PORT 2013/2014 Season
Ultimate Outcome: Chronically homeless individuals and families will engage in the PORT Shelter Program and receive services that will increase their mental and physical health, safety and security.
Measurable Outcomes:
Guests who enter the program will be provided with shelter, food and clothing.
539men, women and children entered the shelter. There were 10,819 duplicated bed nights. 100% of the guests were provided with a night’s rest and food. Included in the 539 guests were 24 families with 44 children under the age of 18. The youngest child was 2 months old. The oldest adult was 87. Those who spent at least 1 night had access to clothing, footwear and hygiene products. The program also maintained a supply of common over-the-counter products such as aspirin, cough drops and first aid products. Individuals who entered the shelter after midnight may not have had access to clothing, footwear and hygiene products if the Intake Room was locked.
The decrease in guests registering at PORT this season may be a reflection of the 62 households placed into housing through the Rapid Rehousing Program during the 2012/2013 season. Several of the households were the most chronic homeless who had been awarded benefits throughout and following the 2012/2013 season. The primary goal of the Rapid Rehousing Program has been to assist households in emergency shelters to access housing by providing the security deposit and the first month of rent as well as support and stabilization. Many of the recipients had to be assisted with more than 1 month of rent.
Guests will be assessed for referrals for community resources.
A CSB worker was present at the shelter 2 times weekly. During the 20 weeks of the program, 71formal referrals were made to the CSB worker by Intake Workers. Typically, the CSB worker circulated among the guests making contact with current CSB clients and generating referrals among guests who had not formally requested a referral through an Intake Worker.
A PICH (Peninsula Institute of Community Health) worker was present weekly, and 166 formal referrals were made for health care services. The PICH worker also made contact with existing clients and generated additional referrals. There were additional health referrals made to the Mary Immaculate Care-A-Van and the Community Health Clinic although a representative from the organizations was not on site.
A representative from the local Veterans Affairs Medical Center was on site and made contact with the 75 Veterans registered at PORT to discuss their eligibility for benefits.
Nursing Students from ODU were on site 5 times weekly. 142 guests were seen for blood pressure check. 22 of the guests were referred or treatment or were transported by ambulance to Riverside or Mary Immaculate Hospital when blood pressure readings were dangerously high.
Guests were also referred to other resources in the community such as, Transitions Domestic Violence Shelter, Avalon Center for Women and Children, Mary Immaculate and Riverside Hospitals, ACCESS, HELP Medical and Dental Clinics, Mary Immaculate Care-A-Van, Newport News Housing Authority, Social Security and LINK. Three evenings during the season, the Health Department provided flu shots. Haircuts were provided monthly.
17 guests were provided with Greyhound bus tickets to return to homes out of state. One female guest delivered a child in a local hospital while at PORT. She, her partner and the baby were provided with bus tickets they day of hospital discharge to transport them to family and housing in another state.
Guests who are not employed will be referred to the Employment Specialist unless they are receiving military and civilian benefits such as pension or disability payments monthly.
At entry, 39% (209) of guests had a source of income. The most often reported income was from Social Security Disability followed by employment and Social Security Income. In spite of having income, most of the reported income was not sufficient to support housing.
The Employment Specialist reported having assisted 173 unduplicated shelter guests. The contacts were in the form of one-to-one meetings as well as in groups. The groups consisted of discussions of topics such as completing on-line applications, developing resumes, attitudes for employment, proper dress for interviews and role playing interviews. The Specialist met with employers to advocate for opportunities for guests and did follow-up phone calls to get feedback after guests had attended interviews. Guests were provided with printed copies of employment opportunities, and if a paper application was required, they were provided with assistance in completing the application. Guests who completed interviews and were not hired, had the opportunity to discuss the process with the Specialist to learn to strengthen their skills for the next interview. 77 guests entering PORT without employment confirmed employment as a result of working with the Employment Specialist.
Guests who do not receive food stamps at entry will be assisted in receiving food stamps as appropriate.
44% of the guests (237) were receiving food stamps at entry. Every guest who was not receiving food stamps was given the opportunity to complete an application or given referral information for the Newport News Department of Human Services. 78 individuals applied for food stamps. Many guests were not able to apply because they had been “sanctioned” by DHS or were not interested in applying. Guests who were not eligible for food stamps were referred to the food pantry at LINK and other sources for food in the community.
Guests who do not have a form of identification will be provided with vouchers to apply for a Virginia ID and/or a birth certificate.
Homeless individuals who do not have a friend or family member who keeps their important documents routinely have their possessions stolen, lost or ruined by rain or snow. 65 Guests completed applications for IDs and/or birth certificates. The number will increase during the time PORT is not operational as guests applying for employment, housing or benefits will need to provide identification and will contact LINK for assistance.
Guests will be provided with housing information.
There are many housing barriers for homeless individuals, such as income, prior housing history and legal issues. The income of many individuals who register for PORT will not support housing. Often, individuals who enter PORT with full-time employment or those who become employed while in PORT use the program until they accumulate enough funds to pay a security deposit and first month’s rent and then obtain housing.
As indicated above, LINK was awarded funding by Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to assist PORT individuals and families to secure permanent housing in the community. The goals were to assist the most chronic of the homeless individuals and families to get off the streets, out of the shelter and into housing. Guests who needed assistance in locating affordable housing were provided with names and locations of resources. 46 households indicated they had secured housing, either through Rapid Rehousing, LINK’s CANLINK program, CSB, VASH or their resources. That is not a true number of those housed, as not everyone reports having secured housing before leaving PORT.
Families who entered PORT wereimmediately referred to a case worker at Newport News Department of Human Services. The case workers worked with the families to find housing. Occasionally, a family remained at PORT, particularly if a plan was in place to relocate with family or the head of the household had employment and would be locating housing.
PORT EVALUATION
Prior to the closing of PORT, guests were provided with the opportunity to evaluate the program. Evaluations were completed by 47 guests.
When asked what financial support guests had established since entering PORT, “employment” was most often mentioned, followed by “unemployment.” Donating plasma was also indicated as a source of financial support.
Guests were asked where they would be staying if they were not staying at PORT. The most frequently mentioned location was “on the street”, followed by “with family” and “wherever I can.”
62% of the respondents indicated they would not have housing when PORT ended, and 17% stated they had a plan in place for housing after PORT. Also mentioned were finding another shelter and pitching a tent.
The question providing an opportunity to offer suggestions to improve PORT is always interesting. The responses range from no suggestions to half a page. This year, “a later wake-up time” was most frequently mentioned. Guests complimented the staff and volunteers; and were grateful for the presence of PORT and the increased opportunity for nightly showers through the portable showers.
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