Agenda - 05-07-2013 - 5e - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orange County HOME Consortium Response: Goal 3: Prevent Homelessness • Strategy 3.1: Youth aging out of the foster care system will maintain a relationship with human services in order to prevent homelessness. • Strategy 3.2: Begin examining the data and relevant strategies designed to work with unemancipated youth between the ages of 16 -18 who are running away. • Strategy 3.3: Those exiting prison, the military, hospitals and other health related institutions will not be discharged into homelessness. • Strategy 3.4: Assess the actual need and develop step down housing for those exiting inpatient substance abuse treatment services. This housing should create a safe and supportive environment designed to promote recovery. • Strategy 3.S: Those with unstable housing will receive the necessary services to prevent loss of housing. This includes families who are doubled up that may lose their housing, those who are experiencing an immediate health care crisis that jeopardizes their housing, and those who have received eviction notices. • Strategy 3.6: Develop a plan designed to address the current gap in affordable housing units available to homeless families and individuals. • Strategy 4.7: Increase access to community resources (jobs, housing, services, and childcare) in order to develop a maximum 90 -day length -of -stay strategy for homeless persons in shelters to facilitate their return to permanent housing. • Strategy S.S: Develop strategies that demonstrate "proven results" to the taxpayers of Orange County. Include specific values for the benefits associated with investing in mental health. 5. Discharge Coordination Policy — Explain planned activities to implement a cohesive, community -wide Discharge Coordination Policy, and how, in the coming year, the community will move toward such a policy. Orange County HOME Consortium Response: Discharge coordination and planning is particularly important in Orange County due to the hospital downsizing initiative mandated by the North Carolina Mental Health Reform. The hospital downsizing plan calls for discharging well- functioning patients to the community to allow them to recover in the most appropriate and least restrictive setting. To respond to this initiative and to help prevent hospital discharge from resulting in homelessness, the OPC Area Program has obtained state funding for two full -time staff to serve as Community Integration Coordinators. Each client targeted for placement back in the community has access to community capacity funding to assist them in reaching their highest level of functioning in the community. This funding is earmarked for housing needs, as well as psychiatric, vocational and other community supports. Y 2013 -2014 Action Plan 44