Tag: Coordinated Homeless Response

* Español a continuación *

Fourteen (14) households (individuals or families) have moved into housing through the Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool (FHSP) since its inception in July 2024. 

The FHSP funds, locates, and secures housing with wraparound supports for people experiencing homelessness with the ultimate goal of reducing the frequency and duration of homelessness. Key components of the project include: 

• Housing navigation 
• Intensive case management 
• Street outreach 
• Rent assistance and move in supports 
• Property managers/owners engagement and recruitment 

What makes the FHSP unique in Benton County is that it brings property managers and owners to the table as key partners in Benton County’s response to homelessness. The FHSP does this through outreach, education, and recruitment of property owners and managers; innovative lease and contract agreements to incentivize property owners/managers participation; and conflict resolution between tenants and property owners/managers aimed at preventing eviction. 

“The success of this program relies on strong relationships with property owners and managers and our network of local homeless service providers.”  

Rebecca Taylor, Project Manager for the Benton County Coordinated Homeless Response Office (CHRO)

Street outreach teams and service providers from Benton County Health Department and community-based organizations identify participants eligible for FHSP services and work with the CHRO to ensure successful housing placements. 

“It’s not just a referral to our program and then we take it from there. We are in ongoing coordination with the referring support agencies and the property managers and owners to ensure successful housing placements. We couldn’t do this without our partners.”

Rebecca taylor

The FHSP is part of a state-funded pilot program led by the CHRO, a partnership including the City of Corvallis, City of Philomath, Community Services Consortium (CSC), and the Benton County Health Department. 

In July 2023, the CHRO was awarded $1.2 million through House Bill 5019 with a goal of achieving long-term housing stability for 31 households by June 30, 2025. An additional $975,000 was awarded through Oregon Senate Bill 5701 as part of the Oregon Rehousing Initiative (ORI) which increased the goal by twenty (20), for a total of 51 households. 

The CHRO continues to seek additional funding sources to develop programming and support staffing while maintaining as much flexible funding as possible to serve households in need. 

Recently, the CHRO successfully competed for two (2) one-time funding opportunities through InterCommunity Health Network – Coordinated Care Organization (IHN-CCO): 

• $112,910 in Community Capacity Building Funds (CCBF) to establish pathways to connect FHSP program participants with Medicaid waiver Health-Related Social Needs benefits, in coordination with the Community Health Centers of Benton and Linn Counties. 
• $123,300 in Delivery System Transformation (DST) funds to support the development and implementation of a landlord engagement and incentive program, an integral component of the FHSP. 

For more information on Benton County’s Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool program, visit their website at health.bentoncountyor.gov/fhsp.  

Español

14 hogares realojados por medio del Fondo de Ayuda de Vivienda Flexible del Condado de Benton

Catorce (14) hogares (individuos o familias) se han mudado a viviendas a por medio del Fondo de Ayuda de Vivienda Flexible (FHSP, por sus siglas en inglés) desde el inicio del program en julio de 2024. 

El programa de FHSP financia, ubica y asegura viviendas con apoyos integrales para personas sin hogar con el objetivo final de reducir la frecuencia y la duración de la falta de vivienda. Los componentes clave del proyecto incluyen: 

• Navegación de vivienda 
• Administración intensiva de casos 
• Alcance a la comunidad 
• Asistencia para pagar la renta y apoyo para la mudanza 
• Participación y reclutamiento de administradores/dueños de propiedades 

Lo que hace que al programa de FHSP único en el Condado de Benton es que reúne a los administradores y dueños de propiedades como socios clave en responder a la falta de vivienda en el Condado de Benton. El programa de FHSP hace esto por medio de conexiones a la comunidad, la educación y el reclutamiento de dueños y administradores de propiedades; contratos de renta y acuerdos innovadores para motivar la participación de los dueños/administradores de propiedades; y la resolución de conflictos entre inquilinos y dueños/administradores de propiedades con el objetivo de prevenir el desalojo. 

“El éxito de este programa depende de las relaciones sólidas con los dueños y administradores de propiedades y nuestra red de proveedores de servicios locales para personas sin hogar”.

Rebecca Taylor, Gerente de Proyectos de la Oficina de Respuesta Coordinada para Personas sin Hogar del Condado de Benton (CHRO por sus siglas en inglés)

Los equipos de alcance a la comunidad y los proveedores de servicios del Departamento de Salud del Condado de Benton y las organizaciones comunitarias identifican a los participantes que son elegibles para los servicios del programa de FHSP y trabajan con la CHRO para garantizar la colocación exitosa de las viviendas. 

“No se trata solo de un referido a nuestro programa y luego nos encargamos de todo. Estamos en constante coordinación con las agencias de apoyo que refieren a nuestro programa y los administradores y dueños de propiedades para garantizar la colocación exitosa de las viviendas. No podríamos hacer esto sin nuestros socios”. 

