Community Advisory Council on Homelessness

Monday, March 7th , 2022
2:00pm - 4:00pm

Virtual via WebEx

Meeting agenda

• Welcome: Deputy Governor Sol Flores
• Data Informing the Plan to Prevent & End Homelessness: Sean Connelly, University of Illinois
• Reaching Functional Zero in Rockford: Jennifer Jaeger, City of Rockford & Melanie Lewis Dickerson, Community Solutions
• Community Advisory Council on Homelessness (CACH) Member Introductions
• CACH Infrastructure, Christine Haley, IL Office to Prevent & End Homelessness (IOPEH)
• Overview IL Plan to Prevent & End Homelessness, Christine Haley, IOPEH
• Public Comment
• Closing

MEETING STRUCTURE

• Meeting will be recorded; IDHS' Chris Hammond taking minutes
• Please put audio on mute and turn video on
• Place name and agency in chat for attendance
• Task Force Members may comment by coming off mute
• Guests please remain on mute until public comment session
• Public comment to start no later than 3:45pm; To provide public comment please sign up in the chat stating "public comment, name, agency if representing agency" or use raise hand emoji if you cannot access the chat

Data Informing the IL Plan to Prevent & End Homelessness

Sean Connelly

University of Illinois

Institute for Government & Public Affairs

Reaching Functional Zero in Rockford

Jennifer Jaeger, Community Services Director, City of Rockford

Melanie Lewis Dickerson, Portfolio Lead, Community Solutions

Community advisory council member introductions

What brings you to the CACH and what do you want the see the CACH accomplish?

Community Advisory Council on Homelessness Infrastructure

Key Components of Executive Order 2021-21

• Signed by Governor Pritzker on September 3, 2021
• Creates new homelessness infrastructure within Illinois State government
  • Interagency Task Force on Homelessness
  • Community Advisory Council on Homelessness 
  • State Homelessness Chief
• Develop a State Plan and deliver to Governor Pritzker and  the Illinois General Assembly by March 30,2022
  • Submitting a request to amend the EO to submit the plan by May 1st, 2022
• Prepare an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1st of each year with the first report delivered on December 1, 2022.

Interagency Task force on Homelessness

• Modeled after US Interagency Council on Homelessness
  • State models: Wisconsin, Minnesota, California
• Set strategic direction for ending homelessness
• Recommend policy, regulatory and resource changes needed to end homelessness
• Collaborate with the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness and those creating local plans to end homelessness
• Recommend & promote interagency collaboration on related efforts, e.g., Poverty Commission, Hunger Commission
• Establish sustainability plan for reaching goals
• Meet quarterly; First meeting is March 14th

Interagency Task Force on Homelessness Directors

Community Advisory Council Seats

• Lived Experience of Homelessness (3)
• Living with a disability
• Philanthropy (2)
• Statewide Behavioral Health Advocacy Organization
• Statewide Housing Advocacy Organization
• CoCs (3)
• Local Units of Government (3)
• At-large: Housing Developer
• At-large: Youth service provider
• State Homelessness Chief (Co-Chair)

Community Advisory Council on Homelessness

• Make recommendations to the Task Force on stated Executive Order goals
• Meet at least four times per year
• Geographic diversity
• Serve at the will of the Governor for a three-year term
• Strive to operate via consensus, but can approve measures and make recommendations when there is a quorum and affirmative vote of the majority of the members present
• Co-Chairs
  • Christine Haley, IL Office to Prevent & End Homelessness
  • Debbie Reznick, Polk Bros. Foundation (Appointment Pending)

Roles for Consideration

• Provide guidance to the Task Force and IOPEH
  • Who and how will CACH provide guidance to the Task Force?
• Leadership role in work groups
• Identify areas for intersectionality with our work; dissemination of work

Overview of the IL Plan to Prevent & End Homelessness

Plan Development

1. 1:1 IOPEH & Agency Directors
2. 1:1 meetings IOPEH & CoC Leadership
3. 1:1 Meetings IOPEH & IDHS Division Directors
4. 1:1 Meetings State SMEs
5. Listening Sessions
6. Task Force & Advisory Committee Meetings
7. Community Feedback Session/Written Comment

