Slide 1:

MASSACHUSETTS HOUSING AND SHELTER ALLIANCE
INITIATING SOLUTIONS TO END HOMELESSNESS

DISCHARGE PLANNING
FOR HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION:

STEPS TO CHANGE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2003
HUD-HHS-VA POLICY ACADEMY
ATLANTA

MHSA is a statewide homeless advocacy alliance of 83 agencies serving homeless people throughout Massachusetts.
For more information please contact MHSA at 617/367-6447.

MASSACHUSETTS HOUSING AND SHELTER ALLIANCE
FIVE PARK STREET
BOSTON, MA 02108
PHONE: 617/367- 6447
FAX: 617/367-5709
EMAIL: abolition@mhsa.net

Slide 2:

Number of Months the Massachusetts Emergency Shelter System was over Capacity in each of the Last 11 Years

• 1993 = 0 months
• 1994 = 1 month
• 1995 = 4 months
• 1996 = 5 months
• 1997 = 8 months
• 1998 = 9 months
• 1999 = 12 months
• 2000 = 12 months
• 2001 = 12 months
• 2002 = 12 months
• 2003 = 1 month (data from January only)

Source: Data is based on information reported from shelters statewide in Massachusetts.

Slide 3:

Emergency Shelters for Homeless Individuals Have Overflowed 51 Consecutive Months and 59 of the last 62 Months

Data from October 1998 through December 2002 indicate totals over 100% in all months.
With increasing peaks in December, January and February and valleys all above 105% capacity from 2000 on.

10/98 = 101% capacity 11/98 = 102% capacity 12/98 = 104% capacity 1/99 = 110% capacity 2/99 = 110% capacity 3/99 = 112% capacity 4/99 = 107% capacity 5/99 = 104% capacity 6/99 = 104% capacity 7/99 = 102% capacity 8/99 = 101% capacity 9/99 = 101% capacity 10/99 = 104% capacity 11/99 = 109% capacity 12/99 = 112% capacity 1/00 = 116% capacity 2/00 = 116% capacity 3/00 = 116% capacity 4/00 = 115% capacity 5/00 = 110% capacity 6/00 = 109% capacity 7/00 = 105% capacity 8/00 = 106% capacity 9/00 = 107% capacity 10/00 = 110% capacity 11/00 = 110% capacity

12/00 = 113% capacity 1/01 = 118% capacity 2/01 = 120% capacity 3/01 = 118% capacity 4/01 = 115% capacity 5/01 = 110% capacity 6/01 = 109% capacity 7/01 = 109% capacity 8/01 = 108% capacity 9/01 = 107% capacity 10/01 = 110% capacity 11/01 = 113% capacity 12/01 = 115% capacity 1/ 02 = 121% capacity 2/ 02 = 123% capacity 3/ 02 = 124% capacity 4/ 02 = 118% capacity 5/ 02 = 115% capacity 6/ 02 = 113% capacity 7/ 02 = 110% capacity 8/ 02 = 108% capacity 9/02 = 109% capacity 10/02 = 111% capacity 11/02 = 115% capacity 12/02 = 123% capacity

Slide 4:

MASSACHUSETTS HOUSING AND SHELTER ALLIANCE
Research on Emerging Homeless Subpopulations

Comparison of Emerging Populations in Massachusetts Emergency Shelter

Slide 5:

Ex Prisoners and Massachusetts Shelters

Individuals Entering Emergency Shelters Directly Upon Discharge from a Federal, State or County Correctional Facility

• Federal Facilities (2001 was first year MHSA collected Federal Prison statistics)
  • 2001 = 7 individuals
• State Facilities
  • 1997 = 276
  • 1998 = 298
  • 1999 = 185
  • 2000 = 231
  • 2001= 365
• County Facilities
  • 1997 = 643
  • 1998 = 813
  • 1999 = 728
  • 2000 = 715
  • 2001 = 589
• State and County Total
  • 1997 = 919
  • 1998 = 1111
  • 1999 = 913
  • 2000 = 946
  • 2001 = 95

Slide 6:

Corrections and Massachusetts Shelters

Individuals Entering Emergency Shelters With Prison or Jail Records

New Guests with Jail Records:

• 1997 = 3683
• 1998 = 4681
• 1999 = 4104
• 2000 = 5302

Slide 7:

Young Adults and Massachusetts Shelters

Individuals age 18 to 24 Entering New to Emergency Shelters

New Guests aged 18 – 24:

