2020 Point-in-Time Count for Chester County
In the early morning hours of January 23, 2020, the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) facilitated the annual Point in Time Count, a national effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of this initiative is to determine the number of people currently experiencing homelessness on a given night, to better understand homelessness in Chester County and across the nation, and to support Decade to Doorways, our community’s plan to prevent and end homelessness. Data from the count is included in the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), which is presented to Congress.
In the early morning hours of January 23, 2020, the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) facilitated the annual Point in Time Count, a national effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of this initiative is to determine the number of people currently experiencing homelessness on a given night, to better understand homelessness in Chester County and across the nation, and to support Decade to Doorways, our community’s plan to prevent and end homelessness. Data from the count is included in the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), which is presented to Congress.
One of the wealthiest counties in Pennsylvania says it’s finally close to ending homelessness
Since 2011, Chester County has been pouring time and money into reaching a lofty goal: ending homelessness within 10 years. “I’ve never seen the momentum we have now,” one advocate said as the deadline looms.
After a relationship ended three years ago, Michael Thomas had to move out. He found himself homeless for the first time in his life.
By The Philadelphia Inquirer
Since 2011, Chester County has been pouring time and money into reaching a lofty goal: ending homelessness within 10 years. “I’ve never seen the momentum we have now,” one advocate said as the deadline looms.
After a relationship ended three years ago, Michael Thomas had to move out. He found himself homeless for the first time in his life.
Pregnant Persons and Households with Infants Experiencing Homelessness Policy
People that are currently experiencing literal homelessness (Category 1 of HUD’s Definition of Homelessness – see HUD’s Homeless Definition Criteria Sheet) that has been confirmed by the Street Outreach Team and report a documented pregnancy or households who have an infant or young child (24 months old or under) will automatically be given top priority on the Emergency Family Shelter List, regardless of their VI-SPDAT score.
People that are currently experiencing literal homelessness (Category 1 of HUD’s Definition of Homelessness – see HUD’s Homeless Definition Criteria Sheet) that has been confirmed by the Street Outreach Team and report a documented pregnancy or households who have an infant or young child (24 months old or under) will automatically be given top priority on the Emergency Family Shelter List, regardless of their VI-SPDAT score. The following is the process that should take place for this population:
Anyone needing to gain access to the Emergency Shelter system must contact 2-1-1 to be assessed and referred to the Street Outreach Team.
A person without children who reports being pregnant when calling 2-1-1 will be assessed, and referred to the Street Outreach Team to have their homeless status confirmed. If the person is sleeping outside or in a place not meant for human habitation, they will be placed on the Emergency Shelter List. Street Outreach staff will make a direct referral via telephone or e-mail to Safe Harbor of Chester County, Inc. if beds are available. Safe Harbor staff will prioritize this person for emergency shelter placement and offer them an available bed. If an emergency shelter bed is not available at Safe Harbor, Inc., Street Outreach staff has the discretion to administer a hotel/motel voucher, on a case by case basis in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the consumer.
Note: When emergency shelter becomes available, the individual must leave the hotel and accept the shelter referral. Failure to accept emergency shelter will lead to loss of the hotel voucher.
It is expected that Safe Harbor of Chester County, Inc. and the Emergency Family Shelter providers (Friends Association and the CYWA) will collaborate in order to ensure the transition of a person who is close to giving birth to a family shelter as soon as possible.
A person who is pregnant and has other children or a household with infant or young child (24 months old or under) will call 2-1-1 to be assessed and referred to the Street Outreach Team to have their homeless status confirmed. If the individual or household meets the literal homeless criteria listed above, the Street Outreach Team will make a direct referral via telephone or e-mail to one of the Emergency Family Shelters (Friends Association or the CYWA) if beds are available. If an Emergency Family Shelter unit is not available; Street Outreach staff has the discretion to administer a hotel/motel voucher, on a case by case basis in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the family.