Informing the Plan: Community Listening Sessions

Plan Structure

• Foundational Plan - FY23 & FY24
• Building state and community capacity and infrastructure
• In FY23, will develop projections for reaching functional zero
• Quality, not quantity, of measures
• Agencies submitted activities to support the plan strategies
  • Policy
  • Process
  • Program
• Governor's Office advocating for additional allocation to support expansion and new activities in the plan; potential ARPA activities not included in this presentation

FY23 Proposed Budget: Interagency Task Force Agencies Funding Homeless Dedicated or Prioritized Projects

Proposed Plan Framework

IL Office to Prevent & End Homelessness

Initiatives

• Homelessness & Racial Equity Roundtable: Develop consensus on root causes of racial disparities in homelessness and develop strategies for elimination
• Rural Homelessness Initiative: Create strategic framework for ending rural homelessness
• Homelessness Capacity Building & Technical Assistance Center: Support internal state capacity to onboard new homeless programs and develop internal capacity on promising practices; Coordinate and provide supplemental support for agency capacity building needs with a focus on the crisis housing system
• Funding Sustainability: Support the Task Force in developing funding sustainability plans to reach functional zero
• Community Education on Homelessness: Engage with Princeton Eviction Lab to bring the Evicted Exhibit to Illinois

IL Office to Prevent & End Homelessness

Work Groups

• Homeless Youth Subcommittee: Discharge Planning Work Group with DCFS, IDJJ, IDHS-DMH, & IDOC
• Public Housing Authority (PHA) Work Group: Together with the Regional HUD Public Housing Office, convene PHAs to understand local and national models on implementing strategies to address homelessness
• Homeless Data Analysis & Integration Work Group: Support development of statewide data dashboard on homelessness; Statewide analysis of reaching functional zero through right-sizing of homeless prevention, shelter diversion, shelter, rapid rehousing, affordable housing and permanent supportive housing;
• Securing Housing for Persons with Criminal Legal System Involvement Work Group: Focus on persons with sex offenses on their record
• Health Care and Homelessness Work Group: Convene hospitals and Managed Care Organizations on health focused housing development, discharge planning, medical respite expansion and statewide flexible housing pool
• Transit System & Homelessness Work Group: Convene public transit agencies to identify effective and compassionate housing and services models to support persons living on public transportation; coordinate with Rural Homeless Initiative to identify public transit supports for persons seeking public transit options for work that are currently unavailable

Il Housing Development Authority (IHDA)

Policy

• Advocate for additional Federal and State funding to go towards the annual PSH Development Round; Maintain the current funding structure through FY23 & FY24
• Add persons experiencing chronic homelessness to the FY19 Section 811 Program

Process

• Partner closely with state agency and community stakeholders to develop detailed analysis of housing needs for IOPEH populations in IHDA publications
• Provide technical assistance and training to property managers on increasing accessibility to units through changes in project Tenant Selection Plans. Partnering with CSH and CoC Coordinated Entry Systems, strengthen referral processes for persons experiencing homelessness to access Statewide Referral Network units.

Il Housing Development Authority (IHDA)

Program

• Release a round of funding for acquisition, new construction or rehabilitation for permanent supportive housing in the annual tax credit application round
• Units created with 9% Tax Credits will have a 10% set aside for the Statewide Referral Network.
• Through partnership with CSH, deliver the Supportive Housing Development Institute to increase new PSH development projects; Provide financial support through a Project Initiation Loan Pool.
• The HOME Investment Partnerships Program- American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) statewide allocation of $62 million will include creating new rental units and non-congregate shelter for homeless households
• Support rental housing support program, including project with IDOC on re-entry demonstration program

Il Department of Human Services

Process

• (Family & Community Services (FCS)) Review reporting requirements within homeless services bureau to identify ability to implement reporting efficiencies with HUD homeless standardized reports
• (IL Commission to End Hunger (ICEH)) Provide input to a study on access to SNAP benefits, focusing on access issues of older adults, mixed status families and families with young children
• (Substance Use, Prevention & Recovery (SUPR))Provide training and technical assistance to grantees on implementation of harm reduction practices and low-barrier services to expand access for those currently using substances to crisis, transitional and permanent housing resources.
• (SUPR)Coordinate training and technical assistance to Illinois State Police and other law enforcement partners on Opioid Use Disorder, Medically Assisted Recovery and recovery resources to support first responders in understanding the needs of persons with OUD and to make appropriate referrals to resources.

