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HUD awards MHS $2.2 million in 2006 homeless assistance funding.

20-Dec-2005

MHS received $2.2 million in homeless assistance grant awards in the nationwide competition for Supportive Housing Program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). All seven applications that MHS submitted to HUD in April 2005 were funded. HUD announced that it will fund nearly 5,000 homeless assistance projects nationwide with grant awards totaling $1.33 billion, 5% less than last year’s record funding of $1.4 billion.

HUD grants for homeless assistance and emergency shelter programs throughout Ohio totaled nearly $65 million, 5% less than last year’s state funding of $68.5 million. There were $60 million in HUD grants to the state in the 2003 funding award, and $55.6 million in the 2002 award.

Locally, HUD made 35 homeless assistance grants to Cuyahoga County and 20 organizations that are part of the Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Continuum of Care. The Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services (OHS) leads the County's Continuum of Care homeless assistance projects, and other Emergency Shelter projects. HUD grants to Cuyahoga County Continuum of Care projects totaled $20.5 million, nearly 10% more than last year’s total of $18.7 million. HUD Homeless Assistance awards to the County totaled $15 million 2003, and $14.4 million in 2002. HUD awarded a total of $1,212,498 this year in two grants to the Cleveland and Cuyahoga County's Emergency Shelter programs.

Ruth Gillett, (at left), Program Manager of the Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services told a reporter for The Plain Dealer: "This is really, really a great relief."

The Office of Homeless Services leads the community's efforts to provide coordinated, efficient, and effective services to protect the safety and health of homeless persons, and to help them achieve housing, income, and independence. The Office worked with non-profit organizations and units of local government to submit the County's comprehensive proposal to HUD in June 2005. All programs in the proposal were awarded the HUD funds that were requested.

References
Auster, Elizabeth. (2005, December 21). More relief for homeless in Cuyahoga. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, p. A-24.

Sullivan, Brian. (2005, December 20). Bush Administration announces $1.33 billion in grants to house and serve thousands of homeless individuals and families. (HUD News Release No. 05-175.) Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Retrieved from
http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr05-175.cfm

The success of an MHS client is used to illustrate the promise of new supportive housing programs.

18-Dec-2005

The Plain Dealer article is presented in full below.

"The Housing First Initiative, which seeks to boost the amount of permanent supportive housing in Cuyahoga County, has launched its first project after three years' efforts.

"The coalition of advocates, service providers and city and county officials has identified a need for more of this subsidized housing coupled with support services for the chronically homeless.

"Its target population includes people with problems ranging from mental illness to alcoholism who can live independently with a little help.

"The $8.65 million Emerald Commons on Madison Avenue at West 79th Street in the Detroit-Shoreway area on Cleveland's West Side is the first new construction of the 1,000 units the initiative hopes to create in coming years.

"Work began this fall on the apartment building, which will have 52 efficiency units.

" It's a home. It's an apartment. It's not a shelter. It's not an institution," said Kate Monter Durban, assistant director of the Cleveland Housing Network Inc., a project developer.

"Emerald Commons and two other projects will create the type of atmosphere that Marilyn Penn said got her back on track.

"Penn, 49, is a recovering alcoholic who suffers from bipolar disorder and has anxiety attacks. Mental Health Services gives her counseling at the Kingsway Manor Apartments, where she lives. [Emphasis added. To learn more about MHS permanent housing programs, click here.]

"Penn jangles her keys with pride. One opens the exterior door of the apartment building in the Tremont neighborhood. One opens her mailbox. And one opens the door to her federally subsidized one-bedroom apartment.

" As long as I'm paying my rent and taking my medication, this is my key to my door. And this is important to me," Penn said, singling out her apartment key.

"Penn, who works full time, hopes to buy a home and reunite with her family, including the daughter she hit in the head with a hammer during a drunken jag.

"Charles Byrd, Kingsway's program manager, said the agency provides counseling, medication monitoring and day-to-day help for the 50 residents.

" People here basically have the opportunity to live a normal life, independently," he said.

"Emerald Commons will have similar services, provided by Recovery Resources, the AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland and Mental Health Services. The Emerald Development and Economic Network Inc., known as EDEN, is the other developer."

