Sacramento Self-Help Housing Inc

SACRAMENTO SELF-HELP HOUSING WORKS TO IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS AND INCREASE THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF HOUSEHOLDS LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL IN THE SACRAMENTO AREA.

HOUSING:PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (PSH):PSH PROVIDES HOUSING TO THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, HIGHLY VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY. THE ORGANIZATION TYPICALLY HOUSES THESE INDIVIDUALS IN FOUR, FIVE, OR SIX-BEDROOM MASTER-LEASED HOUSES, WHICH ARE LOCATED CLOSE TO SHOPPING, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTH SERVICES TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO ADOPT AN INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLE. ALL PARTICIPANTS COME FROM THE STREETS, OR EMERGENCY SHELTERS, BY REFERRAL FROM SACRAMENTO STEPS FORWARD'S COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM. PSH UTILIZES THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL TO ENSURE THE LOWEST POSSIBLE BARRIERS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. THE ORGANIZATION ADDRESSES THE HIGH NEEDS OF PARTICIPANTS THROUGH WELL-ROUNDED SERVICES AND SUPPORT PROVIDED BY A CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM CONSISTING OF AN ON-SITE HOUSE LEADER, CASE MANAGER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR. HOUSE LEADERS, WHO ARE TYPICALLY FORMER HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, LIVE ON SITE, ASSISTS WITH RENT COLLECTION, ORGANIZE HOUSE ASSIGNMENTS, HOLD WEEKLY HOUSE-MEETINGS, REPORT ANY ISSUES TO THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND HELP DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITHIN THE HOUSE. THE CASE MANAGER CONDUCTS INTAKE ASSESSMENTS, MAKES WEEKLY HOUSE VISITS, ASSISTS WITH PROBLEM RESOLUTION, AND DEVELOPS CLIENT INDIVIDUAL CASE PLANS. CASE MANAGERS ASSIST PARTICIPANTS WITH ACCESSING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND JOB SEARCHING. CASE MANAGERS WORK WITH REENTRY PARTICIPANTS' PAROLE AND PROBATION OFFICERS WHEN NEEDED. REFERRALS TO MAINSTREAM RESOURCES (GA, SSDI DHS, SOCIAL SECURITY, VA, MEDICAL, ETC.) ARE PROVIDED TO HELP INCREASE INCOME. THE CASE MANAGER PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION TO APPOINTMENTS. AS A SUB-RECIPIENT OF HUD (HOUSING URBAN DEVELOPMENT) FUNDS THROUGH SACRAMENTO STEPS FORWARD (SSF), IN 2021, SSHH CONTINUED BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY, NEW COMMUNITY, AND BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 278 BEDS IN 65 HOMES.INTERIM HOUSING SERVICES:THE INTERIM HOUSING DEPARTMENT SPECIALIZES IN OPERATING TEMPORARY SHELTERS WHERE THE PRIMARY GOAL OF CASE MANAGEMENT IS THE IDENTIFICATION AND ELIMINATION OF HOUSING BARRIERS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE TYPICALLY REFERRED BY THE CITY OR COUNTY (DEPENDING ON THE PROGRAM) OR OTHER PARTNERING AGENCIES BASED UPON THE SEVERITY OF THEIR PHYSICAL AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, WITH A PRIORITY OF SELECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. THE PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS THAT FALL UNDER THE INTERIM HOUSING DEPARTMENT INCLUDE:FULL-SERVICE REHOUSING SHELTER (RHS) - A 15 SITE, 75 BED SHELTER, FUNDED BY THE COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO.ELK