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HomeMy WebLinkAboutQualitative Data Presentation for TF May 28 2025Presentation on the Qualitative Housing Needs Assessment Report for the Homeless and Affordable Housing Task Force, City of Port Townsend and Jefferson County VIKI SONNTAG AND CHERYL WEINSTEIN, DATA AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE, HOUSING FUND BOARD MAY 2025 Qualitative Needs Assessment Project Committee Members: ◦Planning: Heather Dudley-Nolette, Julia Cochrane, Viki Sonntag, and Cheryl Weinstein ◦Joined later: Peggy Webster (OlyCAP), Viola Ware, James Holthaus (Bayside) and Kelli Parcher (OWL 360) ▪10 sessions from April 2024 to May 2025 ▪2 Listening Sessions with lived experts ▪8 Needs Assessment discussions involving service providers and lived experts ▪Involved over 40 lived experts and representatives from 27 organizations including housing service providers, community housing organizations, homeless service/advocacy organizations, By and For organizations, social service providers and educational organizations, and government agencies and boards. What is the System? Homeless Response System = Housing Service Providers AH Providers System Goal: Reduce Homelessness and Housing Insecurity/Risk of Homelessness Internal Needs and Strengths System Strengths 1.Diverse Housing Programs: Multiple organizations provide emergency, transitional, and permanent housing options, such as OlyCAP, Bayside Housing, Dove House, OWL 360, and Peninsula Housing Authority. 2.Targeted Servies Aligned to Needs: Programs tailored to specific populations, such as youth (OWL 360), domestic violence survivors (Dove House), and individuals with substance use disorders (HARPS program) have been successful in serving their clients. 3.Expansion of Innovative Housing Models: Tiny shelter villages and global leases increase affordable housing supply without requiring expensive and lengthy new construction. 4.Community-Based Initiatives: Organizations like Housing Solutions Network, Community Build, and REPAH (Real Estate Professionals for Affordable Housing) focus on engaging the community in responding to the housing crisis. 5.Cross-Sector Partnerships: Collaboration between housing service providers, social service organizations, local government agencies and community -based organization address intersecting needs. 6.Advocacy and Equity Efforts: By and For organizations like JCIRA and BLMJC provide advocacy and support tailored to marginalized communities, including immigrants and BIPOC populations. 7.Data and Needs Assessment: The Qualitative Housing Needs Assessment Project identified lived experiences and service provider insights to inform policy and program design. Need: Client Centered Services 1.Understanding and Addressing Individual Needs: Prioritize the needs, preferences, and choices of individuals seeking services, rather than focusing solely on eligibility criteria or pre-determined program structures. 2.Improving Access to Resources: Provide clients with information and resources to make their own choices, rather than impose decisions. 3.Clear Communication: Convey information in a straightforward, understandable, and respectful manner taking into account the needs of the individual client. 4.Equity in Service Delivery: Ensure services are designed to meet the needs of marginalized populations, including PGM, immigrants, and individuals with disabilities. Need: System Coordination 1.Coordinated Service Provision: Meet intersecting needs through coordination across different service delivery systems, including housing, health, behavioral health, and social services and community- based efforts. 2.Network Formation: Support Shelter Coalition and emerging network of housing, health, and social service to share resources and address gaps in basic needs for unsheltered individuals. 3.Community Integration: Engage local organizations, schools, and faith groups to provide resources and destigmatize homelessness. 4.Capacity Building: Increase staffing for case management and provide training in trauma-informed care, anti-racism, and culturally responsive practices. 5.Centralized Information: Share data on costs and service needs across agencies to improve planning and resource allocation. Need: Homelessness Prevention Financial Assistance: Expand the use of subsidies and bridging grants and loans to cover rent, security deposits, and other upfront and moving costs. Community Support: Foster social connections and advocacy to help individuals navigate housing challenges and prevent isolation. Community-Based Solutions: Engage local organizations, schools, and faith groups to provide resources and destigmatize homelessness. Sustainable Funding: Secure operational funding for prevention programs and case management services and increase staffing to meet the growing demand for housing services. External Barriers and Gaps Structural Inequalities 1.Racial Disparities: PGM/BIPOC individuals face systemic racism in housing and housing services and are disproportionately affected by homelessness. ​ 2.Discrimination Against Vulnerable Groups: LGBTQ+, immigrants, and individuals with disabilities face unique challenges in accessing housing. 3.Lack of Family-Sized Rental Units: The lack of affordable family-sized rentals is made worse by the lack of separate family shelter and transitional housing in Jefferson County. 4.Unmet Needs of Seniors: Many seniors, especially women, cannot afford to downsize. Material and Economic Barriers 1.Rental Affordability: Along with too much demand for too few units, high upfront costs like first and last month's rent, security deposits, and moving expenses make rentals inaccessible. ​ 2.Lack of Available Housing: There is a dire shortage of affordable rentals, family-sized units, and emergency housing. ​ 3.Regulatory Challenges: Strict zoning regulations, permitting delays, and lack of flexibility in land use prevent innovative housing solutions like tiny homes, co-living arrangements, or compost toilets. ​ 4.Essential Services: There is limited access to basic hygiene facilities (showers, laundry), storage, transportation, and IDs with addresses. ​ 5.Funding Gaps: Critical programs like rental assistance and rapid rehousing are underfunded or frozen. ​ Social Barriers and Health and Behavioral Challenges 1.Stigmatization and Isolation: Homeless individuals face discrimination and layers upon layers of stigmatization, which impacts their ability to access housing and services, and often lack community connections and social support systems. 2.Substance Use, Mental Health and Trauma: Homelessness often results from or exacerbates trauma, making recovery and stability more difficult. ​ Homeless and Affordable Housing System Gaps 1.No Senior Housing Program: Supportive housing services for seniors do not exist, either mortgage or rental assistance. 2.No Housing Options for People Experiencing SUDs: Both recovery (substance-free or sober living) housing and no barrier housing are needed to address the continuum of SUD housing needs. 3.Need for Rental Management Services: Moving people out of homelessness is extremely challenging as there is no coordinated access to below-market rate rentals. 4.Lack of Renters Protection: The dire lack of affordable rentals drives homelessness, economic insecurity, and vulnerability to landlord exploitation. There is no tenants rights organization. Questions for Discussion ➢What needs, strengths, barriers, or gaps surprised you or changed your understanding? ➢How do needs, strengths, barriers, and gaps relate to plan objectives? ➢What strategies do you see to address needs, barriers and gaps that build on current strengths? ➢What new capabilities (strengths) are needed to address gaps? ➢What opportunities are there for solving interconnected challenges?