Kathryn Kazol is Executive Director of Emerald Economic and Development Network, Inc., the non-profit housing development corporation that leads the Emerald Commons project. EDEN and MHS are collaborative partners in this and other homeless assistance programs in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

"Residents will get federal rent vouchers. Federal money and other resources will pay for the services.

"Cleveland City Councilwoman Sabra Pierce Scott backs a second project, Emerald Alliance, in Glenville because she said it would serve a segment of the neighborhood's population. EDEN, the housing network and the Glenville Development Corp. are the developers.

"The Famicos Foundation plans a third project: a comprehensive renovation of its single-room-occupancy building at 1850 Superior Ave. to provide on-site services and security for 44 residents.

"The concept is relatively new to Cleveland, but early projects nationwide date from the late 1980s and early 1990s, said Sally Luken, who heads the Corporation for Supportive Housing Inc.'s Ohio office in Columbus.

"The Ohio Department of Mental Health spearheaded developments in the late 1980s. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency, which provides financing and tax credits for housing, invested $1.5 million in these projects in 2004 and set aside $1 million for them in 2005, said spokesman Mike Hogan.

"Luken said federal money has financed nearly 11,000 units in Ohio, including the 100 units at the Commons at Grant in Columbus' trendy German Village neighborhood.

"In Cleveland, a consultant is re-evaluating Housing First's goal of 1,000 units in five years. But the group now has the momentum to push more projects.

" The people are already here, so why not embrace them and build the safety net beneath them?" said City Councilman Matt Zone, who was recognized nationally for building support for Emerald Commons in his ward."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: achatman@plaind.com, 216-999-4115

Chatman, Angela D. (2005, December 18). Emerald Commons to offer the homeless housing and support services. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, p. B-1.

An MHS program is featured for The Plain Dealer's Holiday Spirit Campaign.

02-Dec-2005

The MHS Child and Family Focused Services program is highlighted in The Plain Dealer's Holiday Spirit campaign. Click here to read the story, in a separate browser window.

Henry, Fran. (2005, December 2). Agency, family cooperating after a rocky start. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, pp. B-1 & B-5.

MHS is honored to have been selected to be a Holiday Spirit agency. Click here to learn more about Holiday Spirit, an effort of Plain Dealer Charities to help clients of human-service agencies during the holiday season.

Editorial states that federal government "should not bail out when children need help the most."

21-Sep-2005

This editorial in The Plain Dealer is presented in full below.

"Childhood trauma does not disappear when the money runs out.

"Yet that seems to be the position of some number-crunching federal government functionary, who recently snatched funding from two Ohio trauma centers: the Cincinnati Children's Hospital and, closer to home, Cuyahoga County's Children Who Witness Violence program.

"Many treatment centers lost their federal funding in a new round of grants that sliced the number of centers to 19 from 24. Most of the sites that won funding had not been supported by the federal government.

"The respected Cuyahoga County program helps youngsters cope with emotional fallout of a shooting, a house fire or a natural disaster.

"The Ohio programs received close to $1 million per year in federal dollars for the last three years. The feds say the programs flunked the grant review process, but they have been unclear about exactly how the Cuyahoga or Cincinnati programs failed to measure up.

"The timing also seems particularly hard-hearted, coming as young survivors of Hurricane Katrina arrive in Cleveland and other cities and as domestic violence, suicides and murders continue unabated in poor neighborhoods across the country.

"Officials who run the Cuyahoga County trauma program are asking the county to give them more than $300,000 to run it.

"The county commissioners, solid contributors already, should be generous. Local foundations should pitch in, too. Fortunately, this county is blessed with strong public-private cooperation that is quick to aid a good cause.

"Still, that doesn't excuse the federal government's disappearing act. It should not bail out when children need help the most. "

Unkind cuts to kids' trauma aid. [Editorial]. (2005, September 21). Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, p. B-8.

Child trauma program loses SAMHSA funding.

17-Sep-2005

The Cuyahoga County Children Who Witness Violence program did not receive renewal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). MHS provides the immediate trauma response for the program. The following article is from The Plain Dealer.

