download. - The Commons of NC

Avoiding Homelessness
Building Futures
A Campaign to Build Futures
A Common Cause
Most of us think of homelessness as a person on the corner with a
sign. But, there are homeless people you seldom see and reasons for
homelessness that you may not even realize.
region, every state, every city – urban and rural. Winston-Salem is not immune. Any
annually in Winston-Salem.
night about 400 people are homeless right here. The costs are high – in grueling lives,
In 2006, community leaders
created Winston-Salem’s Ten
Year Plan to End Chronic
Homelessness.
In 2006, Winston-Salem developed the Ten Year Plan to End
Specific goals of the plan are:
Chronic Homelessness. The aggressive goal of this plan was not
• Adoption of a “Housing First”
approach to programs
just to address the symptoms, but to END homelessness. Over the
years, projects have been developed and great progress has been
• Creation of approximately
600 new units of permanent,
service enriched housing
made in reducing homelessness in Winston-Salem. Recent data
shows that homelessness has decreased by 40%.
Still, not all populations are being served – and many of these underserved have the
potential to overcome homelessness or avoid it altogether with the right support.
Recently, Winston-Salem’s Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, the North
Carolina Housing Foundation, Goodwilll Industries, iCan House, CareNet Counseling
and a variety of other service organizations, foundations and educational institutions
collaborated and identified three populations in special need of help and with a
tremendous potential to avoid homelessness.
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including 200 children
experience homelessness
emergency room care and, sometimes, for prisons.
– Chris Henson, COO, BB&T
Chairman, Winston-Salem’s Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
Chairman, Campaign for The Commons
Approximately 1,800 people
Homelessness continues to be a chronic issue across the country and affects every
missed opportunities, dimmed hopes. And, yes, in dollars – for shelters, soup kitchens,
“Homelessness is just misunderstood.”
Winston-Salem’s Ten
Year Plan to End
Chronic Homelessness
• Development of employment
services to assist efforts to gain
work
• Improved collaboration
among service providers
• Enhancement of systems to
ensure services are more
effectively provided
The Commons is a significant
part of the Ten Year Plan.
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Foster Care Youth
Autism Spectrum
Young Adults
Homeless Families
with Children
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No Net
Many people think that a safety net exists when children in the foster care
system reach 18 years of age, but in fact, it doesn’t. When these children reach
the age of adulthood, assistance mostly stops – which means no home, no family, no job
and limited education. Through no fault of their own, they are simply left to provide for
themselves and struggle once again to find stability, leaving little hope.
Their Challenges:
Due to family disruption, inconsistent living arrangements, foster care regimentation
and limited financial support throughout their childhoods, most former foster youth face
significant challenges:
At 18, foster care room and board ceases, leaving youth to find their own living
arrangements
At Risk:
Foster Care Youth
Former Foster Care Youth
in the United States:
%
68
of women receive food stamps
%
59
of men have
criminal convictions
52% are unemployed
%
85
earn less than
$25,000 per year
3
in 10 homeless adults
report having been in foster care
No family support and limited, if any, supportive relationships
High school education level at best, and often less
Job prospects are dim, due to minimal education
Financial support is seldom available; no federal programs target this group after 18
Only short-term living options are available with no semblance of a home
“One day you have a place to live
or community
If not homeless already, they are prime candidates for homelessness.
and someone to take care of you ...
and the next day ... it’s just done.”
– Reni Geiger, Director of Community Initiatives, Goodwill Industries
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No Support
In the United States:
Another population faces many of the same challenges for a very different reason.
1 in 50 children have an
Young adults facing autism spectrum challenges are at risk for homelessness similarly
to the foster youth. In this case, a developmental disorder causes the problems, but even
with loving, supportive families these young men and women require help or face the
prospect of no job, limited education and, as their parents age, no family. With
the
rapid increase of this condition and practically no housing to serve this
population, homelessness is a real issue.
autism spectrum disorder
60% have never been employed
two years after high school
33% have had no employment
seven years after high school
Their Challenges:
Due to a disorder that affects their social skills, communication and ability to adapt to
some work and school settings, autism spectrum young adults face significant challenges:
No federal or state programs provide supportive housing, and there are no private
programs in the Winston-Salem area
At Risk:
Autism Spectrum
Young Adults
In Winston-Salem:
500 young adults ages 15-24
have autism spectrum challenges
Family support is common, but parents frequently cannot provide the housing,
training and case management needed
High school education or higher is possible, but is typically obtained much
more slowly
Job prospects are limited, due to lack of training and/or education
“These adults face challenges every
day that the rest of us take for granted.”
