Housing Connector Comes to Denver

Background:

Housing Connector a B2B non-profit partnering with properties and case managers to reduce barriers and increase access to housing for folks experiencing homelessness. Housing Connector has created a new marketplace, in partnership with Zillow, where landlords can advertise vacant units in real time and case managers can search for homes that not only match their clients’ preferences but also have waived barriers. Through this model Housing Connector not only increase the speed of move ins, but also makes mechanisms of housing discrimination obsolete by pre-negotiating screening criteria. The results are more people getting housed and staying housed.

The model has been tested in the Seattle region over the past 20 months and has seen 1,800 people housed and 750 properties joining the partnership. This significantly expanded case manager and client access to affordable units.

Benefits of Housing Connector include:

-        Zillow hosted search engine for case managers

-        Access to reduced screening criteria for folks experiencing homelessness

-        Customer support to address lease violations

-        24-months of eviction prevention support to maintain housing stability

Impact by the Numbers

· 1,800 people housed (67% individuals of color)

· 750 property partners accounting for 35,381 units

· 74 participating service providers

· 1 eviction (0.14% of total households)

· 96% successful retention rate

Expansion into Denver:

Given the growing need for affordable rental housing, MDHI and Housing First Lab have been in conversation with Housing Connector to bring this resource to the Denver Metro area. We are excited to share that Housing Connector and Zillow agree that this solution would be a huge value add in increasing access to housing for our community and plan to launch operations in Q4 of 2021.

Over the next few weeks MDHI will be connecting Housing Connector with various service providers in the community to share this model and attend a virtual demonstration by Housing Connector scheduled for July 15 at 11:00 am. To RSVP for this event please click here

EHV Update

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law, which provides over $1.9 trillion in relief to address the continued impact of the -COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, public health, State and local governments, individuals, and businesses. Section 3202 of the ARP appropriates $5 billion for new incremental EHVs, the renewal of those EHVs, and fees for the cost of administering the EHVs and other eligible expenses defined by notice to prevent, prepare, and respond to coronavirus to facilitate the leasing of the emergency vouchers, such as security deposit assistance and other costs related to retention and support of participating owners. HUD has allocated approximately 70,000 emergency housing vouchers (EHVs) to public housing agencies (PHAs).

For Denver Metro, the following PHAs are receiving EHVs:

· Aurora Housing Authority

· Boulder County Housing Authority

· Boulder Housing Partners

· Colorado Division of Housing

· Foothills Regional Housing (Jefferson County)

· Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver

· Maiker Housing Partners (Adams County)

Eligibility for these EHVs is limited to individuals and families who are

(1) homeless;

(2) at risk of homelessness;

(3) fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking; or

(4) recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability.

After September 30, 2023, a PHA may not reissue any previously leased EHV, regardless of when the assistance for the formerly assisted family ends or ended.

PHAs are required to collaborate with CoCs (MDHI) and referrals must come through coordinated entry (OneHome) (see 1,2,4 above).

MDHI is entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each of the local PHAs. In addition, PHAs may enter an MOU with Victim Services providers or anti-trafficking service providers to receive referrals (see 3 above).

MDHI is working with local PHAs to identify how to implement EHVs to have the greatest impact.

· Transferring households from Rapid Rehousing who have a need for a longer-term voucher and MoveOn from PSH—this also frees up housing resources

· Developing criteria and process for referrals in partnership with service provider partners in order to determine eligibility, prioritization, and the order in which households will be referred to EHVs

Please stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new resource. MDHI’s main point of contact for EHVs is Rebecca Mayer, Rebecca.mayer@mdhi.org.

Provider Appreciation

It's been over a year since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and we thought it was time to say that we appreciate you! Watching you, our provider community, rally around those experiencing homelessness has been inspiring and humbling. While no words can fully express our gratitude, we wanted to share this short video from our MDHI staff to you, letting you know how much we appreciate your tireless efforts over this past year. You're amazing!

Sincerely,
MDHI Team

How to Access the Veteran By Name List

Instructions for Veteran By Name List Engagement

Audience: Providers

If you serve adults experiencing homelessness, then you are a Veteran service provider. The VA leads a Veteran By Name List (VBNL) that records the name, eligibility, and housing status of all Veterans who are literally homeless, and utilizes case conferencing to connect them to housing programs like Grant and Per Diem (GPD), Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), HUD-VASH as well as other Veteran benefits. Help is needed to ensure all Veterans experiencing homelessness that you work with get on the Veteran By Name List. 

SSVF Colorado Flyer

Audience: Clients

Intended for connecting Veterans to services. Available for use by partner agencies.

MDHI and Region Awarded Top Honors

SAN FRANCISCO and WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 25, 2021: The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Wells Fargo today announced 2020 CommunityWINS® grants to eight nonprofits to advance housing affordability solutions in local communities.

The grants totaling $1 million recognize outstanding mayoral-nominated initiatives that assist their city in reducing the cost burden of housing and increase access to safe, affordable places to live. Each nonprofit will receive funding aimed at assisting cities with the opportunity to invest, strengthen, and address housing affordability issues in municipalities across the United States.

“The 2020 CommunityWINS Grant Program is an opportunity to honor and showcase impactful affordable housing efforts that are making a real difference in communities across the country,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “We appreciate Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation for their support of the CommunityWINS program, which also celebrates the leadership of mayors and city governments.”

An independent panel of judges selected recipients of the grants funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation from 139 applicants representing small, medium, large, and metropolitan cities as part of the competitive application process. The grants were presented virtually at the Conference’s 89th annual meeting.