Note: When emergency shelter becomes available, the family must leave the hotel and accept the shelter referral. Failure to accept emergency shelter will lead to loss of the hotel voucher.
If a pregnant person is placed in a hotel and gives birth prior to receiving placement into formal Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, or Permanent Housing; they will return to the hotel until such time as they can be placed into more stable housing. Any agency providing hotel vouchers to this population will make the necessary referrals to ensure the best care possible for the mother and child (Social Security, Medicaid, Maternal and Child Health Consortium, Chester County Health Department Home Visiting Program, etc.)
* Rapid Re-Housing, Continuum of Care funding, and Section 8 Vouchers, will play a vital role in assisting these people and households in getting into Permanent Housing. It is imperative that the Emergency Shelters and all agencies that provide hotel vouchers for this population complete a SDPAT as soon as possible.
Please contact the Chester County Department of Community Development at 610-344-6900 or by e-mail at ccdcd@chesco.org if you have any questions.
Coordinated Entry System Update
The Chester County Department of Community Development is pleased to announce an update to the county's Coordinated Entry System. Beginning on December 12, 2019, there will be separate Call Center and Street Outreach services available to residents experiencing homelessness.
The Chester County Department of Community Development is pleased to announce an update to the county's Coordinated Entry System. Beginning on December 12, 2019, there will be separate Call Center and Street Outreach services available to residents experiencing homelessness.
This change is an important enhancement to the success of the Decade to Doorways initiative to end homelessness in Chester County. Call Center services will be administered by Pennsylvania's 211 system via a contract with the United Way of Chester County. 211 services will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Human Services Inc. will provide full-time Street Outreach specialists to engage and verify individuals and families that are street homeless, while assisting them with access to shelter.
List Apartments for Free
PAHousingsearch.com is a free resource for landlords to list available apartments at any time.
PAHousingsearch.com is a free resource for landlords to list available apartments at any time.
National Health Care for the Homeless Homelessness & Health: Whats the Connection?
People who are homeless have higher rates of illness and die on average 12 years sooner than the general U.S. population. Homelessness can take many forms, with people living on the streets, in encampments or shelters, in transitional housing programs, or doubled up with family and friends. While the federal government reports 1.5 million people a year experience homelessness, other estimates find up to twice this number of people are actually without housing in any given year. The connection between housing and homelessness is generally intuitive, but the strong link between health and homelessness is often overlooked. This fact sheet outlines how health and homelessness are intertwined—and why housing is health care.
People who are homeless have higher rates of illness and die on average 12 years sooner than the general U.S. population. Homelessness can take many forms, with people living on the streets, in encampments or shelters, in transitional housing programs, or doubled up with family and friends. While the federal government reports 1.5 million people a year experience homelessness, other estimates find up to twice this number of people are actually without housing in any given year. The connection between housing and homelessness is generally intuitive, but the strong link between health and homelessness is often overlooked. This fact sheet outlines how health and homelessness are intertwined—and why housing is health care.
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program
The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program provides rental assistance to low-income families which they can use throughout the community.
The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program provides rental assistance to low-income families which they can use throughout the community.
Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing Program Administered by Open Hearth
The Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing Program provides rental assistance and supportive services for people with a disabling condition experiencing homelessness. For more information, please contact Open Hearth Inc. at 610-792-9282.
The Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing Program provides rental assistance and supportive services for people with a disabling condition experiencing homelessness.
For more information, please contact Open Hearth Inc. at 610-792-9282.
The Project Based Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Project Based Housing Choice Voucher Program attaches rent assistance to housing units. Eligible tenants only receive housing assistance if they live in a unit that has a Project Based Voucher.
The Project Based Housing Choice Voucher Program attaches rent assistance to housing units. Eligible tenants only receive housing assistance if they live in a unit that has a Project Based Voucher.
Public Awareness Campaign Kick-off!
