Homelessness in
Placer County
Final Presentation of Findings and Strategic Action Plan Recommendations
By Dr. Robert G. Marbut Jr. and Shaun Lee MSW & MBA
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
1
Our Research Process:
• Visited direct service agencies.
• Reviewed agency web sites.
• Conducted “street level” observations throughout Placer County (PC).
• Toured 4 regions within PC with LEOs.
• Experienced homelessness.
• Visited with dozens of individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Analyzed all known recent data sets.
• Conducted a Survey of individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Presentation of Survey Data and Observations February 19, 2015.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
2
Triggers of Homelessness:
Males• 50-60% of individuals have a major mental health issue.
• 70-80% of individuals have a substance abuse issue.
• Over 90% of individuals have at least one or both of these issues.
• Job retention.
Females• Add domestic violence.
• Add financial hardship caused by divorce/breakup.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
3
Placer County at Our First Glance:
• Lacked a strategically interconnected “System.”
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
4
Placer County at Our First Glance:
• Lacked a strategically interconnected “System.”
• Usable/Actionable data was very sparse.
• Decisions seemed to be based on anecdotes/myths, not strategies.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
5
Placer County at Our First Glance:
•
•
•
•
Lacked a strategically interconnected “System.”
Usable/Actionable data was very sparse.
Decisions seemed to be based on anecdotes/myths, not strategies.
“Policies” that existed were tactical, not strategic.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
6
Placer County at Our First Glance:
•
•
•
•
•
Lacked a strategically interconnected “System.”
Usable/Actionable data was very sparse.
Decisions seemed to be based on anecdotes/myths, not strategies.
“Policies” that existed were tactical, not strategic.
Roseville, Auburn and Northeast County had different challenges.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
7
Placer County at Our First Glance:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lacked a strategically interconnected “System.”
Usable/Actionable data was very sparse.
Decisions seemed to be based on anecdotes/myths, not strategies.
“Policies” that existed were tactical, not strategic.
Roseville, Auburn and Northeast County had different challenges.
Relative to the USA, overall homelessness was low (per capita basis).
Relative to the USA, families with children that were in crisis was low.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
8
Placer County at Our First Glance:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lacked a strategically interconnected “System.”
Usable/Actionable data was very sparse.
Decisions seemed to be based on anecdotes/myths, not strategies.
“Policies” that existed were tactical, not strategic.
Roseville, Auburn and Northeast County had different challenges.
Relative to the USA, overall homelessness was low (per capita basis).
Relative to the USA, families with children that were in crisis was low.
Adult chronic street homelessness was a major problem and getting worse.
There were major gaps in services for adults.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
9
Placer County Homeless Count 2015 (PITC):
Preliminary Count
• 540 Individuals
• Veterans 8%
• Severely mentally ill 30%
• Chronically homeless 42%
• Chronic substance abuse 32%
• Domestic violence victims 28%
• Prior foster care 7%
• Males 61% : Females 39%
• Single Adults 86% : Children 14%
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
10
Critical Research Questions Still Existed - Therefore We Conducted a Survey:
• Hard data should drive strategic decision making.
• Policy decisions should not be based on anecdotes/myths.
• Anecdotes can be used to develop research questions.
• Analysis should be filtered through national best practices.
 Survey conducted at key gathering points.
 December 2014 to January 2015.
 Target was “Street-level” and “Chronic” Homelessness.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Our Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Is the adult homeless population “homegrown” or “imported”?
Is the rail yard to blame?
How chronic is the adult homeless population?
Is chronic adult homelessness rising?
How mobile is the population intra-county?
Would a one-site solution or multi-site solution work better?
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Q1: Adult Homelessness in PC is Homegrown
• 34% surveyed went to High School in PC.
• 50% had other family members in PC.
• 55% had a job in PC before they became homeless.
• 68% have lived in PC longer than 5 years.