Il Department of Human Services

Program

• (FCS) Administer the Homeless Prevention Program; Provide rental or mortgage assistance, utility assistance, case management and supportive services to person who are at risk of homelessness due to eviction, foreclosure or are currently homeless
• (FCS) Support the Eviction Mitigation Legal Assistance Program that supports tenants at risk of eviction through central intake and needs assessment, eviction prevention tools and resources, virtual legal clinics, direct legal representation and courtroom access to rental assistance
• (FCS) Administration of the Emergency Solutions Grant that supports emergency shelter and homeless prevention activities including street outreach, Rapid ReHousing programs and administration of the Homeless Management Information System
• (FCS) Through the Emergency and Transitional Housing Program, provide funding for community-based crisis housing for persons experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including emergency, overnight, motel/hotel based and transitional housing programs; Coordinate with IDPH to assess health and safety measures within contracted shelters and create improvement plans when necessary
• (FCS) Serve youth experiencing homelessness through Youth Emergency Housing, Transitional Living and Outreach Case Management Programs
• (FCS) Through the Welcoming Center COVID Relief Project, provide cash assistance, similar to the Child Tax Credit, for families not eligible for the benefit due to documentation status

Il Department of Human Services

Program (cont'd)

• (FCS) Through the Supportive Housing Services Program, fund services for persons living in Permanent Supportive Housing; service delivery includes case management, advocacy, counseling, job training and transportation
• (FCS) Support those fleeing domestic violence through funding short-term housing and services for survivors inclusive of shelter and transitional housing programs, landlord advocacy, case management and safety planning, community training
• (Division of Mental Health (DMH))Through the Housing is Recovery Program, provide bridge rental subsidies for persons at high risk of unnecessary institutionalization and individuals at high risk of overdose by providing housing to stabilize mental illness symptoms and/or substance use
• (DMH) Administer the federal Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program, serving persons with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and experiencing homelessness through street outreach and referrals to housing, primary care, job training and educational services
• (DMH)Support the evidence-based practice of Individual Placement and Support; Agencies provide individuals with a Serious Mental Illness direct placement in competitive jobs in a real-world setting with needed supports; Employment Specialists identify and build relationships with community-based employers and worksite to ensure capacity and employment opportunities moving forward

Il Department of Human Services

Program (cont'd)

• (Early Childhood (EC))The Home Visiting for Homeless Families Demonstration Program ensures home visiting is more responsive to the needs of homeless families, informs practice and policy change, increases integration and alignment across homeless services and home visiting systems
• (EC) The Child Care Assistance Program provides subsidized child care for parents who are working, in school or in a training program. Families experiencing homelessness are allowed a 12-month eligibility period without an activity. Program anticipates serving 628 children experiencing homelessness in FY23
• (IL Commission to End Hunger) Complete a survey and report on meal practices and access to healthy and nutritious food at emergency shelter and interim housing sites
• (ICEH) support the pilot of the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program by recruiting restaurants and persons experiencing homelessness to participate in the program
• (Developmental Disabilities) Establish a housing navigator role within the seven independent service coordination agencies for persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities
• (Consent Decrees) Pilot a behavioral health recuperative care program, for adults with Serious Mental Illness and experiencing homelessness, exiting psychiatric hospital settings and at risk of institutionalization in Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Facilities as a strategy within the Williams Consent Decree Front Door Diversion Program
• (SUPR) Implement the SUPR Permanent Supportive Housing program, providing rental assistance and supportive services

