Hand-in-Hand – A Collaborative Initiative for Justice Involved Homeless Households

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Abstract: Representatives from Maricopa County Human Services Department (HSD), Correctional Health Services, (CHS), Justice Systems Planning & Information (JSPI), Housing Authority of Maricopa County (HAMC), and other community based partners have created a partnership to reduce recidivism, and connect people experiencing homelessness, and are justice engaged, to appropriate housing, and supportive services. The collaborative works hand in hand with supportive services, housing providers, physical and mental health services, jails, and policy makers to serve justice-involved homeless individuals and families; connecting participants to necessary supports and housing; through the development of a sophisticated, and person-centered continuum of services. The partnership expects to provide improved services, leverage resources, create efficiencies, and reduce recidivism. The Problem or Need for the Program: Data from JSPI show that roughly 1 of every 4 persons booked into jail experienced being homeless at least once in 2015. Within this group are frequent offenders who have been booked into Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) jail 15 or more times. These offenders are more likely to experience homelessness (93%) and also have higher rates of serious and general mental health issues; 24% of homeless chronic offenders have a Serious Mental Illness (SMI). Of this group, 59 individuals were responsible for more than 1,000 bookings into jail on misdemeanor charges, often related to their lack of housing. Our research has shown that we have a relatively small number of people who are high cost and high needs, falling through the cracks and not well served through our traditional, siloed service model. Disconnected systems, and lack of data sharing protocols, are leading to failed interventions and a lack coordinated care for this high cost/high needs group. Description of the Program: The Hand-in-Hand program seeks to identify frequent users of the jails who are also homeless and connect them with housing and supportive services. Participants are identified by Correctional Health and referred to Human Services for enrollment. An MOU was developed to allow for client level data to be shared and participant service utilization is determined for both the County jails and the homeless services system through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Once a participant has been enrolled in the program, they are connected with a navigator who conducts an assessment of needs while the individual is in custody and a plan is developed to determine housing placement. Services are person centered and include a range of supports including residential treatment. A range of housing have been dedicated to the program to meet the diverse needs of enrollees; including Rapid Rehousing, Tenant Based Rental Assistance (up to 24 months), and Permanent Supportive Housing. Hand-in-Hand program staff meet weekly for a case conference to assess participant needs, determine housing placement, and review outcomes. Tracking outcomes and program evaluation are a critical component of Hand-in-Hand. The program is measuring: • Participant’s service utilization for jail, homeless services (e.g. Emergency Shelter), and physical/mental health services • Tenancy and housing stability • Reduction in recidivism to justice system Participants are assigned a navigator or case manager to ensure they are supported from the jail into services and housing. Case management continues while the participant is in housing to achieve housing stability, work on employment, and reintegrate into the community – ensuring participants do not return to jails. Cost of the Program: Human Services was provided a $65,000 grant to provide technical assistance for the systems integration and policy recommendations for the collaborative. An additional $65,000 will be provided to add a project manager and support program development for FY18/19. All other costs have been secured through reprioritization and leveraging of existing staff and housing resources. $330,000 of HOME Investment Partnership Program funds were also dedicated to this program, and are administered by the Housing Authority of Maricopa County. Up to $130,000 of Emergency Solutions Grant funds is supporting short- to medium-term rental assistance for eligible participants in Hand-in-Hand. Results of the Program: Currently sixty-nine participants have been referred to the program. Average proxy score is two (range: two - six), average number of times booked is seven (range: 3 - 33). Twenty participants (twenty-nine percent) are in housing or are seeking housing. Twelve participants (seventeen percent) have been exited from the program due to loss of contact or sentencing of more than one year. Participants who have been exited, maintain eligibility if they re-enter the justice system or homeless service system. Ongoing evaluation will measure income, housing stability, employment, improved health outcomes, and reduced cost across systems. Evaluation will cover the entire length of time participants receive housing subsidies and the project anticipates being able to provide housing and services for at least eighty households. Worthiness of Award: Hand-in-Hand prioritizes a group of people in our community who are falling through the cracks in multiple systems of care. Though small in number, these “familiar faces”, are using significant resources across multiple systems. By aligning systems, and adopting shared outcomes, the program is able to provide wrap around supports to a vulnerable group of people who are both homeless and high utilizers of the jail. Through the development of a sophisticated and person-centered continuum of services, the partnership expects to provide improved services, leverage resources, create efficiencies, reduce recidivism, and reduce the number of unsheltered people in Maricopa County.