Monarch Housing’s Blog!

In New Jersey we have always taken pride in being the state of innovators. In the tradition of Thomas Edison we have taken pride in being inventors and innovators.

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness has been publishing since May 5th, Presenting “20 in 20″. This effort will publish twenty replicable innovations that are achieving results in preventing or ending homelessness presented one per day throughout the month of May 2008.

To read all of the innovations click here. We encourage you to read the full descriptions of those that may be on interest to your community. The USICH has details on each innovation with links and contact information.

The following are the titles and a summary of the first dozen. The Monarch Housing Blog! will publish information on the final eight later this month.

Innovation Number 1:Virginia CASH Campaign (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope)

Virginia invests in a statewide initiative to increase access to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit for low income working individuals and families

Virginia matches deposited EITC refunds 2:1 for homeownership, education, and entrepreneurship and invests in statewide enrollment outreach which includes data-matching and individual outreach

Virginia supports a results-oriented initiative consistent with its State 10-Year Plan goal to ensure financial resources to meet housing and other needs

Innovation Number 2: Reporting Results in 10-Year Plans - Sacramento’s Scorecard

Public accountability is increased through a quantified results “report card’ documenting progress toward goals and benchmarks in a city-county 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness

Public education and awareness improve by creating an easily-read and understood report on progress in creating visible, measurable and quantifiable change in the lives of everyone in the community, housed and homeless

Innovation Number 3:Securing an ID for persons who are homeless

A Project Homeless Connect innovation from Norfolk and San Francisco
Public-private Project Homeless Connect partnership creates increased access to the vital resource of identification for persons who are homeless, bringing benefits, employment, and housing closer

One-day, one-stop engagement at Project Homeless Connect is the opportunity to lower barriers, solve problems, and create immediate results for persons who are homeless

Innovation Number 4: Measuring Local Results in Ending Homelessness through a State Plan:Washington State’s Intergovernmental Partnership

Washington’s Counties report their results in ending homelessness from County 10 Year Plans to the Washington State Interagency Council for an Annual Report to the Governor and Legislature on progress in ending homelessness in the state

Counties identify to the State Interagency Council recommended state level policy changes that could improve 10 Year Plan outcomes

Innovation Number 5:Federal-State Partnership to create the Prince Home as new permanent supported housing for homeless veterans with disabilities

Federal-State investment partnership creates new permanent supported housing for homeless and disabled veterans in Illinois at the Prince Home on the Manteno State Veterans’ Home campus

Illinois’ Governor’s initiative partners state and federal agencies to maximize use of State Veterans’ Home campus and further Governor’s commitment to homeless and veterans populations and housing preservation

Innovation Number 6: Cost Benefit Analysis and Consumer Satisfaction: Results from Philanthropic Investment to End Chronic Homelessness in Housing First RI

Both cost benefit outcomes and consumer satisfaction of formerly chronically homeless persons are focus of university-led evaluation of Housing First RI initiative with evaluation measures for permanent supported housing pilot recognizing role of consumer- centric analysis in long-term housing retention and cost effectiveness

Cost analysis can be strategic tool for sustaining public and private sector investment in permanent supported housing, using United Way of Rhode Island’s example of investing both in supportive services for Housing First and results-oriented and client-focused evaluation

Innovation Number 7: Inter-Faith Ministries’ Kansas Benefit Bank: A One- Stop Solution to Access Mainstream Resources to Prevent and End Homelessness

In Wichita, Kansas, Inter-Faith Ministries is advancing a statewide initiative linking modern technology with the time honored concept of neighborhood assistance to prevent and end homelessness and increase the economic stability of families and individuals by improving access to a wide variety of state and federal benefit programs.

Efforts to identify and reduce barriers to accessing state and federal assistance programs produces economic benefits for both at risk families and local and state economies.

Innovation Number 8: Project Re-Connect: Achieving Successful Reentry for Ex-Prisoners through St. Louis’ 10 Year Plan

In St. Louis, MO a special initiative rooted in the 10 Year Plan focuses on engaging and supporting re-entering prisoners - those who have served maximum sentences and are returning to the community with no requirement for further supervision - to achieve successful reentry.

Project Re-Connect is a city-initiated, state- funded partnership of community and faith based agencies with a network of volunteer mentors supporting a high risk population as they re-enter the community

Innovation Number 9: Ohio’s Special Courts:The courts as leader and partner in preventing and ending chronic homelessness

Ohio’s Mental Health Court - just one of the Special Courts in Ohio’s Supreme Court “Specialized Docket” - is an active leader in seeking better outcomes through policy and practice for persons who are homeless with mental health issues and in the criminal justice system.

The Court creates strategic intergovernmental partnerships with state agencies in both the executive and judicial branches and with local agencies seeking to break the costly cycle of random ricocheting for persons with behavioral health issues and histories of homelessness who are in the court system.

Innovation Number 10:Give Change to Make Change: Denver’s Parking Meter Initiative Fosters Community 10 Year Plan Engagement and Reduces Panhandling

Denver’s Donation Meter Program is reducing panhandling and increasing community awareness and support for Denver’s Road Home, which prioritized public education and community engagement as a 10 Year Plan goal.

Innovation Number 11:Soldier On: Success in the Community through an Employment and Housing Strategy with Results for Homeless Veterans in Massachusetts

Veteran-focused strategies for employment and housing promote community integration.

Community partnership with education, training, and employment sectors ensures job opportunities in the region.

Innovation Number 12 [Road]Map to the Future: Chicago’s Homeless System Mapping Project Plans to End Homelessness

On-line, interactive map of current program inventory and projected future realignment during 10 Year Plan implementation

Visual guide to community wide strategy for conversion of resources to align with 10 Year Plan goals

To read all of the innovations click here. We encourage you to read the full descriptions of those that may be on interest to your community. The USICH has details on each innovation with links and contact information.

Related Monarch Blog posts

• Where God Left his Shoes homeless families will find help (0)
• Philip Mangano visits Gloucester County (0)
• New Jersey Alliance for the Homeless to hold regional USICH Meeting (1)
• Mangano keynotes Salem County United Way dinner (0)
• Hudson County completes ten year plan (1)

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