GROVE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING - A 2 SITE, 20 BED, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM WHICH CONSISTS OF GRACE HOUSE AND MEADOW HOUSE. MEADOW HOUSE IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SERVE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. A THIRD SITE, MOON CREEK, WILL ALSO SERVE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM IS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE CITY OF ELK GROVE AND PARTIALLY BY ELK GROVE HART.T3- A 3 SITE, 15 BED EMERGENCY SHELTER. INTERIM HOUSING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHELTER OPERATIONS OF THIS PROJECT, AND WELLSPACE HEALTH PROVIDES THE CASE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY WELLSPACE HEALTH.STOCKTON BLVD SHELTER- 1 SITE WITH 15 BEDS. THIS FACILITY, WHICH WAS ONCE USED AS A DETOX CENTER, IS A 10- BEDROOM TWO-STORY BUILDING. THE INTERIM HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHELTER OPERATIONS OF THIS PROJECT, WITH SEVERAL OTHER AGENCIES PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT TO THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.IN 2021, SACRAMENTO SELF-HELP HOUSING (SSHH) ESTABLISHED DIRECTLY FUNDED HOUSING PROGRAMS WITH THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO AND EXPANDED THE COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO INTERIM SHELTER PROGRAMS TO SERVE 80 MORE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN 16 HOMES (40 IN CITY SCATTERED SITES AND 40 IN RHS-HEAP RESPECTIVELY).AT THE END OF 2021, THE INTERIM HOUSING PROGRAM WAS SERVING 204 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN 44 HOMES.PROGRESSIVE HOUSING (STOCKTON):CURRENTLY WITH 14 SITES AND 70 BEDS BUT RAMPING UP TO 18 SITES AND 90 BEDS OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. SSHH STAFF STARTED TO WORK ON THE ACQUISITION AND PLANNING OF HOUSE #11, #12, AND #13 TO GAIN OPERATIONAL CONTROL IN THE EARLY MONTHS OF 2020. BY THE END OF 2021, THIS PROGRAM WAS SERVING 70 CLIENTS IN 14 HOMES. THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SSHH AND OUR FUNDER, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES (BHS) CONTINUED TO IMPROVE. THE STAFF AND BHS WORKED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS RESEARCH PROJECT (PROCESS AND QUALITATIVE) TO PREPARE AND PRESENT INTERIM REPORTS WHICH WILL INCLUDE PROTOCOLS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION. PROGRAM RELATED TENANT SERVICES (PRTS):SSHH DIRECTLY ESTABLISHED THIS PROGRAM WITH THE COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO TO SERVE APPROXIMATELY 400 HOUSEHOLDS BY YEAR 2021. THIS PROGRAM IS TO SERVE FREQUENT USERS OF COUNTY JAILS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. CASE MANAGEMENT IS PROVIDED BY PARTNERING AGENCIES AND SSHH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HOUSING AND MAINTAINING THE HOUSING FOR THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. PRTS CLOSED THE 2019 YEAR WITH 174 CLIENTS IN 122 UNITS AND CLOSED THE 2020 YEAR WITH 256 CLIENTS LIVING IN 135 UNITS.HOUSING STOCK SUMMARY:AT THE BEGINNING OF 2021, THE AGENCY WAS MANAGING 231 HOMES/UNITS AND ENDED THE YEAR WITH 265 HOMES/UNITS WITH 824 CLIENTS IN HOUSING. SSHH ALSO RE-HOUSED 624 INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDED 2,858 TYPES OF SERVICES THROUGH THE OUTREACH AND NAVIGATION PROGRAM.

