LODESTAR 2015 TO APPLICATION.PDF

Created: 05/06/2015
Last updated: 05/20/2015
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General information
Organization Lodestar Day Resource Center
Contact First name Linda
Contact Last name Mushkatel
Contact e-mail lmushkatel@hsc-az.org
Contact phone number 480 688 3537
Address
Street 1125 West Jackson Street
City Phoenix
State AZ
ZIP Code 85007
From what tribe is the organization requesting the grant?
Tohono O’odham Nation
Total grant amount request
90,073
The Gila River Indian Community offers multi-year awards. If your organization is requesting a multi-year grant for this
project or program from the Gila River Indian Community, enter the amount to be requested each year.
Amount
Year 1 (Gila River Indian Community Only)
Year 2 (Gila River Indian Community Only)
Year 3 (Gila River Indian Community Only)
Year 4 (Gila River Indian Community Only)
Year 5 (Gila River Indian Community Only)
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Tohono O’odham Nation 12% Gaming Funds Request
LODESTAR DAY RESOURCE CENTER HOUSING INITIATIVE: HOMELESS TO
HOUSED
a. Perceived need and how need will be addressed
Homelessness is a social problem that not only adversely affects thousands of
individuals in Phoenix, but also in the greater community of Maricopa County. The
Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix was built as a collaborative effort by
governmental, business, philanthropic, faith-based and non-profit provider sectors to
address this issue.
Established in 2007 as a primary partner on the Human Services Campus, the mission
of the Lodestar Day Resource Center (LDRC) is to create a safe, engaging, holistic
community that empowers people to end their homelessness and create long-term
changes. This goal is accomplished through innovative, evidence-based programming
that is focused on removing barriers and providing services that support appropriate
housing solutions that fit client needs – the key to ending homelessness. This
proposal requests support for LDRC programmatic elements that directly address
housing initiatives, from the point of initial client engagement and assessment through
connecting clients to medical/behavioral health resources and finally to housing
placement and support once they are housed.
The LDRC and its partner HSC agencies serve homeless single adults, many of whom
are chronically homeless individuals. The 2013 DES Annual Report on Homelessness
reported that “one in every 220 persons in Maricopa County experienced homelessness
in 2013. Single homes adults represent over 75 percent of the homeless population in
the County” [p. 10]. Here in Maricopa County, more than 1,000 homeless men and
women access the Human Services Campus every day.
Men and women who have been living on the streets or in shelters often perceive
themselves as “invisible” to the community and experience low self-esteem and
isolation. This situation often is exacerbated by accompanying medical, mental health
or substance abuse issues. Evidence-based practice has demonstrated that these
conditions are most effectively treated once an individual is out of shelter or off the
streets and placed in housing – the Housing First model. These individuals are the
focus of the LDRC’s Housing Initiative.
The LDRC housing initiative begins with client assessment at the Welcome Center, the
single point of entry for the HSC. LDRC staff use a standardized assessment tool (VI-
SPDAT) to identify clients’ acuity of needs to quickly direct them to appropriate
resources, including housing. This assessment tool has been adopted by the MAG
Continuum of Care on Regional Homelessness as the tool to be used by providers
county-wide for coordinated assessment. The LDRC is serving as the pilot site for
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assessment of single adults. During FY14, the Welcome Center assessed more than
4,500 clients (74% of all single adult assessments in Maricopa County). Results of
these assessments indicate the individuals’ acuity levels, services needs and the type of
permanent housing (including permanent supportive housing) that best fits client needs.
As housing options become available, the assessment tool enables community
providers to prioritize those most in need.
The housing initiative is continued at the LDRC facility, which, in addition to LDRC client
care coordinators and housing assistance staff, co-locates multiple agencies (e.g.,
Community Bridges, Southwest Behavioral Health, the Chaplaincy for the Homeless, St.
Joseph the Worker and a U.S. Post Office). These agencies provide such services as
mental and medical health resources, identification documents (key to acquiring
housing), legal needs, income and employment resources, and housing connection.
LDRC Client Care Coordinators who staff the reception desk and engage clients in the
dayroom play a key role in identifying barriers individuals must overcome to reach
successful housing solutions. The LDRC Housing Department staff also includes
Housing Case Managers and an Intensive Engagement Specialist (IES), who follows
the most vulnerable clients with the most complex medical needs. Working
collaboratively these staff enable clients to move from homelessness to housing by:
• Assisting homeless individuals identify the most appropriate housing intervention
• Assisting clients in their housing search
• Ensuring that clients have tools and support needed to maintain their housing
and achieve long-term life changes
• Ensuring housing settings are equipped with necessary start-up house-hold
items
• Interacting with landlords and other housing providers
• Helping clients acquire financial resource appropriate to support housing options
(e.g., Social Security Disability Insurance).
• Assisting clients in creating and maintaining appropriate relationships with
landlords
• Providing home-based case management once an individual acquires housing
b. Population who will benefit
The Housing Assistance Program serves homeless single men and women, many of
whom are chronically homeless, who access the Human Services Campus in downtown
Phoenix. A chronically homeless individual is a person with a disabling condition who has
been continuously homeless for a year or more or has had at least four episodes of
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homelessness in the past three years. As noted above, individuals who have been living in
emergency shelter or on the streets often have complex social, medical, mental health
and substance abuse needs. Best practice has demonstrated that the most effective
way to alleviate these issues is to first find appropriate housing for these vulnerable
individuals and, once housed, to assure appropriate support services are in place.
c. Budget
The budget presented below request $90,073 to support partially key staff and start-up
needs of clients moving into permanent housing.
Item Amount Purpose
($)
1.0 Housing case 31,200 Provides rental search and housing
manager assistance; provides home-based case
management
Employee related 8,736 28% of salary base
expense
1.0 Client Care 24,960 Staffs LDRC reception and provides
Coordinator client engagement in LDRC dayroom;
identifies client barriers and assures
client connection with referred services
Employed related 28% of salary base
expense 6,989
Client start-up housing 10,000 Housing deposits; household items
needs
Indirect cost 8,188 Calculated @ 10% of direct costs
Total
$90,073
d. Other funding requests related to the Housing Initiative, including Client
Engagement and Coordinated Assessment
Arizona Department of Housing $200,000 Funded for FY2015
Valley of the Sun United Way $192,000 Funded for FY2015
Gila River Indian Community $ 50,000 Submitted for current cycle
Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation $ 75,000 Submitted for current cycle
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Dignity Health $ 50,000 Awarded for FY2016
e. Other 12% distributions
The LDRC has not received a distribution from the Tohono O’odham nation. Other
distributions include:
Salt River Pima Indian Community 2014 Award $ 50,000
Gila River Indian Community 2013 Award $ 90,000
f. Contacts
David Bridge, HSC/LDRC Managing Director
dbridge@hsc-az.org
1125 West Jackson, Phoenix AZ, 85007
480.388.5563 - Fax: 602.258.4615
Alternate:
Linda Mushkatel, LDRC Board Member
lmushkat@hsc-az.org
1125 West Jackson, Phoenix AZ, 85007
480.688.3537 - Fax: 602.258.4615
g. Priority Area
Health Care – Homeless individuals present with a high incidence of mental health,
substance abuse and complex medical conditions. Evidence-based practice has shown
that addressing these health issues is much more successful when individuals are off
the streets or out of shelters and placed in appropriate housing.
h. Local government entity
Maricopa County
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