Decade to Doorways and Chester County recognized the tireless efforts and significant progress of the Decade to Doorways partnership of local agencies, businesses, faith communities, and neighbors in ending homelessness in Chester County by 2022.
Decade to Doorways and Chester County recognized the tireless efforts and significant progress of the Decade to Doorways partnership of local agencies, businesses, faith communities, and neighbors in ending homelessness in Chester County by 2022.
Decade to Doorways announced the new public awareness campaign to showcase the behind the scenes active compassion and unwavering support that the partnership provides to our community on a daily basis.
January 2019 Point in Time Count Report finds lower number of people experiencing homelessness in Chester County
A report compiled by the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Decade to Doorways Partnership has found that 517 people were identified as experiencing homelessness in Chester County in the early hours of January 24, 2019. This represents a decrease of 24 percent over four years in the number of people experiencing homelessness. A summary of the findings were reported by Pat Bokovitz, Director of the Chester County Department of Community Development at the Chester County Commissioners’ Sunshine Meeting this week.
EDITORS: The following is for immediate release. For further information please contact Pat Bokovitz, Director of the Chester County Department of Community Development at 610-344-6959.
2019 official count reveals decrease of 24 percent in homeless numbers over past four years
WEST CHESTER, PA. A report compiled by the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Decade to Doorways Partnership has found that 517 people were identified as experiencing homelessness in Chester County in the early hours of January 24, 2019. This represents a decrease of 24 percent over four years in the number of people experiencing homelessness. A summary of the findings were reported by Pat Bokovitz, Director of the Chester County Department of Community Development at the Chester County Commissioners’ Sunshine Meeting this week.
The Point in Time Count is a national effort mandated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine the number of people experiencing homelessness. This includes individuals and families who are residing in emergency shelters and transitional living facilities, as well as unsheltered individuals on the street or in places not meant for sleeping.
Within Chester County, the Point in Time Count is one component of understanding homelessness, and is part of Decade to Doorways: The Community’s Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in Chester County. The County has participated in the Point-in-Time Count for more than ten years.
Of the 517 individuals experiencing homelessness in the early hours of January 24, 2019, 497 men, women, and children were housed in emergency or transitional shelters. Of the 497 that were housed, 201 were veterans. The street count found 20 individuals who were unsheltered (sleeping in cars, tents or places not meant for human habitation). A majority of these individuals were found in Kennett Square.
Chester County’s 2019 Point in Time Count shows a decrease in those experiencing homelessness for four consecutive years. In 2016, 682 individuals were counted; in 2017 the number was 570; and in 2018 the number dropped to 555.
Pat Bokovitz, Director of Chester County’s Department of Community Development, said, “The downward trend that Chester County is seeing for those who are experiencing homelessness can be attributed to a combination of factors, all coming together because of the Decade to Doorways initiative.
“We are bringing together the work of our coordinated homeless service providers, the increase in permanent supportive housing resources, and the targeting of resources to support the most vulnerable. These efforts are bringing us even closer to Chester County’s goal of ending homelessness.”
In addition to the presentation of this year’s Point in Time Count Report findings, an April 2nd Decade to Doorways event will kick-off the program’s public awareness campaign. With the mission to end homelessness in Chester County by 2022, Commissioners Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell will provide an inspiring update on Decade to Doorways’ collective accomplishments. The public is encouraged to attend the event at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 N. High Street in West Chester. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the presentation begins at 5:30 p.m.
For additional information on Chester County’s 2019 Point in Time Count, the Decade to Doorways Partnership and homelessness in Chester County contact Gene Suski, Community Services Manager for the Chester County Department of Community Development at 610-344-6900 or go to the Decade to Doorways website at www.decadetodoorways.org.
