Housing First
T/F: some folks prefer to live in a community style arrangement and find this part of unshelteredness, to be a great plus.
True, a lot of folks would prefer a community style because they don't feel alone and isolated.
False, we may encourage them to look at resources out of the area, however CE does not make the final decisions on referrals to agencies. Those agencies can decide if we make the case for them.
Is documenting in a case note that a client is a substance abuser, beneficial?
No. This could create an extra barrier for the client to access sheltering resources.
How can we utilize Housing First Model without having housing first resources?
Conversations and the way we communicate with our clients. While we cannot directly provide financial assistance, we can provide empathy and empowerment through communication with our clients.
(T/F) We should tell all folks that they need employment if they are struggling with their rent or utilities
False, we won't tell them that they need employment, however, lets look into this situation. What is going on that is preventing them from currently being employed?
T/F: Rapid Rehousing programs are a part of the Housing First initiative.
True!
T/F: 1-3 nights (even a week) of Motel will not lead to a client being housed
True, but it also provides a safe place to sleep, 1-3 nights of possible mental clarity, more time to plan, out of the weather, etc.
T/F: Only providing substance use resources to a substance user is beneficial
False; not all are ready for this stage of change. A client has to make that decision for themselves. We can provide them with the resources and if they are ready for that stage of change, we can discuss it, however we cannot force the idea on them.
In what ways could we respond to a client who is upset and believes we are withholding resources from them?
Open Answer (lets talk)
Open, let's talk about it.
What does homeless mean to you and what does unsheltered mean to you?
Open Answer
Homeless - without a home
Unsheltered - without shelter or a place to sleep at night
Examples of how we can make a case to an agency for motel assistance for a person who is chronically unsheltered
Open Answer (lets talk about it)
Ways that we can talk to/educate agencies and the community on substance use and talking about those struggling with substance use. Substance Use still has a very large stigma, sometimes, we even see this in case notes.
Open Answer (lets talk about it). Stages of Change.
Benefits of providing transparency to a client, even if the resources provided are less than ideal to them (lack of resources)
The client leaves the conversation feeling that they understand what is happening, they are not left with false hope, they may call us back less because they understood what was provided during the call.
Ideas that a client may not think of to be able to afford their rent
Budgeting their money, canceling subscriptions, switching to a cheaper phone carrier, getting a roommate
More specific to use this term in place of "homeless", it's more specific and less derogatory
Unsheltered
A family you are working with have faced many challenges over the last 3 years of being unsheltered. They have 3 kids. They have been to shelters, have been asked to leave, and have utilized many motel vouchers with different agencies. This family calls and is in crisis. They have been sleeping outside for 3 months, camping, with their kids. What can we do?
Discuss with TL, PM, and see if we can make a case for this family. While it appears they have utilized many resources, they may be in need of respite for a mind reset.
A client you are working with is actively using substances, they tell you this in the conversation. They are needing safe shelter and have been hoping to get into the shelter that currently has availability for them. Knowing the shelter cannot accept them if they are going to be using substances in the shelter, you are questioning if they would be a good fit and if you should send the referral.
Send the referral and also let the client know about the shelter's policy with substance use so that they are aware of this and can be open and honest with the shelter if they call them.
You are working with a client who is facing a serious mental health crisis. They have been unsheltered for quite some time. They feel that you do not understand them and you are not taking them seriously because you are unable to provide them with immediate housing.
Provide mental health resources. If serious enough, connect them with a CBHL. Explain the resources available, be open and honest.
A family with 4 kids (one of which is 18 years old and is on the lease) is facing eviction. They have received an eviction notice and they owe $1200. They do not have employment, they do not have money to put towards that amount. How can CE provide resources?
YIN could be an option for this family. While also remembering, that while a person may not have employment, it doesn't necessarily disqualify them from services (including RA). If the referral makes sense, you can send it.
T/F: The Housing First model has been adopted largely by programs that serve individuals — that is, single adults in households without children rather than families — in part because chronic homelessness is much less common among households with minor children.
This is true according to HUD
Explain what deserving means and then explain what Universal means in your mind. Do we, at times, have our own personal bias' on if a person is deserving instead of looking at it from a universal approach?
This is a personal answer, no wrong answers.
Housing instability can lead to....
Open Answer (increase in mental health concerns, relapse, inability to maintain sobriety, health issues)
T/F: There is sometimes never a resource you can provide a client.
False, we can always find something. Even just a simple phone number could be a start.
A person does not have transportation, they live in rural Missouri, what suggestions can we provide this client with for employment.
Work from home, rideshare programs.