DUPAGE HOMELESS CONTINUUM STRATEGIC PLAN
NINE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS⁸

1. NEEDS ASSESSMENT DATA - Planning for Outcomes

The DuPage Homeless Continuum is using Service Point by Bowman as the software for its Homeless Management Information System. The system is operational but not fully functional at this time. In order to acquire data currently, a manual Provider Survey and a manual Street Count are being implemented. These are being completed by the DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform.

GOAL: The DuPage Homeless Continuum will have a fully functional CMIS (Client Management Information System) system that can be analyzed to identify the number of persons who are homeless, how long they are homeless, what the causes of their homelessness are, what homeless services and mainstream services they receive, and what their needs are to end homelessness, the level of their interaction with mainstream benefits and programs, the effectiveness of homeless services in obtaining permanent housing and increasing their participation in mainstream programs. All homeless service providers are contributing data to the countywide CMIS. The system will provide aggregate reports on the characteristics and needs of homeless and at risk persons on a real time basis. The system will identify the number and characteristics of persons who are episodically homeless and obtain housing fairly quickly and the number and characteristics of persons in DuPage who are chronically homeless and need permanent supportive housing. This data will be used to identify the most effective strategy for each sub-group of the homeless population and used for planning purposes by those responsible for mainstream as well as homeless-targeted resources.

TASK AND RESPONSIBLE ENTITY: The Needs Assessment Committee and CMIS Users Group are the responsible parties for identifying objectives, action steps, and timeframes to achieve this goal. The focus will be on 100% participation by all homeless providers, agreeing on the type of data needed, setting up the reports needed to analyze the data, what they need to look like, and what information has to be input to obtain these reports.

2. EMERGENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS - Close the Front Door

Prevention of homelessness is important and a high priority. The DuPage Homeless Continuum has currently has five main homeless prevention service providers. These agencies provide food, clothing, transportation, prescriptions, and direct rent and utility financial assistance. Public funding of approximately $460,000 is distributed annually. The funds available do not support the staff time necessary to distribute them or meet all administrative requirements.

GOAL - The DuPage County Homeless Continuum will have in place an Emergency Prevention system that assists the maximum number of persons possible and operates efficiently. The DuPage Continuum's centralized intake and referral system at DuPage County Human Services will allow all persons at risk of homelessness timely access to the appropriate homeless prevention programs they need to prevent becoming homeless. In addition to direct client assistance, support for the administration of these programs is necessary. The DuPage Homeless Continuum will provide direct financial assistance to keep people housed. This includes temporary subsidies that may go beyond a one-time payment. Assistance available will include rent/mortgage direct assistance, utility assistance, emergency food, clothing, utility help and transportation, landlord/lender intervention, legal assistance and pre-eviction counseling, default counseling, and housing advocacy. Structural components will be addressed to provide the flexibility and coordination that is necessary for a fully successful emergency assistance program.

TASK AND RESPONSIBLE ENTITY: The Grants Funding Committee will be the responsible entity. They will work with the homeless prevention providers including Catholic Charities, The People's Resource Center, Wheaton Youth Outreach, Hinsdale Community Services and the DuPage County Human Services Department in identifying objectives, action steps, and timeframes to achieve this goal. The focus will be on obtaining more funds from private sources if possible, supporting the staff costs for these programs, maximizing the use of public funding to help the most persons, streamlining procedures, identifying means for increasing timely access to prevention resources, identifying requirements that are a barrier for obtaining help now, and using other mainstream programs as a part of an overall homeless prevention effort.

<< Prev| Next >>