– Kim Shufran, Executive Director, iCan House
Financial support is seldom available
Stable, supportive housing is necessary due to ongoing life skills management needs
Life skills must be ingrained by early adulthood to successfully live independently
Institutional-type environments delay development due to the lack of exposure
to normal life, work and community interactions
These young adults have great potential to live happy, productive lives. They just need
a different kind of help to get there.
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No Home
In Winston-Salem:
Homeless families have been increasing as a proportion of the homeless
population due in large part to financial factors driven by a protracted
weak economy. In fact, from 2008 to 2012 the poverty rate for married-couple families
160 families are homeless
with children more than doubled in Forsyth County. At the same time, most homeless
programs are focused on people who are chronically homeless and single male adults.
annually in Winston-Salem
86
Only
shelter beds are
available for families
Parents have additional hurdles to address when they become homeless – childcare,
schooling, transportation, housing and food for their family – before they can begin taking
care of themselves.
Their Challenges:
Families tend to be less visible because they avoid homeless shelters, soup kitchens and
other typical homeless venues in order to protect their children and keep their families
50% are homeless for the first
time and do not have family or
additional support in the area
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In only
years, the poverty rate
for families with children has
more than doubled
together. Challenges include:
At Risk:
Families with
Children
Limited education
Job skills that are in less demand or have atrophied
Overwhelming logistic and time demands – food, clothing, healthcare, childcare,
school, training, job search or work – all with limited transportation access
Search for safe housing is constant, sometimes living in cars, sheds or in unsafe
“These are people who want to do
better – and with a helping hand –
can do better.”
abandoned buildings
Very limited supply of housing for homeless families in Winston-Salem
Limited family support structures
National Spotlight:
The number of homeless
school-aged children in the
United States surpassed
1 million for the first
time during the 2011-12 school
year — a 57 percent increase
from 2006-07.
See the full story at:
cbsnews.com/60-minutes
These families are just like yours. The difference is that unemployment and financial
issues have devastated them. Now they need a steady hand to regain their footing.
– Chris Henson, COO, BB&T
Chairman, Winston-Salem’s Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
Chairman, Campaign for The Commons
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Common Needs
Cost of Homelessness:
All of these groups are dealing with situations outside of their control. Unfortunate
$24,000
circumstances, illness, unemployment and the effects of a weak economy are the
primary causes. And, most importantly, they all have true potential to be contributing
members of our community – with the right help.
Underserved
Risk of
Homlessness
Annual average cost per homeless
person to our community
$43 million
Cost to
the Community
Potentially
Self-Sufficient
Annual cost of homelessness
to our community
$3.2 million
While in some ways they are dissimilar, in many more ways they are the same. They
have common needs, hopes and dreams.
Average cost for care and
treatment for a single person
with autism over a lifetime
Safe, secure housing for an extended period
Access to inexpensive, nutritious meals
Case management to navigate access to and make plans for services – healthcare,
unemployment, social services
Training to gain employment – job training, vocational training and education
services
Life management and interpersonal skills to regain self-sufficiency – financial
counseling, time management, household skills
“The Commons is about building
futures – for the residents it serves
and for Winston-Salem.”
Transportation and appointment coordination
Perhaps the most important need they all share is the need for a community. Not an
institution, but a place where their neighbors understand their challenges. A place where
everyone is not identical to them, just like any neighborhood. A place where they get
help and understanding, but also take on responsibilities and give support.
They need a home.
– D. Ritchie Brooks, Director
Community and Business Development
City of Winston-Salem
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A Common Solution
The Commons Campus
The Commons delivers an integrated program – extended-term housing, food and
supportive services – something unique in Forsyth County and at the forefront of
homeless program best practices. The program is consistent with the housing-first strategy
Main
proven effective throughout our country and supported by our Ten Year Plan to
Office
End Homelessness.
Residences
Property Features:
Medical
The Commons is located on a campus-like property five minutes east of downtown
Warehouse
Winston-Salem with the facilities to house, feed and provide services to these populations.