El informe de conteo de enero del 2019 encuentra un menor número de personas sin hogar en el condado de Chester
Un informe compilado por el Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario del Condado de Chester (DCD) y la Asociación Decade to Doorways encontró que 517 personas fueron identificadas como personas sin hogar en el condado de Chester en las primeras horas del 24 del enero de 2019. Esto representa una disminución del 24 por ciento en cuatro años en el número de personas sin hogar. Pat Bokovitz, Director del Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario del Condado de Chester, informó un resumen de los hallazgos en la Reunión Sunshine de los Comisionados del Condado de Chester esta semana.
EDITORES: Lo siguiente es para publicación inmediata. Para obtener más información, comuníquese con Pat Bokovitz, Director del Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario del Condado de Chester al 610-344-6959.
El informe de conteo de enero de 2019 encuentra un menor número de personas sin hogar en el condado de Chester
El recuento oficial del 2019 revela una disminución del 24 por ciento en el número de personas sin hogar en los últimos cuatro años
WEST CHESTER, PA. Un informe compilado por el Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario del Condado de Chester (DCD) y la Asociación Decade to Doorways encontró que 517 personas fueron identificadas como personas sin hogar en el condado de Chester en las primeras horas del 24 del enero de 2019. Esto representa una disminución del 24 por ciento en cuatro años en el número de personas sin hogar. Pat Bokovitz, Director del Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario del Condado de Chester, informó un resumen de los hallazgos en la Reunión Sunshine de los Comisionados del Condado de Chester esta semana.
El recuento temporal es un esfuerzo nacional ordenado por el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos para determinar el número de personas sin hogar. Esto incluye a personas y familias que residen en refugios de emergencia e instalaciones de vivienda de transición, así como a personas sin refugio en la calle o en lugares no destinados a dormir.
Dentro del condado de Chester, el recuento es un componente para comprender la falta de vivienda y es parte de Decade to Doorways: el plan de la comunidad para prevenir y acabar con la falta de vivienda en el condado de Chester. El condado ha participado en el conteo en un momento determinado durante más de diez años.
De las 517 personas que se quedaron sin hogar en las primeras horas del 24 de enero del 2019, 497 hombres, mujeres y niños fueron alojados en refugios de emergencia o de transición. De los 497 que se alojaron, 201 eran veteranos. El recuento de calles encontró 20 personas que no estaban protegidas (durmiendo en automóviles, tiendas de campaña o lugares no destinados a la habitación humana). La mayoría de estas personas se encontraron en Kennett Square.
El recuento puntual del 2019 del condado de Chester muestra una disminución en las personas sin hogar durante cuatro años consecutivos. En el 2016, se contaron 682 personas; en el 2017 la cifra fue de 570; y en 2018 el número se redujo a 555.
Pat Bokovitz, Director del Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario del Condado de Chester, dijo: “La tendencia a la baja que el Condado de Chester está viendo para aquellos que están experimentando la falta de vivienda puede atribuirse a una combinación de factores, todos juntos debido a la iniciativa Decade to Doorways.
“Estamos reuniendo el trabajo de nuestros proveedores de servicios coordinados para personas sin hogar, el aumento de los recursos de vivienda de apoyo permanente y la focalización de recursos para apoyar a los más vulnerables. Estos esfuerzos nos acercan aún más al objetivo del condado de Chester de acabar con la falta de vivienda ".
Además de la presentación de los hallazgos del Informe de recuento de este año, un evento del 2 de abril Decade to Doorways dará inicio a la campaña de concientización pública del programa. Con la misión de acabar con la falta de vivienda en el condado de Chester para el 2022, los comisionados Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone y Terence Farrell proporcionarán una actualización inspiradora sobre los logros colectivos de Decade to Doorways. ¡Se anima al público a asistir al evento en Uptown! Centro de artes escénicas Knauer, 226 N. High Street en West Chester. Las puertas se abren a las 4:30 p.m. y la presentación comienza a las 5:30 p.m.
