*	Provide consultation, information and resources to state, regional, city and county officials responsible
		for developing public policy affecting the homeless.

LEAD ORGANIZATION FOR ADVOCACY

	*	Monitor grant announcements and assist service providers in preparation of grant proposals that will
		enhance the ability of the entire homeless services delivery system to address issues of homelessness in the Pikes Peak Region.

	*	Fill existing gaps and accomplish the tasks set forth in the strategic plan to effectively address homelessness in the Pikes Peak Region.

	*	Facilitate a broad public awareness campaign in order to break stereotypes about homelessness and
		to inform the general public in the Pikes Peak Region.

	*	Develop and implement a Strategic Plan to reduce homelessness in the Pikes Peak Region
		with broad based community input.

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