Conference Center
Our objective is to transform highly vulnerable people to be:
Future Expansion/
Development
Employed or financially self-sufficient
– 16 acre campus within
Winston-Salem city limits
– Accessible by public
transportation
Permanently housed
– 15 condominiums
Net contributors to community services vs. net consumers of community services
– A multi-purpose building
with 20 bedrooms with
private bathrooms
Key strategic plan components
– Two multi-bedroom stand
The strategy employs the most effective methods to address residents’ needs and brings
alone houses
together a variety of service organizations and the local community to help and benefit.
– A 5,000 square foot
Link housing and various service offerings, establishing long-term strategy for
conference center with
self-sufficiency with demonstrated success.
training rooms
Launch a consolidated campus offering interpersonal skills development and
– A medical office building
safer, family-like atmosphere for residents that have similar life, interpersonal and
– Deliver training and services efficiently in one location
– Enhance programs with cross-agency cooperation
– An occupational training
workshop
– 12 undeveloped acres
ad
– A commercial kitchen
Drive
Leverage the collective expertise of service organizations to:
– A 10 office building
Harvest
employment skills needs.
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Invest in a campus with the capacity to expand.
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BUSINESS
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Leverage training and facilities to reach financial self-sufficiency near term.
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Building On a History of Success
NCHF, Inc.
Support Organizations
The North Carolina Housing
Foundation, Inc. (NCHF), founded in
From the outset, organizations drawn from the premier human service agencies already
1967, will own, manage and maintain The
agencies will provide support in the forms of service providers, referral sources and/or
Commons. The NCHF draws on its long-term experience developing, managing and
existing in Forsyth County and North Carolina have committed to the project. Partner
“The Commons
is the best
example of
financial donors.
coordinating services for over 2,000 units of quality housing for elderly, handicapped,
disabled and low-income families in our community and throughout the state.
a community
NCHF provides property management and services coordination for their properties.
collaboration.”
Currently, NCHF has over 26 staff members coordinating services. They operate with
a high productivity infrastructure and efficient operating processes resulting in happy
residents and successful programs.
Campaign Goal
– Reni Geiger
Director of Community
Initiatives, Goodwill Industries
Preliminary Campaign Budget Allocation
In 2012, The Commons embarked
“The Commons
is the right
project for ending
homelessness in
Winston-Salem.”
– Andrea Kurtz
Senior Director,
Housing Strategies
United Way of Forsyth County
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on a capital campaign to purchase
the campus and to initiate
Site Acquisition
+
operations for the first year.
The Board of Directors of
Renovations/Code Upgrades
Foundation (NCHF) retained
Campaign Expenses
Committee’s calendar for 2013.
$200,000
+
Inc., and NCHF secured a slot
on the Campaign Coordinating
$400,000
+
the North Carolina Housing
the services of Whitney Jones,
$3,200,000
Start-up Costs
$200,000
=
Based on the survey results and
How You Can Support The Commons
We invite you to help offer a safety net to foster care youth, provide support to young adults
with autism and establish a home for families.
Email Us – donate@thecommonsnc.org
Donate Online – Visit thecommonsnc.org to make your donation online
Mail Your Donation – Make checks payable to:
NCHF and write “Campaign for The Commons” on the memo line
Mail to:
approved a capital campaign with
NCHF, Inc.
a goal of $4 million.
750 Bethesda Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
the recommendation of Whitney
Jones, Inc., the Board of NCHF
Total Expenses
$4,000,000
“FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION AND A COPY OF ITS
LICENSE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE SOLICITATION LICENSING SECTION
AT 1-888-830-4989. THE LICENSE IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE STATE.”
All contributions are tax deductible within the limits of federal and state laws.
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Campaign Leadership
Campaign Chairman
Chris Henson
Honorary Cabinet Members
Richard P. Budd
Mayor Allen Joines
Norwood Robinson
Campaign Cabinet Members
Cantey Alexander
David P. Barksdale
Linda Jackson Barnes
Dan Besse
Nick Bragg
Felice Brenner
Andy Brown
Joe Budd
Teddy Burriss
Peggy C. Carter
Perry Craven
Ron Drago
Art Gibel
Tommy Hickman
Michael Hough
Marie Ivester
Mary Jamis
Joycelyn Johnson
Dan Kornelis
Andrea Kurtz
Ward B. Miller
John Nichols
Tanner Robinson
Robert Sanders, Jr.
Steve Scoggin
Steve Viola
Dudley Watts
North Carolina Housing Foundation, Inc.
Garry Merritt, Consulting Project Director
Diane Evans, Director of Development
Avoiding Homelessness, Building Futures
thecommonsnc.org