Slide 1

What Works: Preventing Family Homelessness

Improving Access to Mainstream Services for People Experiencing Homelessness:
Focus on Homeless Families with Children

January 27 - 29, 2004
Miami, Florida

Bill Vanderwall
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
612.879.5224 telephone
bvanderwall@lssmn.org
www.lssmn.org

Slide 2

What Works: Preventing Family Homelessness 

Background
•	Minnesota homeless statistics
o	1986, 26% of shelter residents were children
o	2001, 47% of shelter residents were children (85% in families)
o	6,724--2001 average number of sheltered individuals nightly
•	Strategies employed to assist families
o	Shelter System
o	Transitional Housing
o	Supportive Housing
o	Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP)
o	Housing First

Slide 3

What Works: Preventing Family Homelessness 

State of Minnesota Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program
•	Minnesota State funding; $28.75 million, 1993-2001
•	Rural, urban, and suburban strategies
•	Serves families, youth and limited adults
•	Three main goals:
o	Prevent homelessness
o	Reduce length of shelter stays
o	Reduce repeat shelter use

Slide 4

Client Statistics
•	Housing status at entry
o	50% were not homeless
o	45% were homeless
o	5% were doubled up
Slide 5

2001 Client Household Median Income

7 County Metro Area 
$ 7,452

Greater Minnesota
$ 9,252

Slide 6

This bar graph shows household size based on the amount of occupants ranging from 1 to 6 or more.

1 person = 4094		2 people = 3189		3 people = 2993		4 people = 2139
5 people = 1243		6 or more people = 1002

Slide 7

This bar graph shows household types in 2001.  Single parent homes = 49%, one adult no minors = 26%, two or more adults with minors = 18%, unaccompanied minors = 4% and two or more adults no minors = 3%.

Slide 8

This bar graph shows household income ranges.  Zero income = 10.04%, $1 – $4,999 = 8.27%, $5,000 - $9,999 = 37.10%, $10,000 - $14, 999 = 17.32, $15,000 - $19,999 = 9.84%, $20,000 - $24,999 = 5.36%, $25,000 - $29,999 = 2.18%, $30,000 and over = 1.72% and unknown = 8.19%.

Slide 9

What Works: Preventing Family Homelessness

Hennepin County (Minneapolis) services include:
•	Homeless Prevention Services
o	1170 families, $472/family/95% success rate
•	Rapid Exit Services
o	1024 families, $93/family/88% success rate
•	Family Transitional Housing
o	47 families, $3668/family/96% success rate
•	Youth Stabilization programs
o	366 youth, $158/youth/96 % success rate
•	Adult Prevention
o	201 adults, $463/adult/96% success rate
•	Adult Rapid Exit
o	110 adults, $534/adult/75% success rate

Total households served: 5703
Average cost: $395

Slide 10

What Works: Preventing Family Homelessness

Brainerd HOPE (rural Minnesota) services include:
•	Homeless Prevention Services 
o	183 families/86% success rate
•	Limited Case Management (preventing repeat episodes)
o	23 families/74% success
•	Tenant Education
o	93 families/100% of financial aid recipients received rental  education within one month

Total households served: 215
Average cost: $860

Slide 11

What Works: Preventing Family Homelessness

Total Minnesota Family Homeless Prevention:

14,898 Households Served
•	68% families with children
(23,172 minor children)
•	32% households without children
(27% single adult)

Slide 12

This pie chart shows cash and non-cash assistance.  In 2000 – 2001, 53% of the cash and services breakout went to services only, 28% went to cash and services and 19% went to cash only.

Slide 13

This table shows the disbursement of FHPAP cash assistance.  

•	Rent totaled $2,548,086 going to 4680 households with an average amount of $544 to each home
•	Deposits totaled $491,673 going to 1115 households with an average amount of $441 to each home
•	Mortgage totaled $307,261 going to 377 households with an average amount of $815 to each home
•	Utilities totaled $135,550 going to 606 households with an average amount of $224 to each home
•	Transportation totaled $61,248 going to 447 households with an average amount of $137 to each home
•	Other Cash totaled $358,949 going to 2115 households with an average amount of $170 to each home
•	Total cash assistance $3,902,767 going to 9340 households with an average amount of $418 to each home

Slide 14

What Works: Preventing Family Homelessness

Housing First Strategies
•	Permanent affordable housing with services
•	Utilizes existing housing resources
•	Builds community
o	Residents
o	Property owners
•	Requires key partnerships
•	Cost effective
•	Focus on family stability
•	Prevents homelessness

Slide 15

Summary Conclusions
•	The greatest proportion of assisted households were single parent families – headed mostly by women
•	More than 50% of households were comprised of a race other than white
•	Households had extremely low incomes – less than 30% of the state median income

Slide 16

Summary Conclusions (continued)
•	FHPAP assisted a large number of households at a relatively low cost per HH
•	More than 50% of the households assisted received services only
•	The greatest amount of cash assistance went to housing assistance – primarily rent assistance
•	Homeless prevention works!