"Two Ohio programs that treat traumatized children will lose federal money, part of a sweeping remake of a national child-trauma network that has raised questions in the wake of a national emergency.

"A federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday disclosed a new round of grants for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, a consortium of dozens of federally supported treatment and research centers authorized by Congress in 2001.

"Most of the current programs whose three-year grants expire at the end of the month lost out.

"Among them are a well-regarded Cuyahoga County service for children who witness violence, and a treatment program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Together, the two services received more than $900,000 a year in federal money.

"They were simply outscored by new competitors in a typical grant-review process. But with scores of traumatized children dispersed by Hurricane Katrina, some child advocates say the government should put up additional money to keep the existing programs in place.

"Twenty-five centers in the network operate in states receiving evacuees, said John Fairbank, a coordinator of the network at Duke University.

"Does it make sense to take off line experienced programs that are involved?" Fairbank said.

"Ohio has three sites in the child trauma network. Only a program in Toledo was renewed in the new round of funding.

"Michael Hogan, director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health, said in a statement that while the Katrina disaster and the Iraqi war raise awareness of traumatic stress, 'trauma due to child abuse is much more prevalent and may have the same effects: depression, debilitating levels of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.'

"Hogan chaired a presidential commission that in 2003 called for major changes in the mental health system, including improved research in trauma.

"Hogan's statement said, 'It would be a big disservice if federal support of these programs was discontinued, especially considering the needs in Cleveland.'

"The Cuyahoga program, Children Who Witness Violence, counsels children after family fights, suicides and other violence. It operates on about $750,000 from the county and the federal grant. Steve Friedman, director of Mental Health Services Inc., which operates the program, said he will ask county commissioners for more than $300,000 to make up for the lost money.

"The agency is also helping Katrina evacuees who arrived in Cleveland. Friedman said he believes some Katrina victims will end up in the Children Who Witness Violence Program.

" Why dismantle the network when even in Ohio these specialized skills we've developed are needed at such a crucial time?" he said.

"The loss in Cincinnati will mean cuts in a program that trains other therapists, said Dr. Frank Putnam of the Trauma Treatment Replication Center at the children's hospital.

" A whole lot of services we offer to the community won't be available," Putnam said. "We've been providing free training to agencies all over the state, and that will have to stop."

Spector, Harlan. (2005, September 17). Child-trauma program loses grant: Cuyahoga service won't get aid. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer. To view the article, click here. (Please note that articles are available at that site for only a limited time.)

U.S. Senator DeWine reintroduces homeless services bill.

05 April 2005

U.S. Senator Mike DeWine made a statement on the floor of the United States Senate, reintroducing a bill to develop more permanent housing with supportive services for those with chronic mental illnesses. Here is the Senator's statement:

"Mr. President, today I rise with my colleague, Senator Jack Reed, to reintroduce the Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act. I would like to thank Senator Reed for his support in introducing this bill and for his dedication and commitment to this issue. I also would like to thank Senator Burr for his work on this bill. Senator Burr introduced a similar version of this bill when he was a member of the House of Representatives. I appreciate his support and the support of Senator Dodd, as well. Both are co-sponsors of this legislation.

"The chronically homeless represent about 10 percent of the entire homeless population, but consume a majority of the services. There are approximately 200,000 to 250,000 people who experience chronic homelessness. Those numbers include the heads of families, as well. Tragically, for these individuals, the periods of homelessness are measured in years -- not weeks or months. They tend to have disabling health and behavioral health problems: 40 percent have substance abuse disorders, 25 percent have a physical disability, and 20 percent have serious mental illness. These factors often contribute to a person becoming homeless, in the first place, and are certainly an impediment to overcoming it.

"The President has set a goal of ending chronic homelessness in 10 years. The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, chaired by the Ohio Department of Mental Health Director, Mike Hogan, recommended that a comprehensive program be created to facilitate access to permanent supportive housing for individuals and families who are chronically homeless. This recommendation is so important because affordable housing, alone, is not enough for this hard to reach group. And, temporary shelter-housing does not provide the stability and services needed to provide long-term positive outcomes. Only supportive housing, where the chronically homeless can receive shelter and services, such as mental health and substance abuse treatment, has been effective in decreasing their chances of returning to the streets and increasing their chances for leading productive lives.

