LAHSA Houses 1,500+ Families in 18 Months Via Homeless Family Solutions System
Agency Shows Strong Housing Placements and Retention in Increasingly Tough Housing Market
Los Angeles, CA (April 15, 2016) - The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the City-County agency tasked with addressing homelessness in Los Angeles County, released its second quarter results of the Homeless Family Solutions System (HFSS), a seamless, cooperative system of service delivery for homeless and at-risk families throughout Los Angeles County. In a housing market with a less than 3% vacancy rate, the program has yielded continued success in providing family housing options:
•1,046 families permanently housed (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015).
•500 new families permanently housed and 205 families receiving continued housing assistance (July 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015).
The Authority has also ensured a 93.5% long-term housing success rate, (indicated by households not returning to homelessness), which is well above the 85% success rate found in a prominent national study tied to National Alliance to End Homelessness performance improvement.
•93.5% long-term success rate for families housed with funds from the City and County of Los Angeles (2013-2014). Returns to homelessness are measured via data tracked in the Authority's Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
LAHSA employs a number of unique elements in its strategic approach:
•Regional flexibility -- by operating Family Solutions Centers (FSC) with locally-based homeless case managers in community-based provider organizations in each of the Los Angeles County's eight Service Planning Areas. The Centers use standardized best practices and customization based on a keen understanding of regional needs, resources and community relationships.
•Innovative funding models - by utilizing two combined, innovative models to fund the HFSS, we are able to increase the ability of homeless families and service providers to leverage and access mainstream benefits and provide greater flexibility when developing coordinated housing and service plans that best meet the needs of each individual family.
•Through LAHSA, Los Angeles County is one of the only jurisdictions in the country to use federal Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) to support the homeless system and house homeless families. TANF is a block grant issued to the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services (DPSS) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that is usually restricted to pay for welfare assistance. LA's Family Solutions Centers are able to utilize these highly restrictive funds in a flexible manner to pay for temporary shelter and rapid re-housing, a short-term combination of supportive services and financial assistance to find and start leasing a permanent housing unit.
•And, because families have varied needs, the Authority strategically aligned several funding streams, including City of Los Angeles Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and General Funds; and the County of Los Angeles ESG and General Funds, with funding from the L.A. County Department of Public Social Services.
•A Housing First approach - in which every person is seen as ready for housing, albeit with varying levels of support needed to help retain their housing. This model secures housing and then provides wrap-around services, which accelerates getting people housed with minimized waiting or transition process.
•Strong collaboration - continued enhancement of service delivery through the close collaboration of private and public sector services. Strategic partnerships with the Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Social Services, Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Health and the Los Angeles Unified School District have enabled each FSC to create a comprehensive service package which is tailored to best meet the diverse needs of homeless families. Partners are co-located at each FSC for increased access to services via seamless, integrated one site assistance. Families are also rapidly connected to TANF-funded subsidized employment to get back on their feet.
"Through innovative funding models, deep knowledge of communities across Los Angeles and scalability from a diverse network of partners, we are housing homeless families - and keeping them housed," said Peter Lynn, LAHSA Executive Director. "Rapid rehousing is a proven model to address homelessness for most families and working together with critical funding and support from the City and County of Los Angeles, we will continue to house our homeless families and children."
About the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is a joint powers authority of the City and County of Los Angeles, created in 1993 to address the problems of homelessness in Los Angeles County. LAHSA is the lead agency in the HUD-funded Los Angeles Continuum of Care, and coordinates and manages more than $95 million annually in federal, state, county and city funds for programs providing shelter, housing and services to homeless persons. For more information visit www.lahsa.org.