MeckFUSE Program

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

MeckFUSE is funded by Mecklenburg County; administered by the Community Support Services Department (CSS) and is operated by Urban Ministry Center. Program objectives include: a) conduct a cross-system data match to identify frequent users of the jail and shelter systems with behavioral health issues b) recruit 45 individuals into the program by the end of the first programmatic year and c) stabilize the individual by providing wrap-around supportive services. Based on the Frequent Users Systems Engagement (FUSE) model, a national best practice developed by the Corporation for Supportive Housing, MeckFUSE uses permanent supportive housing and wrap-around supportive services as the intervention for stabilizing frequent users of high cost public services. Hennepin County, Minnesota uses the FUSE model and is reporting positive outcomes such as reduced arrests and reduced utilization of shelter resources. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is conducting a formal evaluation over three years in the hopes of yielding similar results. Approximately 200 individuals were potentially identified for 45 available permanent supportive housing units. At the end of MeckFUSE’s first year in operation, 45 clients were accepted for placement into housing. As of January 2015, 43 individuals are housed; no clients returned to the shelter(s), and 4 clients were re-arrested.