"Not only is it right to help this group of hard to reach individuals, but it is also fiscally responsible. This group is one of the most expensive groups to serve. As I mentioned previously, they represent 10 percent of the overall homeless population, however, they consume a majority of homeless services. They consume the most emergency housing and health care services, which are also the most costly to provide. By encouraging supportive housing, we are providing the services necessary for these individuals and families to really get back on their feet. We can either continue to provide expensive emergency services to these needy people or we can give them the right kind of help -- the type of help they need for their long-term well-being and the long-term well-being of our communities.

"Unfortunately, current programs for funding services in permanent supportive housing, other than those administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), were not designed to be coordinated with housing programs. These programs also were not designed to meet the challenging needs of this specific subgroup of the homeless. That is why the bill we are introducing today would provide the authorization to fund services for supportive housing by providing grants which can be used with existing programs through HUD and state and local communities.

"Our bill also would encourage those who provide services to the chronically homeless, such as SAMHSA within the Department of Health and Human Services, to work with and coordinate their efforts with those who provide the physical housing, such as HUD. Under the current administration, these two departments have started to truly coordinate their efforts, and this bill would encourage and support that continued collaboration.

"This is a good bill, Mr. President, and it could make a real difference in the lives of so many individuals in need. I ask my colleagues to join us in support.

"I ask unanimous consent that the text of my remarks appears in the Record upon introduction of the bill."

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announces 2005 homeless assistance funding.

25-Jan-2005

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it will fund more than 4,400 homeless assistance projects nationwide with grant awards totaling $1.4 billion, the largest amount in the nation's history. Nearly 1,200 of these projects are for housing and services to those with severe mental disorders. HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson said the funding "will go directly to those on the front lines, who work tirelessly everyday to bring an end to chronic homelessness, and who provide services to the many individuals and families without a home of their own."

HUD grants for homeless assistance and emergency shelter programs throughout Ohio totaled $68.5 million. There were $60 million in HUD grants to the state last year, and $55.6 million in grants the year before.

Locally, HUD made 34 homeless assistance grants to Cuyahoga County and 17 organizations that are part of the Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Continuum of Care. The Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services (OHS) leads the County's Continuum of Care homeless assistance projects, and other Emergency Shelter projects. HUD grants to Cuyahoga County Continuum of Care projects totaled $18.7 million, compared with $15 million last year, and $14.4 million the year before. HUD awarded $1,061,646 this year to Cuyahoga County's Emergency Shelter program.

OHS had submitted proposals for four new permanent housing projects, for which $2.9 million was requested for the three-year term of the projects. Only three of these were funded. Of the 31 local renewal projects for which HUD Continuum of Care funding was requested, the MHS Safe Haven I program and the MHS Outreach and Representative Payee program were rated number 2 and 3, respectively, in project priorities. These ratings are made by community representatives that are part of the OHS Review and Ranking Committee.

Editorial supports permanent housing with supportive services.

02-Jan-2005

An editorial in the Sunday edition of The Plain Dealer, notes that "the needs of some homeless people go beyond what a typical shelter can offer. These chronically homeless individuals have sometimes been on the streets for years. Many have mental illnesses or substance-abuse problems that, if untreated, make 'normal' unattainable." The editors call attention to the efforts of Chicago and other cities to develop permanent supportive housing, "apartment complexes with counseling, job training and other services on site. No one is forced to move in or to use the services, but there has been no shortage of takers either. Like the best social policy, permanent supportive housing is both practical and compassionate."

The editors the describe Emerald Commons, which they describe as "an attractive 96-unit supportive housing complex at Madison Avenue and West 79th Street. With $6 million committed from governments, foundations and the Enterprise Social Investment Corp., construction should begin in February and take a year." The editorial concludes that one project won't end homelessness, but "providing a step up for the neediest can move this community toward the comprehensive approach that homelessness demands - every week of the year.

Aiding the chronically homeless [Editorial]. (2005, January 2). Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer. To view the editorial, click here.

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