Who Works For Harbor Interfaith Services

     Child Welfare Services (CWS) major focus is on the safety and well being of a homeless child. Their goal is to help courts expedite permanent placement for children through programs such as the Court Improvement Program and the Foster Care Review Board Program. They also deal with cases involving abused and neglected children, and have the authority to take children away from their parents if either of these two are proven. For many children, the lack of adequate housing is a major factor in their entry into the public child welfare system.

1). Complete families are also in need of other human services before, during, and after the use of homeless shelter services (Culhane, et al., 2011). According to this research study, homeless families appear to use more services provided by homeless service programs than individual single adults do. Apparently, these homeless families supplant mainstream medical services intended for the general public, with services directed towards the homeless offered by homeless service programs (Culhane et al.,

Operation Safety Net is a local program for the city of Pittsburgh that strives to better the lives of individuals who are homeless. As described on the program’s website, Operation Safety Net provides its consumers with necessary health care and an increase of hope and self-esteem (Operation Safety Net, 2015). This program has proven to help close the critical health inequity of homeless individuals living without healthcare. Healthy People 2020 define a health disparity as, “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage.” (Disparities, para 6, 2015). This includes individuals having access to safe housing, culturally aware health care professionals and the opportunity to have health insurance. Therefore, there is a clear rationale for the Operation Safety Net program to be assisting people in Pittsburgh experiencing these inequities.

was developed by the Skid Row Housing Trust with the intention of fighting homelessness with a holistic model to break the cycle of homeless. This particular organization inhabits the complexes with qualified individuals to connect residents with on-site case management, medical care, mental health services, substance use treatment, advocacy and community building (Skid Row Housing Trust, n.d.). The ground floor of the complex is occupied by the Department of Health Services’ Housing for Health division headquarters whose programs aims to house 10,000 of the county’s sickest, most vulnerable homeless in the following decade (Holland,

Establishing a Women and Children's Center that includes practical life skills such as vocational training and educational classes. Otherwise known as Nueva Vida Haven, this emergency shelter for women and children (under the age of 16) provides not only a secure place to sleep, but also cooked meals, clothing, toiletries, and showers. As many as 60 women and children use the shelter, and women are given individual counseling (http://www.sdrescue.org/our-programs/housing/emergency-shelter-for-women-and-children/)

In recent years, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have identified rapid re-housing as a critical strategy to meeting the national goal of ending family homelessness by 2020 (USICH 2013). As noted in a recent update of Opening Doors, the federal plan to end homelessness, "[US Department of Health and Human Services], HUD, [the US Department of Veterans Affairs], and USICH have joined forces to promote expansion of rapid re-housing as a part of community coordinated systems" (USICH 2013). Rapid re-housing, an intervention that helps homeless families exit shelters and get back into permanent housing quickly, provides short-term help with housing expenses (e.g., rent arrears, ongoing rent assistance, moving costs) and case management focused on housing stability. Rapid re-housing is a relatively new but, as early evidence shows, promising strategy that communities across the country are

In an effort to end homelessness in Washington, DC, low barrier shelters, such as the Harriet Tubman Woman’s Shelter were implemented. Located in the center of DC General Campus in Southeast, DC, the Harriet Tubman Woman’s shelter, “is a 100 bed low-barrier emergency shelter for women over the age of 18 who are in urgent need of housing, food or case management” (Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington, Inc., 2010). A low-barrier shelter is “usually primarily short-term shelter for individuals. Low-barrier shelter is designed to keep people safe, is often open only 12 hours a day, and is often in a congregate setting. This type of program is provided, on a first come, first served basis, to any adult presenting as homeless. It is sometimes also referred to as emergency shelter” (Interagency Council on Homelessness District of Columbia, 2010, p.4) For all shelters in the Washington, DC area the women are to be out of the shelter from the time of 7am until the doors open again at 7pm. For those women who are not a part of the work program or have nothing to do during the day, the women have a chance to participate in the day program located in the shelter.

A letter to hospital administration, to be determined after some research on who may be the most receptive. The program includes highlighting the issue of homelessness, mental health concerns and the consequences of their use of the emergency room services. The creation of homeless services to be able to obtain non-medical essential services without having to claim an illness to receive food, shelter or other basic needs. Allowing the homeless to receive food, warmth or other requirements without tying up vital medical personnel with false complaints to gain access to address their nonmedical needs. The request to present a plan of action with data and research to all parties of interest and who could be of assistance.

These homeless families face many adversities and issues when seeking permanent housing like possible separation from their family members due to many

housing for homeless young adults, many of whom have aged out of foster care. It serves

The Transitional Living Program was designed to promote a transition for these clients to self sufficient living and prevent long-term dependency on social services. Another strength of this policy both micro and macro is that in 2008 when changes were occurring to the preliminaries of the act, the length of stay was increased in the shelters from 14-21 days and in the Transitional Housing Program from 18-21 months. This amount of time stated in the RHYA for an individual’s stay originally worried me only because what if the client’s needs were not met by this deadline what happens next? On the macro level this extension of time gives the agencies more time for implementation of services and programs. Agencies must try there hardest to not turn away any clients, because it could possibly come across as discrimination. It was rewarding to learn that these agencies are well equipped with information and techniques for the various people inquiring about services. As the National Alliance to End Homelessness states the United States served over 500,000 homeless youth in 2005. But the Department of Human Health Services reported that 2,500 people were turned away from agencies and shelters due to the lack of bed space. If I were a major stakeholder or beneficiary of this Act, I would be concerned that not all people in need are getting what they deserve. Although this number is relatively low compared to how many served this shows some changes

Also through researching it is indicated that Hesed House is the main provider for the homeless population in Aurora,

This population relies on the clinic for what the clinic calls integrative medical care (M. Lind, personal communication, May 10, 2017). In addition, the Santa Monica non-profit organization OPCC (n.d.), offers a “comprehensive system of care” for the “vulnerable and needy members of (the) community—homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, at-risk youth, indigent Veterans, and people dealing with severe physical or mental illness or substance abuse”. The organization (which also partners with the Venice Family Clinic) has multiple locations and offers assessments for all. OPCC (n.d.) touts the success of its programs, reporting that the organization “has placed 966 people into permanent housing, 95% of whom remain housed.” As far as the homeless population, Elizabeth Anderson of the Human Services Division believes that Santa Monica “does more than its fair share in making shelter beds available year-round”, especially as compared to greater Los Angeles (personal communication, April 27, 2017). Santa Monica’s Police Department (n.d.) also has a homeless liaison unit which partners on this issue.

Homelessness Youth Services in Barwon Youth Southwest Region – specifically the Youth Entry Point workers and management, who are primarily involved in undertaking specialist assessments to gain a greater understanding of the young person’s current housing situation, who explore barriers such as Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD), Mental Health or Family Violence concerns etc.

Housing identification; focus of this service is to provide help with finding housing and troubleshoot barriers that prevent access to housing like John’s PTSD.