• 82% became homeless while living in PC.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Q2: The Rail Yard is Not to be Blamed
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Q3: Placer’s Adult Homelessness is VERY Chronic
RATE OF ADULT CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
Non-Chronic (HUD)
Chronic (HUD)
14.5%
41.6%
66.7%
85.5%
58.4%
33.3%
USA PITC 2014
PC PITC 2015
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
PC "STREET" SURVEY 2014-15
15
Q4: Adult Chronic Homelessness is Rising in Placer
214
152
102
2009
110
2011
Individuals
2013
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
2015
16
Q5: Intra-county Mobility is Very limited
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Q6: A Multi-site Solution Would Work Best
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Macro Observations (beyond the data):
1. There is no strategic level policy making . . .
Instead, “policy” is a net of independent tactical activities.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
19
Macro Observations (beyond the data):
1. There is no strategic level policy making . . .
Instead, “policy” is a net of independent tactical activities.
2. Services are not integrated and seldom coordinated.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
20
Macro Observations (beyond the data):
1. There is no strategic level policy making . . .
Instead, “policy” is a net of independent tactical activities.
2. Services are not integrated and seldom coordinated.
3. Quality data is sparse and HMIS is not universal/real-time.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
21
Macro Observations (beyond the data):
1. There is no strategic level policy making . . .
Instead, “policy” is a net of independent tactical activities.
2. Services are not integrated and seldom coordinated.
3. Quality data is sparse and HMIS is not universal/real-time.
4. Un-validated myths have become fact.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
22
Macro Observations (beyond the data):
1. There is no strategic level policy making . . .
Instead, “policy” is a net of independent tactical activities.
2. Services are not integrated and seldom coordinated.
3. Quality data is sparse and HMIS is not universal/real-time.
4. Un-validated myths have become fact.
5. Placer County lacks a true 24/7 emergency center.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
23
Macro Observations (beyond the data):
1. There is no strategic level policy making . . .
Instead, “policy” is a net of independent tactical activities.
2. Services are not integrated and seldom coordinated.
3. Quality data is sparse and HMIS is not universal/real-time.
4. Un-validated myths have become fact.
5. Placer County lacks a true 24/7 emergency center.
6. Auburn lacks emergency and portal services.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
24
Macro Observations (beyond the data):
1. There is no strategic level policy making . . .
Instead, “policy” is a net of independent tactical activities.
2. Services are not integrated and seldom coordinated.
3. Quality data is sparse and HMIS is not universal/real-time.
4. Un-validated myths have become fact.
5. Placer County lacks a true 24/7 emergency center.
6. Auburn lacks emergency and portal services.
7. The Roseville “operational model” needs updating.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
25
Macro Observations (beyond the data):
1. There is no strategic level policy making . . .
Instead, “policy” is a net of independent tactical activities.
2. Services are not integrated and seldom coordinated.
3. Quality data is sparse and HMIS is not universal/real-time.
4. Un-validated myths have become fact.
5. Placer County lacks a true 24/7 emergency center.
6. Auburn lacks emergency and portal services.
7. The Roseville “operational model” needs updating.
8. There is a lack of transitional services and affordable housing.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
26
Macro Observations (beyond the data):
1. There is no strategic level policy making . . .
Instead, “policy” is a net of independent tactical activities.
2. Services are not integrated and seldom coordinated.
3. Quality data is sparse and HMIS is not universal/real-time.
4. Un-validated myths have become fact.
5. Placer County lacks a true 24/7 emergency center.
6. Auburn lacks emergency and portal services.
7. The Roseville “operational model” needs updating.
8. There is a lack of transitional services and affordable housing.
9. Challenge of homeless families with children is minor relative to adults.
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Recommendation 1:
Transform HMIS from a “Score Keeper Model”
to a
“Proactive Case Management Tool”
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Recommendation 2:
Roseville’s “Operational Model”
Needs Updating in Order to
Increase Graduation Rates
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Recommendation 3:
Open a
Come-As-You-Are Services Center
in Auburn
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Recommendation 4:
Within the Continuum of Care,
Create a Work Group to
Focus on Chronic Adults
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Recommendation 5:
Align “Street Feeding” Efforts with
Holistic Service Programs
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
32
Recommendation 6:
Increase “Longer Term”
Housing Placements
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
33
Recommendation 7:
The Culture of How the
Community Addresses Homelessness
Needs to Change
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Recommendation 8:
Develop a
Coordinated Case Management System
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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Q&A
Marbut Consulting - Placer Presentation - May 21, 2015
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