9978-09 Appropriating $2,463,435 from Community Development (Fund 212), defraying expenses of CED

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St. Joseph County Housing Consortium and families who experience multiple psychosocial stressors that place them at higher risk for becoming homeless. Emergency Shelter Beds for Women: Presently there are fewer emergency shelter beds available in this community since the last HCD Plan. As funding priorities have shifted from emergency shelter to transitional/permanent housing, beds have been lost; however, anecdotal evidence indicates a growing need for shelter for homeless women. HPRP funds will allow more money to be spent on emergency shelter beds. Prisoner Reentry Issues: This group is at greater risk of homelessness due to inability to secure employment, as companies are increasingly adopting HR policies that automatically exclude past felons. Studies show strong positive correlations between access to basic needs and reduced rates of recidivism. Local individuals have begun working with the State of Indiana on strategies for the successful re-entry into the community from the criminal justice system. Hausing for Sexual Offenders: Presently, there is no facility within the CoC which may house those convicted of any sexual offense, leaving those individuals on the street and at greater risk to reoffend. Sex offender housing would not only benefit the individuals, but also the community through increased monitoring and accountability. Homeless Youth: Youth Service Bureau Street Outreach workers estimate there are nearly 500 young adults (18-22) who are "couch surfing" and at risk of ending up on the street. The individuals who do come into shelter tend to have poorer outcomes, so specialized housing and programming is essential to this subpopulation. An implementation committee is investigating providing units for youth in a facility staffed 24 hours per day and providing related programming. Funding would be provided through the CoC, HPRP, and the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. Medically Fragile: Many times, medically fragile people become homeless because they are unable to maintain their own residence, but are not deemed ill enough to warrant skilled nursing care at a long term care facility. Additionally, these individuals often lack the financial resources to pay for long term care, even if they do qualify. Discharge Policies: Discharge planning within the community continues to be extremely difficult. While the hospitals and community mental health centers have coordinated plans with the emergency shelter facilities, they are still less than ideal for an individual just released from their care. Additionally, county and state correctional facilities are not coordinating their releases; it is not uncommon to have an individual arrive at a facility with paperwork ordering them irtto residence when there is no available bed. With the support of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, the CoC has been working with the State Department of Correction and the Department of Child Services to improve the coordination of discharge policies. Homeless Inventory (91.210 (c)) The jurisdiction shall provide a concise summary of the existing facilities and services (including a brief inventory) that assist homeless persons and families with children and subpopulations identified in Table lA. These include outreach and assessment, emergency shelters and services, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, access to permanent housing, and activities to prevent low-income individuals and families with children (especially extremely low-income) from becoming homeless. The jurisdiction can use the optional Continuum of Care Housing Activity Chart and Service Activity Chart to meet this requirement. 2010-2014 Housing and Community Development Plan 48