From Homes for Families:
As you may know, Homes for Families is dedicated to educating, organizing and advocating with and for the family shelter providers and homeless/formerly homeless parents. We are aware that each region has different levels of provider networking and consumer involvement, and are happy to assist and support each region develop meaningful and productive methods of engagement. The purpose of this email is to inform you about some of our initiatives to support shelter providers in peer learning, developing best practices and achieving better outcomes. It is our hope that your networks will support the communication and coordination shelter providers in your regions so that together we can successfully reduce the number of families in the shelter system.
- Short Term Subsidy Round Table Discussion: we have invited 1-3 providers from each region to have a discussion about short term subsidies. DHCD will present some data and provide clarifications. We will hear presentations from Emmaus House and CMHA-two providers who have been identified as having high placement numbers and positive outcomes. The group will develop a best practice framework to share with other providers. Those in attendance to share the learnings with others in their region. With additional short term subsidies headed our way, through HPRP…and a severe shortage of other housing resources, it is vital that shelter and housing providers use this resource strategically.
- We will be hosting additional discussions each month in coordination with DHCD. We will be asking shelter providers to rotate who attends the meeting and share the information as a means to cut back on the time spent out of the office, foster networking opportunities and increase coordination within the regions.
- New Approaches to Reducing Family Homelessness Forum: Linking Shelter and Housing Providers is tentatively scheduled for 11/09. More information coming soon.
Please feel free to contact Homes for Families with any questions.
