Homelessness began to be a visible problem in DuPage County a little more than 20 years ago. Throughout the county, many quality programs and services have been developed, as well as strong community partnerships. Providers have learned a great deal about the social, emotional, educational, and financial effects on individuals and families who lose their housing. However, homelessness still exists in DuPage with no end in sight. Approximately 3000 homeless persons were identified in DuPage County in 2001. Of these, 40% were children and 43% were working. For 2800 persons who received homeless services, their situation was a result of lack of affordable housing, insufficient income, situational crises, and domestic violence. Another 200 persons did not accept services, are generally living on the streets, and are considered chronically homeless due to mental health and substance abuse treatment needs. After 20 years of providing services, the reality is that homelessness in DuPage County has not gone away.

THE DUPAGE HOMELESS CONTINUUM PLAN APPROACH

The DuPage County Homeless Continuum has committed to joining the national effort dedicated to ending homelessness by 2010. This effort involves four components:

• Develop a Plan to end Homelessness in every community.
• Make mainstream programs accountable for preventing and ending homelessness.
• Shift the focus of the homeless assistance programs from short-term support services to long term solutions.
• Work towards creating an infrastructure, including sufficient income and affordable housing, that can support permanent housing for everyone.

On February 27, 2003 the full membership of the DuPage County Homeless Continuum agreed to develop, implement and continue to refine a Plan to End Homelessness that looks ten years in the future with a new response to homelessness - one focused on ending it. This plan adopts a "Housing First" approach. "Housing First" is an approach based on two principles:

1. The best way to end homelessness is to help people move into permanent housing as quickly as possible.
2. Once in housing, formerly homeless people may require some level of services to help them stabilize, link them to long-term supports, and prevent a recurrence.
   

• Prevention is important and a high priority and necessary to keep people housed.
• Get persons into housing as quickly as possible. Partnerships are necessary to ensure that there is a plan for permanent housing.
• The goal of permanency in housing is worthwhile. Take a "Housing First" approach with the goal of permanency.
• All homeless programs must ensure that there is a plan for permanent housing and that partnerships have been established to achieve this goal.
• Different housing models are needed for different subpopulations.
• An outreach effort is needed to bring in the unsheltered homeless.
• The computerized Client Management Information System is an essential component for planning and ensuring accurate data.
• Develop an adequate number of permanent supportive housing units for homeless persons with disabilities.
• Build the capacity of affordable rental housing units and rent subsidies for market rate housing.
• "Housing First" challenges us to change our services where appropriate recognizing that it is not a "one size fits all" philosophy. Ensure services support a "Housing First" approach.

NINE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN

1. NEEDS ASSESSMENT DATA - Planning for Outcomes

The DuPage Homeless Continuum will have a fully functional Client Management Information System that can be analyzed to assess the numbers of persons that are homeless, how long persons are homeless, what their needs are to be housed, what the causes of homelessness are, their enrollment in mainstream programs, and the effectiveness of services received.

2. EMERGENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS - Close the Front Door

An Emergency Prevention system will be in place that assists the maximum number of persons possible and operates efficiently. It will include rent/utility/ mortgage assistance, landlord intervention and other services to prevent eviction and homelessness.

3. SYSTEMS PREVENTION - Close the Front Door

There will be placement in stable housing for persons being released from jails, mental health centers, hospitals, and foster care. Continuum wide efforts to increase the enrollment of homeless persons in all eligible mainstream benefits programs are in place and are resulting in an increased response to their housing needs.

4. OUTREACH TO THE UNSHELTERED HOMELESS- Opening the Back Door

There will be an outreach and engagement system in place that reduces barriers to housing all homeless persons who are not sheltered. A system of communication among all human service providers will be developed and utilized to provide outreach services to the unsheltered homeless so that they can be rapidly placed.

5. SHORTEN HOMELESSNESS- Opening the Back Door

Get persons into housing as quickly as possible. The shelter and transitional housing providers have procedures in place to reduce or minimize the length of time persons remain homeless and the number of times they become homeless.

6. TIMELY RE-HOUSING- Opening the Back Door

The DuPage Continuum has in place skilled housing search and placement services available to facilitate the rapid re-housing of persons losing their housing and persons who are homeless and need permanent housing.

7. SUPPORT SERVICES - Build the Infrastructure

When persons are housed, they have timely access to support services necessary for maintaining housing stability.

8. INCREASING INCOME - Build the Infrastructure

To support housing costs, the DuPage Homeless Continuum providers will assist homeless persons in securing enough income to afford rent by rapidly linking them with employment and/or benefits.

9. CREATING PERMANENT HOUSING - Build the infrastructure

The DuPage Homeless Continuum will work to expand the number of permanent supportive housing units, expand the supply of community affordable housing units, increase the number of rent subsidies for market rate housing units, and explore the opportunities for developing safe haven, shelter plus care, and single room occupancy housing . It will also network with stakeholders and community groups to increase housing resources and advocacy.

IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN

We need to raise awareness that ending homelessness will take the collective support of government, business, foundations, human service agencies and the general public to succeed. Progress reports on the accomplishment of our goals will be given regularly for each Essential Component of the Plan to End Homelessness. We will be reporting this progress to the community and local leaders to convince them that ending homelessness is within our grasp and seek their continuing support as we proceed.