Rebecca Taylor

El programa de FHSP es parte de un programa piloto financiado por el estado dirigido por el CHRO, una asociación que incluye a la Ciudad de Corvallis, la ciudad de Philomath, el Consorcio de Servicios Comunitarios (CSC) y el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Benton. 

En julio de 2023, el CHRO recibió $1.2 millones a través del Proyecto de Ley de la Cámara de Representantes 5019 con el objetivo de lograr estabilidad de vivienda a largo plazo para 31 hogares antes del 30 de junio de 2025. Además, se dieron $975,000 adicionales a través del Proyecto de Ley del Senado de Oregón 5701 como parte de la Iniciativa de Reubicación de Oregón (ORI), que aumentó la meta en veinte (20), para un total de 51 hogares. 

El CHRO continúa buscando fuentes de financiamiento adicionales para desarrollar la programación y el personal de apoyo, al mismo tiempo que mantiene la mayor cantidad posible de financiamiento flexible para atender a los hogares necesitados. 

Recientemente, el CHRO compitió con éxito por dos (2) oportunidades únicas para obtener fondos a través de InterCommunity Health Network – Coordinated Care Organization (IHN-CCO): 

• $112,910 en Fondos para el Desarrollo de Capacidades Comunitarias (CCBF) para establecer vías para conectar a los participantes del programa FHSP con los beneficios de Necesidades Sociales Relacionadas con la Salud de la exención de Medicaid, en coordinación con los Centros de Salud Comunitarios de los Condados de Benton y Linn. 
• $123,300 en fondos para la Transformación del Sistema de Entrega (DST) para apoyar el desarrollo e implementación de un programa de participación e incentivos para propietarios, un componente integral del FHSP. 

Para obtener más información sobre el programa de Ayuda de Vivienda Flexible del Condado de Benton, visite su sitio web en health.bentoncountyor.gov/fhsp. 

In July and August, we shared (see below) that Oregon granted $1.2 million to service providers in Benton County with a goal to support rapid re-housing for community members in need. Today, we are providing an update on that communication.

• State Funding: Governor Kotek’s recent announcement provided an update about state funding for sheltering and rehousing in the Balance of State Continuum of Care, also called the Rural Oregon Continuum of Care (ROCC). 

Benton County’s portion of this funding will be $1,175,000 for emergency sheltering, awarded to Unity Shelter and $1,266,000 to fund a community effort to rehouse people by June 2025. This funding is part of a larger effort by the state from HB 5019 to support local communities in helping transition people out of homelessness. (For local background on HB 5019, see the below news update from July 2023.)

• Local Community Plan: In July, our local planning group of diverse organizations involved in homelessness developed a community plan to identify our highest priority populations with the greatest barriers to housing. The community plan outlines rehousing strategies that this funding could support. 

Due to overwhelming requests from local planning groups for emergency shelter funds, the state adjusted the original rehousing funding awards. In collaboration with our local planning group partners, we will adjust our community plan to match our new allocation.

• Next Steps: We will learn more next week from Oregon Housing & Community Services (OHCS) about timeline, next steps, and process. Until we know more, we are celebrating by sharing this message with community partners.  

To learn more about local work to end homelessness, visit Benton County’s Coordinated Homeless Response Office website.

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July 2023

Oregon Housing and Community Services is working with local planning groups to allocate $26 million in funding for rapid rehousing and sheltering through House Bill (HB) 5019 to counties in the Rural Oregon Continuum of Care (ROCC), which includes Benton County.

• $1.2 million* will be allocated in Benton County to support rapid rehousing for 33 people.
• Another $6 million in sheltering funds is available through a competitive application process among the 26 counties in the ROCC.

The Benton County Coordinated Homeless Response Office compiled input and data from local homeless service providers and engaged in conversations with the community to inform the County’s implementation plan for HB 5019.

*The amount originally allocated by the state for the Benton County local planning group was $1.4 million, with $1.2 million dedicated to rehousing activities, and $200,000 dedicated for administrative costs.

Benton County, the City of Corvallis, and Community Services Consortium (CSC) are part of a pilot program sponsored by Oregon State House Bill 4123 to support a coordinated response to homelessness. As required by HB 4123 (2022), staff from the newly formed Benton County Coordinated Homelessness Response Office are preparing a five-year strategic plan to be finalized this summer. The draft strategic plan was presented to the Home, Opportunity, Planning, and Equity (HOPE) Advisory Board meeting for feedback. The meeting, held Wednesday, May 24 at the Benton County Kalapuya Building in Corvallis and online, was the first hybrid format meeting for the committee since the onset of the pandemic.

View a video of the meeting.

