HOUSING WORKGROUP

Thursday, February 7, 2013

3:30 – 5:00 PM

LEARNING PARTNERSHIP – Training Rm. 4

1075 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose

Minutes

Objectives for Meeting #1:

  1. Review goal and objectives for Housing Workgroup
  2. Explore housing barriers and challenges for formerly incarcerated
  3. Prioritize 2-3 barriers/challenges to address

Co-Chairs: Ky Le & Kevin Zwick

Present: Becky Garcia (County’s Affordable Housing), Bob Dolci (Faith Reentry Collaborative – Mental Health), Jerry Amaro (Victory Outreach), Jon White (Abode Services), Jose Flores (Multi-Agencies Program/DADS), Kevin Zwick (Housing Trust), Ky Le (Homeless Systems), Marc Sabin (InnVision Shelter Network), Michelle Ma (West Valley Community Services), Teri Provence (EHC Lifebuilders), Paul Abbott (Probation), Troy Beliveau (DOC), Dominica Henderson (Housing Authority), and Ronaldo Babiera (Housing Authority)

  1. Review Goals and Objectives for Housing and Recap Jan. 25th Meeting

Buu reviewed the housing goal and objectives. Ky presented his framework on increasing affordable housing for the reentry population (See handout).

  1. Overview of In-Custody Release Plan

Captain Beliveaudescribed the booking to classification process to the workgroup. Below is a flow chart demonstrating the first 8 hours from arrest. Health and mental health screening occurs within 90 days from arrest.

First 8 hours from Arrest:

  1. Understanding Housing Barriers and Challenges
  • Skills to Succeed Program
  • Cari Santibanes, Coordinator of Skills to Succeed Program shared her experience working with female ex-offenders and the strategies she used to address their housing needs. Skills to Succeed Program was a federally-funded program to support female ex-offenders in non-traditional jobs. Participants in the program received an allocation of $1,500 to purchase supportive services (rental assistance, child care, transportation, etc.). The flex fund allowed women to find some type of housing (rental assistance, THUs, subletting) and stabilized for several months while working on their job training program.
  • Housing Voucher for AB 109 (25 Vouchers Total)
  • Deep subsidize rental assistance program
  • A full-time housing liaison assists individuals to find some type of housing
  • Individuals received a 6-month voucher with option to renewal for another 6 months.
  • Target population – high-risk population referred from Probation
  • Must be employable
  • Barriers/Challenges to Housing
  • Need to establish housing criteria for reentry population
  • No information about the individuals’ housing prior to release; Need to do a pre-assessment while in-custody; Probation officers should work with Rehab Officers 60 days prior to release to do case planning
  • Before release, ask “what are likely housing options for the individual?”
  • Work with court system regarding sentencing and housing needs
  • Cross-system sharing of information to build the individual profile for housing
  • 290s – Need to remove barriers to house this population

Next Steps

  • Identify 1-2 barriers/challenges to develop solutions/strategies
  • Discuss impact of systems
  • Bring best practices/models in housing to the next meeting

Future Meetings

Meeting #2: Thursday, February 21, 2013, 12:30-2pm

Meeting #3: Thursday, March 14, 2013, 12:30-2pm

Meeting #4: Thursday, March 28, 2013, 12:30-2pm

Location: Learning Partnership, 1075 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose