COLLABORATIVE FOR HOPE- NEW STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN SALEM - PUBLIC DIALOGUE PRESENTATION- APRIL 24, 2018HOMELESSNESSIN SALEMA Collaborative for HopeCity of Salem | Salem Police Department | Lifebridge | North Shore Community Health | North Shore Community Action Program | North Shore Workforce Investment Board
Tonight’s Conversation•Update on Statistics•Update on Strategies:1.Police Patrol2.Alternative Giving & Day Employment3.Housing First4.Hub Model5.Outreach Caseworkers•New Strategy: Day Program•What you can do•Open Q&A and Discussion
Update on Statistics•Two types of homeless populations:1.Chronic homeless: 13 identified in 2017 survey; down to 8. All 4 received treatment/services; 3 are now housed locally, 1 is in Lifebridgeand doing well, and 1 has found housing in Haverhill after 15 years living on Salem streets.2.Larger group of transient individuals, often new to area or recently homeless, couch-surfers, often more responsive to treatment and services. •Each require a different response.
Update on Statistics•Homeless children (K-12) in Salem (2017-2018 school year):•220 Salem students are homeless: “no fixed, adequate, and regular nighttime residence, including those living in a shelter, a motel, hotel, or campground, a car, abandoned buildings or other inadequate accommodations, staying with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship, and unaccompanied or migrant youth living in the above situations.”2471517182425293640051015202530354045New Liberty ECC BACS WHES Saltonstall Carlton Bowditch HMLS Bates Collins Salem HighHomeless Students by School(New Liberty under-reported)
Update on Statistics•SPS has spent FYTD $379,000 on transportation for homeless students and students in foster care.•2017-2018 is 2ndyear of SPS receiving McKinney-Vento Federal grant ($30,000). This grant funds all of the following for homeless students:•Students 8 years old and up to attend Boys & Girls Club after school program at Collins, including transportation costs.•Up to 10 homeless students to attend the licensed child care summer camp program for 9 weeks.•Purchase of over 70 backpacks and assorted school supplies.•Purchase of winter hats and gloves.•Purchase of personal care products.•SPS partnerships/resources for homeless students, parents, grandparents/guardians, and non-school age children in the family: DTA/DHCD, NSCAP, Centerboard, YMCA, FKO, B&G Club, DCF, HAWC, multiple medical practices, SPUR, SPS Holiday Giving Tree, SFD Operation Warm, Salem Children’s Charity, and a Bed for Every Child.•Haven Project partnership, City Connects tool, existing SPS Homeless Education Liaison
Update on Statistics3847324682671208517018813896020406080100120140160180200JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilHomeless-related Calls for Service201620172018
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 2 2 2 23 34220510152025Homeless Individuals No Trespass Orders by Address (2018 YTD)January 1, 2018 –April 22, 2018: 62 no trespass orders issued to 38 homeless individuals.This is 55% of all no trespass orders issued during this period.
Update on Strategies: Police Patrol•Increased patrols with reserves and new officers/strategic task force/CIU & outreach worker.•Distribution of “Homeless Solutions & Resources: A Police Officer’s Guide to Policing the Community” as part of Patrol Training.•Added five FTE to ranks for FY2018.•Adjusted patrol schedules based on calls for service data.
Update on Strategies: Alternative Giving & Day Employment•Panhandling can be a disincentive to seeking employment.•Which populations of homeless or transient need or would make use of day employment opportunities?•Day employment connections: WIB/Career Center, City, private companies.•Alternative giving campaign: text-to-donate.
Update on Strategies: Housing First
Update on Strategies: Housing First
Update on Strategies: Housing First•Five Lifebridge residents will go into apartments at Boston Street Crossing (26 units in all).•Lifebridge congregate housing: 22 units.•NSCDC housing: Congress/Dow and 15-17 Harbor (17 units for formally-homeless, low-income youth aging out of foster care system).•CDBG funded homeless prevention (FY17): 33 Salem families (65 people) kept from falling into homelessness.
Update on Strategies: Hub Model•Monthly check-in meeting of service providers and organizations to coordinate activities.•Review status of benchmark statistics.•Review cases of specific high-risk individuals.•Check in on effectiveness of existing strategies.
Update on Strategies: Outreach Caseworkers•Outreach workers on call out of Salem PD. Funded through CDBG, in partnership with North Shore Community Health.•Haven Project partnership with Salem Public Schools to support homeless students.•Contact Outreach to report non-emergency transient or homeless issues: hope@salem.com.•Identify & work to connect those in need with health insurance, primary care, behavioral health, substance abuse treatment,housing, and/or employment.
Update on Strategies: Outreach CaseworkersSince program launch (August 2017): 70 homeless individuals contacted and assisted on Salem streets.•25 clothing vouchers provided.•15 established/reestablished primary care at NSCH.•13 received housing assistance (shelter, lottery application assistance, case management).•8 referred to opioid treatment (medication-assisted/Vivitrol).•8 referred to behavioral health or mental health services.•7 received financial counseling, primarily regarding medical insurance.•7 treated/cured of Hepatitis C virus.•2 sleeping bags provided.•1 homeless senior referred to SSI for benefits application.•1 referred to treatment/management for chronic illness.•1 homeless pregnant woman established prenatal Ob/gyncare
New Strategies: Day Program•Similar to facilities in Gloucester (Grace Center) and Haverhill (Community Action Inc.).•Reduces number of homeless loitering outside.•Provides comfortable space for access toservices, facilities, food, etc.
What you can do1.Call: Salem Police at 978-744-1212 or Outreach worker at hope@salem.com(number forthcoming).2.Alternative giving option, not panhandlers.3.Keep an open mind about alternatives and options, such as housing first.4.Help form a community coalition and share your ideas.5.Sign up with Lifebridgefor the next Homeless Survey.
Open Q&A and Discussion