IL Department of Children & Family Services

Program

• Partner with public housing authorities to administer the Fostering Youth to Independence Initiative providing housing subsidies to youth aging out of care; Conduct outreach to additional housing authorities to administer the program
• Partner with Peoria, Chicago, Champaign, and Cook County Public Housing Authorities to administer the Family Unification Program Vouchers, providing a voucher to families with child welfare involvement. Although no new vouchers were allocated in FY22, DCFS plans to refer 200+ families to the program due to voucher turnover
• Support the Youth Cash Assistance program, providing assistance to youth aging or aged out of DCFS care, to stabilize housing situations; Funding supports rent, security deposits, utilities, landlord home repairs, beds, furniture, clothing and household items.
• Norman Cash Assistance funds private agencies to purchase items for families at risk of having their children place in foster care due to issues related to poverty, including homelessness; Funding supports rent, security deposits, utilities, landlord home repairs, beds, clothing and household items.
• Support the Youth Housing Advocacy Program, helping youth aging out or aged out of DCFS care, locate adequate housing; Supportive service delivery continues until the youth reaches age 21, with an extension to age 23 if housed with a federal subsidy.
• Norman Services assist families in danger of having children placed in foster care, or unable to return home, due to issues related to poverty, including homelessness; Norman Housing Advocacy supports DCFS involved families with housing location and supportive services

IL Department of Children & Family Services

Policy

• Implement a housing support services pilot program with federal approval
• Create a pathway to cover medical respite services within Medicaid with federal approval

IL Department on Aging

Process

• Enhance data collection by adding "homeless" and "at risk of homelessness" to the Community Care Program (CCP) intake form, allowing Care Coordination Units to better respond to older adult housing stability.

IL Department of Public Health

Policy

• Explore policy change to waive medical cannabis registry card fee for unhoused persons with a qualifying condition

Process

• Provide operational guidance to ensure needs of runaway or homeless youth, homeless families and individuals are addressed in the development of emergency response systems
• State Maternal Health Task Force developing statewide maternal health strategic plan, inclusive of subcommittee addressing housing for pregnant/postpartum people
• Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative supports a quality improvement network for birthing equity; Hospitals screen for social determinants of health including housing insecurity

Program

• Administer the Ryan White and Housing for Persons Living with AIDS (HOPWA) programs, providing support services, short-term rental assistance, tenant-based rental assistance, mortgage and utility assistance
• Office of Disease Control conducts outreach and education on tuberculosis to human services and housing agencies serving people experiencing homelessness
• Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program provides free mammograms, breast exams, pelvic exams and Pap test for eligible women; Community navigation funding used to address housing a barrier to screening
• Provide funding to test, detect and mitigate COVID-19 in shelter settings

IL Criminal Justice Information Authority

Process

• Ensure InfoNet meets HUD data quality standards for serving survivors of domestic violence

Policy

• Explore ability to expand programming at contracted re-entry transitional housing agencies to include behavioral health liaisons to facilitate increased service access

Program

• Develop system capacity for palliative care models for persons existing carceral systems via compassionate release
• Continue funding of transitional housing program for persons leaving Illinois Correctional Facilities

IL Department of Corrections

Program

• Continue to support the housing transition of 75 persons leaving correctional facilities by facilitating access to the IDHA Re-entry Rental Housing Support Program
• Explore financial, housing and services models for permanent supportive housing for persons at risk of correctional system recidivism
• With IDHS, identify and find appropriate placements for mandated supervised release for persons with Serious Mental Illnesses, non-adherence to medication regiments and histories of violence
• Through contracted agencies, provide transitional housing upon mandatory supervised release from a correctional facility, including persons with a sex offense on their record

Il Department of Juvenile Justice

Policy

• Amend Juvenile Justice Court Act 750ILCS405 to enable IDJJ to pay for housing cost six months post release and/or beyond youth's legal discharge from the department

Process

• Increase agency capacity to strengthen and sustain housing supports for youth, such as employment and education activities

Program

• Create a training module for facility and aftercare staff to identify housing resources and begin discharge and transition planning process earlier in the commitment process; Create training module for youth on independent living and life skills

