manager, John obtained a part time job. This job, combined with his landscape work, pro- vided enough income for John an
REDUCE FAMILY & CHILD HOMELESSNESS INCREASE FUNDING FOR RAPID REHOUSING BY $500,000 Rapid Re-Housing is a specific approach for helping homeless individuals and families get back into housing. Under a Rapid Re-Housing approach: Services providers help homeless individuals and families quickly obtain safe, permanent rental housing. Once housed, the family or individual receives rental assistance for up to 24 months while getting back on their feet. During that time, the services agency also provides services to help the family or individual become stable and self-sufficient.
Rapid Re-Housing Works Rapid Re-Housing helps people end their homelessness - permanently. Why? Because it solves the core problem facing every homeless family and individual - the need for safe, permanent housing. Once they have stable housing they can focus on increasing their incomes, taking care of their children and addressing other issues - such as illness or domestic violence - that contributed to their homelessness.
John, a father of three, became homeless when the economic downturn impacted his landscaping business. With rapid re-housing assistance, John and his family were able to obtain an apartment. After working with his case manager, John obtained a part time job. This job, combined with his landscape work, provided enough income for John and his children to remain stable in their housing. Carla and her two children were fleeing domestic violence and became homeless. Through rapid re-housing assistance, Carla received help with a deposit and her rent. After receiving four months of assistance Carla was offered a full time job that allowed her to pay her rent and keep her family stable. Julie was homeless with a 10 year old son and a new baby. Julie received assistance with a deposit and moved into an apartment. While receiving rental assistance Julie worked hard to obtain employment and to save any money she could. Julie obtained a full time job while receiving assistance and was able to exit the program with enough income to pay her rent.
Shorter Episodes of Homelessness Means Healthier, More Resilient Kids Homelessness is hard on kids. Research shows that homeless kids are more likely to: Have trouble in school Have developmental delays Have physical and emotional health problems The sooner kids have a safe place to call home, they more likely they are to be physically and emotionally healthy and ready to learn.
A $500,000 increase for Rapid ReHousing means an additional 310 New Mexicans can exit homelessness each year.
Building from Success In 2009, New Mexico received a one-time only appropriation in federal stimulus funds to provide prevention and rapid re-housing services. These funds were intended to benefit people who had lost their housing or were about to lose their housing due to the recession. These funds have all been spent. The NM Mortgage Finance Authority continues to fund rapid rehousing services using state and other federal funding, but at a much reduced level (approximately $345,000 annually).
The Evidence is Clear
BUT THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS FAMILIES STILL NEED HELP - TODAY! Family homelessness is an enormous problem in New Mexico - and it is growing. Over 11,000 New Mexican children experienced homelessness in the 2010 - 2011 academic school year. That is a 21% increase from the year before.1
In 2009, NM received a one-time only appropriation in federal stimulus funds to provide rapid re-housing to homeless families and individuals. These are the outcomes:2 1,223 people received Rapid ReHousing services (525 households). Everyone served was homeless when they began receiving services.
All these families need to end their homelessness is safe, decent housing and services that will help them keep their housing.
Strong Management & Administration The Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) has been administering a Rental Assistance Program since 2000, which funds rapid re-housing services. Any increased funding will be administered by the MFA through this currently existing program. The MFA allocates rapid rehousing funds to nonprofit social service agencies throughout the state that have experience serving people experiencing homelessness. The MFA has a proven track record of allocating these funds to strong social services agencies throughout NM. Currently, seven agencies receive rapid re-housing funds through the Rental Assistance Programs, and these agencies serve people from 20 different counties. 1Education for Homeless 2 New
89% of everyone served had stable housing upon exiting the program. Of those who had stable housing, 97% were paying their rent without any type of housing subsidy.
That means we ended homelessness for 1,088 people - at a cost of just $1600 per person. The average monthly cost of providing emergency shelter for one person is $750.
Catholic Charities in Albuquerque followed up with households who had left their program more than 6 months earlier. Of those that they were able to reach, 83% still had stable housing.
(505) 982-9000 www.nmceh.org
Children and Youths Program: Data Collection Summary, National Center for Homeless Education, June 2012 Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, Homeless Management Information System Report, July 2012
