Transcript Rural Homelessness NCSHA Spring Conference May 9th, 2006

Rural Homelessness:
Challenges & Strategies
NAEH National Conference
July 17, 2006
Mark Kudlowitz,
Research Associate
Housing Assistance Council
[email protected]
Housing Assistance Council
HAC helps communities achieve their goals
by providing:
Technical Assistance
 Training
 Loan Fund(s)
 Research and Information
 Advocacy

Overview & “The Numbers”
Diverse populations
 Unreliable data
 3.5 million homeless nationally
 Burt et al. – 9 percent of all homeless live
in rural areas

Precariously Housed Rural Residents
Housing Characteristics
Number of Units
Cost Burden
4,979,000
Poor Quality
1,041,000
Crowding
268,000
Multiple Housing Problems
662,000
Total Number of Units
6.95 Million Units
Key Differences of Rural Homeless
Less likely to receive government
assistance
 Experience shorter periods of
homelessness
 As likely to have mental health, alcohol, or
drug problems
 Less likely to have health insurance and
access to medical care

(Post 2002)
The Barriers

Common Barriers to Serving the Rural
Homeless
-
Definitional Issues
Access to Services
Assessing Needs
Community Awareness & Support
-
Overcoming Barriers

What ways have you overcome these
barriers?
Overcoming Barriers
What HAC has found:
Homeless prevention
 Collaboration/Networking
 Emergency Shelters/Transitional Housing
 Utilizing state resources

Successful Rural Models
Carey Counseling Center
 SW Georgia Housing Development Corp.

Carey Counseling
Herrington Place
Camden, Tennessee
Program
Description:
23-unit facility for persons with chronic
mental illness and/or physical disabilities.
Funding Sources:


HUD SHP (Acquisition, Development,
& Supportive Services)
FHLB AHP (Acquisition & Development)
Southwest Georgia Housing
Development Corporation
Millennium Center
Cuthbert, Georgia
Program
Description:
Funding
Sources:
20-unit supportive housing project serving
women and families with alcohol and/or drug
addiction issues
Georgia DCA (Housing Development)
 Georgia DHR (Clinical Services)
 Randolph County (Land Donation)
 USDA RD (Infrastructure; Daycare Facility)
 HUD (Section 8)
 Cuthbert Housing Authority (Equipment Purchase)
 GA Dept. of Tech. Education (College)

Successful Models: Lessons Learned

Collaborations are necessary!!



Federal program: HUD, RHS, HHS, FHLB
State agencies: Mental Health, Housing, Courts
Local activism, energy, and innovation
USDA Rural Housing Service Programs
Section 515
 Section 538
 Section 514/516
 Section 523 Self Help
 Section 502
 Section 504
 Community Facility Loans and Grants

HAC Office Locations
Housing Assistance Council
1025 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 606
Washington, DC 20005
202-842-8600, fax: 202-347-3441
[email protected]
HAC Southeast Office
615 Peachtree Street, N. E., Suite 1130
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-892-4824, fax: 404-892-1204
[email protected]
HAC Southwest Office
3939 C San Pedro, N. E., Suite 7
Albuquerque, NM 87110
505-883-1003, fax: 505-883-1005
[email protected]
HAC Western Office
131 Camino Alto, Suite D
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-381-1706, fax: 415-381-0801
[email protected]
HAC Midwest Office
10920 Ambassador Drive, Suite 220
Kansas City, MO 64153
816-880-0400, fax: 816-880-0500
[email protected]