• 1997 = 839
• 1998 = 1278
• 1999 = 2383
• 2000 = 3144

Slide 8:

Hospital Discharges and MA Shelters

Individuals entering emergency shelters upon discharge from Psychiatric Care in Hospitals

New Shelter Guest Arriving Upon Hospital Discharge

• 1997 = 761
• 1998 = 806
• 1999 = 656
• 2000 = 705
• 2001 = 798

Slide 9:

Discharges by Hospital Category 2001 – 2002

• Private 72%
• State 2%
• Other 6%
• Veterans 1%
• Public 19%

Slide 10:

Private Hospital Discharges by Facility June 2001 – May 2002

• Lowell General = 4%
• Bayridge = 14%
• Malden = 5%
• Holy Family 2%
• Newton-Wellesley = 4%
• Berkshire Medical Center = 2%
• McLean = 7%
• Arbour = 18%
• Carney = 4%
• Fuller = 3%
• Beverly = 2%
• Beth Israel = 2%
• Mass General = 4%
• Brockton = 6%
• Cambridge = 4%
• Cape Cod= 8%
• Bournewood = 7%
• Baldpate = 5%

Slide 11:

Flow chart Discharge Planning for Homelessness Prevention” Steps to Change

Research, advocacy education leading to policy change leading to resource development leading to institutionalizing change.

Slide 12:

MASSACHUSETTS HOUSING AND SHELTER ALLIANCE
INITIATING SOLUTIONS TO END HOMELESSNESS

A&F POLICY REPORT:MOVING BEYOND SERVING THE HOMELESSTO PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS

Review and Recommendations

Slide 13:

Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F)

Organization chart

• Department of Correction above Department of Housing and Community Development above Department of Veteran’s Services above County Sheriffs above Operational Services Division
• On same level of Department of Corrections is the Executive Office of Health and Human Services with three divisions underneath:
  • Department of Transitional Assistance
  • Division of Medical Assistance
  • Dept of Mental Health.
• Department of Public Health, Department of Youth Services and Department of Social Services come under Transitional Assistance.
• Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership and HMOs come under Medical Assistance

Slide 14:

The A&F Process:

Working Group on Discharge Planning

Working Group on Housing Search and Retention

Slide 15:

MASSACHUSETTS HOUSING AND SHELTER ALLIANCE

POSITIVE INITIATIVES IN PREVENTING AND ENDING HOMELESSNESS

Slide 16:

Special Initiative to House the Homeless Mentally Ill

FY ’92 – FY ’01:

• DMH developed or gained access to 1,154 new housing units
• Annual State appropriation increase of $1-2 million leverages 1:4 match in federal funds
• Ongoing costs annualized into Departmental budget

Slide 17:

Special Initiative to House the Homeless Mentally Ill

• Placed 2,359 homeless clients with mental illness into new or existing units with services, including 443 in FY ’01

Slide 18:

Special Initiative to House the Homeless Mentally Ill

FY ’92 – FY ’01:

• 8,106 homeless individuals have received community-based services, including health care, counseling, and referral and case management services.

Slide 19:

Criminal Justice Initiative

• Fiscal Year 98 = 293 Criminal Justice Admissions
• FY 99 = 339 Criminal Justice Admissions
• FY 00 = 533 Criminal Justice Admissions
• FY 01 = 494 Criminal Justice Admissions
• FY 02 = 593 Criminal Justice Admissions

(SOURCE: Compiled by MHSA Staff from Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, and Correctional Recovery Bed Initiative Reports.)

Slide 20:

Criminal Justice Initiative

• FY 00
  • DOC = 184
  • HOC = 349
  • Total = 533
• FY 01
  • DOC = 180
  • HOC = 314
  • Total = 494
• FY 02
  • DOC = 220
  • HOC = 373
  • Total = 593

(SOURCE: Compiled by MHSA Staff from Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, and Correctional Recovery Bed Initiative Reports.)

Slide 21:

MORE POSITIVE INITIATIVES

• HUD Affordability Study
• State Housing Bond Bill
• LIHTC

Slide 22:

 ESSENTIAL RESOURCES FOR DISCHARGE PLANNING

Published collaboratively by the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA) and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC)

I. Introduction and Overview
 II.  Assessment Materials  
III.  Collaborating with Local Stakeholders
IV.  Exemplary Policies and Practices
V.  Improving Outcomes