Para obtener información adicional sobre el recuento del condado de Chester del 2019, la asociación Decade to Doorways y la falta de vivienda en el condado de Chester, comuníquese con Gene Suski, gerente de servicios comunitarios del Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario del condado de Chester al 610-344-6900 o vaya al Decade to Doorways sitio web en www.decadetodoorways.com.
HUD’s Homeless Definition Criteria
The Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness utilizes HUD’s Homeless Definition Criteria for service prioritization within the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness Coordinated Entry System.
The Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness utilizes HUD’s Homeless Definition Criteria for service prioritization within the Chester Partnership to End Homelessness Coordinated Entry System.
2018 Year End Data Report
The number of unique persons entering Emergency Shelter (ES) or Transitional Housing (TH) decreased significantly, from 1,223 in 2017 to 1,054 in 2018.
The number of unique persons entering Emergency Shelter (ES) or Transitional Housing (TH) decreased significantly, from 1,223 in 2017 to 1,054 in 2018.
The majority of individuals access Coordinated Entry (CE) via telephone calls, email or text message. CE also provides on‐site outreach services to persons who may have difficulty utilizing other access points. All phone calls, emails, text messages, outreach services, and in‐person visits count as a “call.”
In 2018, 756 unique households were placed on the emergency shelter queues.
Once prioritization has been completed, persons who cannot be immediately referred to shelter due to capacity constraints are placed on the emergency shelter queues. The Decade to Doorways system maintains three separate emergency shelter queues.
Emergency shelter is a crucial component of Chester County’s homeless crisis response system. However, it is important that shelter not be seen as a destination, but rather a part of a larger process that rapidly exits persons experiencing homelessness to permanent housing destinations. D2D is committed to a Housing First approach to homeless crisis intervention as it reduces the length of time people remain homeless and creates a more effective and equitable system.*
*Data from:
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PAHousingsearch.com es un recurso gratuito para que los propietarios enumeren los apartamentos disponibles en cualquier momento.
Crisis Response System Residency Guidelines (Out of County Policy)
Communities throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania are transforming their housing crisis response systems through single point of entry centralized intake and coordinated assessment services with the goal of helping families and individuals who are homeless or at-risk for homelessness to find shelter and achieve permanent housing stability more effectively given limited funding and other resources.
Context
All Counties throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania are required to have a housing crisis response system with a single point of entry to include centralized intake and coordinated assessment services. The goal of this Coordinated Entry System is to assist individuals and families who are HUD definition homeless and/or at-risk for homelessness find emergency shelter and achieve permanent housing stability more effectively given limited funding and available resources. In 2013, government, philanthropic and community leaders from Bucks, Chester and Montgomery Counties came together to establish and adopt in good faith a common standard for serving out of county residents. It is the expectation that other neighboring Counties will adopt these joint guidelines as a step towards streamlining services and support for residents experiencing a housing crisis. Chester County has remained a Housing First community and continues to remove barriers to effectively serve the most vulnerable residents of our County.
Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness Response System Residency Guidelines
People seeking homeless assistance typically have better and more viable support systems in their County of origin. Discerning residency in the homeless population can be a challenge. The following guidelines have been drafted to inform decision making when verifying residency in the homeless population.
To be considered for housing and/or homeless assistance services in Chester County (including Case Conferencing), the individual or families last permanent address must be in Chester County. The call to 2-1-1 must also be from within Chester County. If someone calls from outside of the County, they will be immediately referred to the coordinated assessment provider in that region.
Exceptions to this policy would include Chester County residents that are currently in a hospital or other treatment setting outside of Chester County.
If an individual or family calls 2-1-1 from Chester County but discloses during the intake process that their last permanent address was outside of Chester County, the 2-1-1 Call Specialist will directly refer them back to their home County’s Coordinated Entry System.
If the Chester County Street Outreach Team determines that an individual or household is not from Chester County diversion back to their home County will be conducted. This can include but is not limited to providing financial assistance transportation.