IL Department of Veterans Affairs

Process

• Explore statewide alignment with Unite Us, a shared technology platform to support meaningful collaboration and care-coordination
• Promote services to educate and assist veterans in obtaining earned benefits through Veteran Service Officers (VSOs); VSOs aid completion of necessary forms and compile evidential documents needed to process benefit claims
• Promote and partner with the US Department of Veterans Affairs to educate and assist veterans apply for federal VA care and benefits, inclusive of access to VA homeless housing programs, HUD-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) and Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
• Maximize partnership with Illinois Joining Forces Foundation, a public-private network of military and veteran-serving organizations to create a no-wrong-door system to support veterans
• Enhance VSOs internal database system, CyberVet, to promote a warm handoff approach to a community resource when a veteran indicates they do not have an address or are experiencing homelessness
• Foster collaboration with the County Veterans Assistance Commissions that provide county resources such as rental assistance, utility assistance, food vouchers; Enhance engagement with Commissions through inclusion in mutual training and services activities and event support

IL Department of Veterans Affairs

Program

• Strengthen and bring awareness to Prince Home, a transitional housing program serving 15 veterans experiencing homelessness living with a disabling condition.
• Administer the Veterans Cash Grant Program, that supports agencies providing homeless services, employment and training programs

Illinois State Police

Process

• Convene Illinois law enforcement, municipalities, and homeless advocates to develop best practices for response to the homeless calls for service and encampment mitigation to ensure that responses are lawful and handled with respect for the dignity of the individuals involved

IL State Board of Education

Program

• Administer the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Funding, supporting local school districts address the needs of students experiencing homelessness and housing instability; tutoring, before & afterschool programs, professional development for educators on the needs of homeless students
• Lead Area McKinney-Vento Liaisons facilitate access to homeless assistance trainings monthly to school districts, families, and the larger community
• Award funding from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relive Fund II & III Community Partnership Grants; Homeless students are prioritized for projects where schools work in partnership with local communities to assess and meet the immediate pandemic-related, or social emotional, and/or trauma needs identified
• Administer the American Rescue Plan - Homeless Children and Youth Funds to support housing insecure students; Activities include increasing outreach and identification of students experiencing homelessness, hiring systems navigators to help families and youth access education, and offering early childhood education services for young children experiencing homelessness
• Through the addition of community navigators, establish Wrap Around Wednesdays at central points within a regional area; Serve as a one-stop, single-day effort to enable identified McKinney-Vento eligible families to access a multitude of wrap-around services to meet the unique needs of each family
• Each McKinney-Vento eligible student has the opportunity to create an individual student success plan, modeled after the Harvard EdRedisgn, By All Means Necessary; School navigator develops and monitors the plan
• Provide training and resources to school districts on heroin and opioid prevention, intervention and use.

IL Board of Higher Education

Process

• Collaborate with the Illinois Community College Board and Illinois Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security to advance activities to build a strong health and human service workforce pipeline; Explore homeless services course work and certification process for homeless housing and services workforce

IL Community College Board

Program

• Assist community colleges to implement the Higher Education Housing & Opportunities Act which establishes homeless liaisons to support students with activities such as navigating financial aid, identify homeless dedicated resources; Support creation of action plans and program implementation data
• Administration of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V); Provide technical assistance to community colleges on how to support students experiencing homelessness and connection to mainstream benefits (e.g. SNAP Employment & Training Program)

Il Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Program

• Administer the Community Services Block Grant, which provides rental and mortgage assistance, motel vouchers and shelter services
• Administer the Community Development Block Grant, providing funding for capital for non-congregate shelter

IL Department of Employment Security

Process

• Within Title III of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Employment Services Program, revise the definition and prioritization of "special populations"; Incorporate outreach and service strategies appropriate for people experiencing homelessness or housing instability

Program

• Administration of the federal Jobs for Veterans State Grant to work veterans with significant barriers to employment, including housing instability
• Partner with agencies funded through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, that provides services to assist veterans access meaningful employment and develop effective service delivery systems for homeless veterans

Providing Feedback to the Plan

• Community Feedback Session on draft plan
  • Thursday, March 10th - 10:00am-11:30am
• Written feedback accepted via IDHS - IOPEH website from March 10th to April 15th
  • https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=138512

Public Comment