NAVIGATION, COUNSELING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES:AS ONE OF THE LEADING HOUSING SERVICES AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY, SACRAMENTO SELF-HELP HOUSING (SSHH) PARTNERS WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE HOUSING EXPERTISE TO THOSE IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND SAFE HOUSING. SSHH ADMINISTERS HOUSING COUNSELING AND HOUSING LOCATION ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT SACRAMENTO COUNTY. SSHH ALSO PROVIDES HOMELESS OUTREACH SERVICES IN ELK GROVE, CITRUS HEIGHTS, ARDEN ARCADE, CARMICHAEL, FOLSOM, RANCHO CORDOVA, NORTH SACRAMENTO, SOUTH SACRAMENTO, AND THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY. PARTICIPANTS WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH TRAINED HOUSING COUNSELORS TO COMPLETE A HOUSING-BARRIERS ASSESSMENT INTAKE, DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICE PLAN WITH SELF-DETERMINED GOALS, AND ENGAGE IN A PLANNED INTERVENTION PROCESS WHICH ENHANCES PARTICIPANT SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE INTAKE ASSESSES POSSIBLE HOUSING BARRIERS SUCH AS CREDIT CHALLENGES, EVICTIONS AND LEGAL CONCERNS, ALONG WITH FINANCIAL AND RENTAL HISTORY. HOUSING COUNSELORS NOT ONLY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING LOCATION, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TAILOR HOUSING REFERRALS TO REFLECT THE NEEDS OF PARTICIPANTS FOR LOW-BARRIER, AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE HOUSING OPTIONS. SSHH ALSO MAINTAINS A HOUSING DATABASE WHICH CONTAINS INFORMATION REGARDING RENTAL COST, POLICIES AND VACANCIES FOR OVER 300 HOUSING OPTIONS. HOUSING COUNSELING UTILIZES A CLIENT-CENTERED APPROACH TO MATCH PARTICIPANTS WITH TANGIBLE HOUSING OPTIONS. MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING ASSISTS PARTICIPANTS TO IDENTIFY HOUSING GOALS, DEVELOP INTERVIEW SKILLS, AND PROVIDES THEM WITH INFORMATION REGARDING HOUSING REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL AS TENANT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. PARTICIPANTS ARE ASSISTED WITH COMPLETING HOUSING APPLICATIONS, GATHERING REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, AND PRESENTING A COMPLETED RENTAL APPLICATION. COUNSELORS HELP PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS CREDIT CHALLENGES AND ISSUES PERTAINING TO PREVIOUS RENTAL HISTORY, AND SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS DURING THE MOVE-IN PROCESS, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE DEPOSIT AND FURNISHING ASSISTANCE, OR WITH OBTAINING A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION BASED ON A DISABILITY. ONCE HOUSED, SSHH PROVIDES ROUTINE FOLLOW-UP TO TRACK PARTICIPANT HOUSING STABILITY. PARTICIPANTS ARE CONTACTED AT THE 30-, 60-, 90-, AND 180-DAY MILESTONES OF MAINTAINING HOUSING TO ASSESS THEIR STABILITY ON AN ONGOING BASIS. STAFF CONTINUED TO HOUSE CLIENTS INTO MOTELS/HOTELS, APARTMENTS, AND ROOM & BOARDS. THE HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDED THIS TYPE OF SERVICES TO AN AVERAGE OF 250 CLIENTS PER QUARTER. FOR THE PATHWAYS ALONE THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS (PANEL SIZE) WAS 420. THE STAFF WORKED WITH THE SACRAMENTO HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (SHRA) ISSUING ALL HOUSING VOUCHER (HCVS) TO GET CLIENTS HOUSING VOUCHERS DOCUMENTS UP TO DATE.

RENTER'S HELPLINE:SACRAMENTO SELF-HELP HOUSING CONTRACTS WITH PROJECT SENTINEL AND THE CALIFORNIA APARTMENT ASSOCIATION (CAA) TO PROVIDE A TELEPHONE AND INTERNET-BASED "RENTER'S HELPLINE." RENTER'S HELPLINE EDUCATES TENANTS AND LANDLORDS ON THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, OFFERS TENANT-LANDLORD DISPUTE RESOLUTION, PROVIDES REFERRALS AND RESOURCES FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND IDENTIFIES HOUSING DISCRIMINATION CASES WHICH ARE REFERRED TO PROJECT SENTINEL. THE RENTER'S HELPLINE HAS A LANGUAGE LINE AND BROCHURES IN SIX LANGUAGES. DURING 2021, RHL ATTENDED 7,947 CALLS, HELPED 275 CLIENTS WITH RELOCATIONS, REFERRED 475 TO PROJECT SENTINEL, AND PROVIDED EDUCATION TO NEARLY 8,000 HOUSEHOLDS.THE ORGANIZATION'S 2019-2020 ANNUAL INTAKE REPORT SHOWED THAT 56% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAD EXTREMELY LOW INCOME, 38% HAD BELOW AVERAGE INCOME, AND 4% HAD VERY-LOW INCOME. EIGHTY ONE PERCENT (81%) OF HOUSEHOLDS WERE OR HAD A DISABLED FAMILY MEMBER.