The draft strategic plan was created in alignment with HB 4123 requirements, incorporates the twelve HOPE Policy Recommendations, and will include input from regional health assessment partners gathered at outreach events this spring and summer. Key elements of the strategic plan include:

• Sustainable funding for ongoing operations of the coordinated homelessness response system
• Increasing or streamlining resources and services to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness
• Incorporating national best practices for ending homelessness
• Eliminating racial disparities within the service area
• Creating pathways to permanent and supportive housing that is affordable to local populations experiencing or at risk of homelessness

“We are so fortunate to have an active group of partners and community members,” shared Coordinated Homeless Response Office Program Coordinator, Julie Arena. “Well before the enactment of HB 4123, the City of Corvallis and Benton County were building the foundation for coordinated homeless response as part of a ten-year plan to address homelessness. With this strong foundation, Benton County deployed state and federal investments as they became available starting in 2020 and applied for HB 4123 funding in 2022.”

The County has leveraged state, federal, and local funds including Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and other funds to bring over $9 million in new investments to fund food, shelter, eviction prevention, and capacity for community-based organizations.

Learn more about what has already been accomplished:

• View the Community Progress Timeline
• Learn about the County’s Coordinated Homelessness Response Office  
• Learn about successful projects and improvements

Benton County Commissioner Nancy Wyse is a liaison to the HOPE Advisory Board and is pleased with the progress made by the Coordinated Homelessness Response Office so far. “Benton County is committed to using resources effectively to directly address homelessness. In addition to the City of Corvallis and Community Services Consortium, we are grateful for community members and partners who have joined with us in this vitally important work.”

Benton County is facing a significant challenge as the number of individuals experiencing homelessness continues to grow in Oregon. Recent data reveals that Benton County has the highest rent-burdened city in Oregon, with 40% of all renters paying more than 50% of their income on rent.

The HOPE Advisory Board is a joint effort between Benton County and the City of Corvallis to facilitate a comprehensive, coordinated response from the county, cities, and diverse community partners, leaders, and persons experiencing homelessness. The Board meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Visit the HOPE Advisory Board webpage for information about attending a meeting or to subscribe to the HOPE News & Updates email list.

Benton County, the City of Corvallis, Community Services Consortium, and key health and social service providers are partnering with the Community ROCKit (Resource Organizer for Communities Kit) program in the development of a coordinated entry system that connects community members to housing and services.

The collaboration comes during a critical time when COVID-19 and economic factors have only deepened an already existing housing crisis. The number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Benton County has increased dramatically (more than 95%) since 2015.

“Solutions to homelessness are a priority for our community, and Benton County is committed to addressing affordability and homelessness by engaging the whole community in assuring safe, healthy, and affordable housing for all community members,” said Benton County Commissioner, Nancy Wyse. “Tackling this project is an important step toward developing local solutions. Working with ROCKit gives us an opportunity to leverage our community’s resources and attributes.”

Benton County has one of the highest rates of income inequality in Oregon. Forty percent of all renters pay more than half of their income on rent; this number rises to 83% of extremely low-income individuals. For every 100 families in Benton County with extremely-low income, only 14 affordable rental units are available.

Benton County’s collaboration with ROCKit will build off the efforts of the Home, Opportunity, Planning, and Equity (HOPE) Board, a joint effort to facilitate a comprehensive, coordinated response to homelessness. The HOPE Board included coordinated entry in its recommendations to the City and County for addressing homelessness. 

An effective coordinated entry process helps Benton County prioritize the most vulnerable people in our community ensuring that people who need assistance the most can receive it in a timely manner. Coordinated entry processes also provide information about service needs and gaps to help communities plan their assistance and identify needed resources.

“We don’t need data to see that homelessness is a problem in our community,” said Dina Eldridge, Housing Services Manager of Community Services Consortium. “We need data to help us solve it. That’s where ROCKit comes in, to help identify how we can implement coordinated entry in order to prioritize better connecting the most vulnerable individuals to housing opportunities,” Eldridge said.

The Community ROCKit model, which focuses on identifying existing assets and amplifying community engagement to solve local issues, will help the City and County in their next steps moving to a coordinated entry process for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. 

With assistance from ROCKit, the agencies will participate in a 90-day process to develop a roadmap for community resource and capacity inventorying, commitment to actionable items, asset mapping, ongoing process measurement, and hands-on help facilitating and implementing the process. 

“ROCKit is all about catalyzing the people, capacities, and assets that communities already have and using them in new ways to address those local challenges,” said Christine Bechtel, co-creator of Community ROCKit. We’re honored to support Benton County in its goal to connect vulnerable individuals to housing opportunities by inspiring participation in an effective coordinated entry process.”  

The grant-funded Community ROCKit program has previously partnered with Umatilla, Tillamook, Morrow, and Gilliam Counties to help these communities identify solutions to local challenges such as childcare affordability, access to mental health services, and emergency housing crisis. 

Community ROCKit is available at no cost to selected communities. Additional free resources about Community ROCKit to help communities take the guesswork out of recovery planning are available at: www.communityrockit.org.

Questions/comments? Email healthdeptcommunications@co.benton.or.us