Individuals and families whose last residence was outside of Chester County will not be referred for Emergency Shelter or offered Case Conferencing except under the following circumstances:
The individual or family reports that they are fleeing domestic violence (Category 4 of HUD’s Definition of Homelessness – see attached). These cases will be immediately referred to the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County (DVCCC) during the initial 2-1-1 call. If it is determined that the individual or family is fleeing domestic violence but there are no emergency shelter units available through DVCCC, they may be considered for emergency housing resources. The Chester County Street Outreach Team will require a signed DVCCC “Consent to Release Personal Information” to verify that the caller contacted DVCCC and that no other resources are available at that time.
The individual or family is literally street homeless and/or sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation (Category 1 of HUD’s Definition of Homelessness) and it is determined by the Chester County Street Outreach Team that they are currently in Chester County through no fault of their own.
Examples of this scenario could be a veteran that was discharged from the VA Medical Center and cannot return home or an individual or family was that was discharged from an institutional setting in Chester County and cannot return to their home County. Note that this information must be confirmed by Chester County Street Outreach Team. Even in these cases, every effort will be made to assist the individual or family to return to their original place of origin through robust diversion efforts. If after all reasonable efforts to divert the individual or family have been made but they can still not return home, they may offer Emergency Shelter and/or Case Conferencing. These situations will be determined on case-by-case basis by the Chester County Street Outreach Team.
The individual or family comes to Chester County to take refuge from a natural disaster as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), cannot return to their place of origin due to safety issues and has no other available resources to assist them in securing temporary or permanent housing (or those resources have been exhausted). Note that documentation confirming the individual or family’s status must be provided to the Street Outreach Team in order to be considered under this exception.
The above-mentioned examples are the only exceptions to the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness Response System Residency Guidelines. All other individuals or families that are not from Chester County will be referred to the Coordinated Entry program from their place of origin. A client simply getting Medicaid benefits in Chester County or the fact that they are working with an organization in Chester County will not supersede the policies above. Outlier or special circumstances not accounted for in the policy should be brought to the attention of the Chester County Department of Community Development.
Please contact the Chester County Department of Community Development at 610-344-6900 or by e-mail at ccdcd@chesco.org if you have any questions.
Integrate Health Care
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness outlines the importance of integrated health care for people experiencing homelessness, as well as strategies for integration and better access to care.
Notice Establishing Additional Requirements for a Continuum of Care Centralized or Coordinated Assessment System
The Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness Governance Board adopted CPD-17-01 Notice Establishing Additional Requirements for a Continuum of Care Centralized or Coordinated Assessment System. It is effective as of July 26, 2018.
The Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness Governance Board adopted CPD-17-01 Notice Establishing Additional Requirements for a Continuum of Care Centralized or Coordinated Assessment System. It is effective as of July 26, 2018.
Prioritizing Persons Experiencing Chronic Homelessness and Other Vulnerable Homeless Persons in Permanent Supportive Housing
The Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness’ Governance Board adopted CPD-16-11 Notice on Prioritizing Persons Experiencing Chronic Homelessness and Other Vulnerable Homeless Persons in Permanent Supportive Housing. It is effective as of July 26, 2018.
The Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness’ Governance Board adopted CPD-16-11 Notice on Prioritizing Persons Experiencing Chronic Homelessness and Other Vulnerable Homeless Persons in Permanent Supportive Housing. It is effective as of July 26, 2018.
CPD-15-02 Appropriate Placement for Transgender Persons in Single-Sex Emergency Shelters and Other Facilities
The Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness’ Governance Board adopted CPD-15-02 Appropriate Placement for Transgender Persons in Single-Sex Emergency Shelters and Other Facilities. It is effective as of July 26, 2018.
The Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness’ Governance Board adopted CPD-15-02 Appropriate Placement for Transgender Persons in Single-Sex Emergency Shelters and Other Facilities. It is effective as of July 26, 2018.