State - Thousands helped in first year of Homeless Initiative

Nearly 15,000 people across Michigan were helped through the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) during its first year, according to new figures released today by Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness. Since July of 2009, 80 percent of individuals and families in the HPRP received prevention services that helped them remain housed while the other 20 percent, declared homeless by federal standards, were assisted with rapid re-housing services to lessen the duration of their homelessness. All of these households had exhausted their family and community resources prior to seeking assistance from HPRP, which was created by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to respond to the housing crisis. "In Southeast Michigan, HPRP is a great example of a successful effort to prevent homelessness in the first place. In situations where residents do lose housing, HPRP support returns homeless citizens to stable housing in a short period of time," said Stephanie Kasprzak, Region 8 media liaison. "This promising approach is part of Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness in our area and across the state." The HPRP initiative, a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, helps individuals and families secure stable housing. The program allows community agencies to provide a mix of non-financial services and other financial subsidies, such as help with rental or utility payments. Program applicants seeking financial assistance are required to show that they can become self-reliant with the limited funds made available to them. Documentation from the program's first year shows that thousands of individuals and families have avoided homelessness while others who were homeless have found stable places to live. Among the statewide findings in the first year: * Nearly half (49 percent) of participants were able to exit the program in the first year, many after very short stays. The other 51 percent remained enrolled for ongoing services. * Most people who left the program accomplished the initiative's primary goals: --Ninety percent remained housed (prevention clients). --Sixty-five percent of those who were homeless achieved stable housing. * Nearly two-thirds of the individuals and families who were homeless were housed within one month of entering the program. "We believe the HPRP initiative helped prevent homelessness from substantially increasing in our area during the past year," said Kasprzak. Some other statistics from the first year of operation (July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010) are just as compelling. For example: * A total of 14,892 people were served. * HPRP served about one-third more families than individuals, and most households were headed by single women. * Nearly one-third of adults receiving services were working an average of 27 hours per week. * Twenty-six percent had a disability of long duration. * Over a quarter of both homeless and prevention households reported high medical debt, and nearly as many reported an active medical crisis at the time of HPRP intake. A statewide comparison of prevention and homeless clients shows that they have similar risk factors. A significant percentage of both groups experienced evictions and unemployment, lacked basic education, and had medical debt and an active medical crisis. A higher percentage of those who were homeless moved frequently in the year preceding HPRP enrollment, and had transportation problems that impeded their ability to get to work. "Although risk factors present significant challenges, the program's performance is something we can all be proud of," said Kasprzak. Sally Harrison, director of Rental Development and Homeless Initiatives for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), said the program has been crucial at a time when Michigan residents are challenged by a struggling economy and a weak housing market. "These challenges are changing the face of homelessness in Michigan and are driving more and more households straight into the turbulent waters of homelessness or to the brink of it," said Harrison. "The HPRP initiative provides a crucial safety net between the economic storm we are experiencing and the well-being of the state's residents." Michigan launched its 10-year Campaign to End Homelessness in 2006, the first state in the nation to do so. HPRP has become a critical part of that effort. Those who wish to learn more about Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness can visit www.thecampaigntoendhomelessness.org. Published: Thu, Sep 23, 2010