“Even prior to the economic fallout caused by COVID-19, many vulnerable households were struggling with housing solutions,” said Nate Hurst, president of the Wells Fargo Foundation. “To foster a truly inclusive recovery, we have to recognize that the challenge of housing is even more profound in communities of color and be intentional about prioritizing the needs of underserved communities. CommunityWINS is an important example of the public and private sectors working together to help more people have a safe, affordable place to call home.”

The 2020 CommunityWINS Grant Program honorees are:

• Michael Hancock, mayor of Denver, receives the top honor in the metropolitan city category, and the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative is presented with a $300,000 donation. Grant funds will be used to assist households who are experiencing a housing crisis throughout the seven-county Metro Denver region. The Housing Stability Flexible Fund is designed to remove financial barriers that prevent a household from obtaining or remaining in permanent housing.

• Austin Quinn-Davidson, interim mayor of Anchorage, is the top honoree in the large city category, and nonprofit Covenant House Alaska (CHA) receives a $200,000 donation for its Bridge to Success program. Through the Bridge to Success project, CHA will renovate and expand space at the Youth Engagement Center to create 22 new on-site “micro-unit” apartments to

• serve young people ages 18 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness. Residents will have self-contained rooms, increased independence, and complete access to on-site services.

• Rosalynn Bliss, mayor of Grand Rapids is the top honoree among medium city mayors, and G.R.A.C.E. Homes receives a $150,000 grant for its Community Rebuilders project. This project will intentionally address the link between housing and health through the creation of affordable, service smart, rental housing.

• Layne Wilkerson, mayor of Frankfort, KY receives top honors among small city mayors, and Franklin County Women and Family Shelter Inc. receives a $75,000 grant in support of its Frankfort CARES Coalition Transitional Housing Initiative. This initiative will create a new and innovative approach to transitional housing for residents at risk of homelessness and will actively engage the community in support of the whole range of homeless needs under a holistic Continuum of Care model.

Additional 2020 CommunityWINS Grant Program Outstanding Achievement awards honorees include:

• Lori Lightfoot, mayor of Chicago, receives honors among metropolitan city mayors, and nonprofit Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago is awarded a $100,000 grant in support of the Preservation of Affordable Multi-Unit Properties Project. The grant will help launch a holistic, system wide solution and community resource for existing or potential owners of two- to four-unit buildings. The program seeks to not only support existing small landlords in keeping and fixing their affordable rental units, but also support and grow a next generation of millennial small landlords that can carry the community-oriented tradition of homeownership.

• Ras J. Baraka, mayor of Newark, NJ, is recognized among large city mayors, and nonprofit Invest Newark is awarded a $75,000 grant in support of its City of Newark/Invest Newark Section 8 Homeownership Conversion Program. Grant proceeds will support the conversion of blighted city-owned properties into homeownership opportunities for Newarkers at income levels lower than 80% of area median income.

• Juan “Trey” Mendez III, mayor of Brownsville, TX is recognized among medium city mayors and nonprofit Come Dream. Come Build is awarded a $50,000 grant in support of The SAMANO project. The grant will aid in the redevelopment of an unused Samano Securities Building into a small 6,000-square-foot grocery store, 39 studio apartments, a single one-bedroom unit, and a small rooftop hydroponics vegetable/herb farm.

• Jay Coelho, mayor of Waterville, ME, is honored among small city mayors, and Waterville Community Land Trust is awarded a $50,000 grant for the Milliken Project. The grant funds will enable the nonprofit to develop perpetually affordable homes for low-income families and build community assets that will revitalize the South End of Waterville neighborhood, which is suffering from decay and neglect.

The CommunityWINS Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation. The CommunityWINS recipients will be showcased in an upcoming webinar hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Wells Fargo has invested more than $6 million in the CommunityWINS Grant Program since 2016 and recently announced an evolution of the company’s philanthropic strategy that includes a $1 billion commitment to address the housing affordability crisis, and an increased focus on financial health and small business growth.

About the U.S. Conference of Mayors

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. More information can be found at facebook.com/usmayors or twitter.com/usmayors.

MDHI Receives $1.25 Million Bezos Day 1 Grant to End Homelessness

DENVER – (December 9, 2020): The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI), the region’s Continuum of Care tasked with coordinating a regional response to homelessness, today announced that it has been selected to receive a $1.25 million grant from the Day 1 Families Fund. Launched in 2018 by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, the Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families.

“This funding is critical in the region’s response to keeping families safe and stable, particularly in light of the economic crisis caused by COVID-19,” said Matt Meyer, Executive Director of MDHI.

This one-time grant, awarded to organizations doing meaningful work to connect families with shelter and support, will allow MDHI to increase housing for families experiencing homelessness and provide additional services and supports. Additionally, this funding will support a full-time position dedicated to recruiting and retaining landlords for the region’s various housing programs. This is a much-needed resource as federal housing funds begin to flow into the Denver region.

MDHI is one of 42 nonprofits across the U.S. to receive the third annual Day 1 Families Fund grants, as part of a continuing commitment by the Day 1 Families Fund to help end homelessness for families. The Day 1 Families Fund issued a total of $105.9 million in grants this year. To select these organizations, the fund worked with an advisory board of homelessness advocates and leaders whose expertise spans housing justice, racial equity, direct services, homelessness policy, equity for Native American communities, and anti-poverty work. This year, the grant recipients from around the country include: Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness; The Cathedral Center, Inc.; Catholic Charities of Acadiana; Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention; Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida; Community Action Council for Lexington-Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison and Nicholas Counties; Congreso de Latinos Unidos; Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio; Denver Indian Family Resource Center; East Los Angeles Women’s Center; East Oakland Community Project; Facing Forward to End Homelessness; Families Together; Family Life Center; Friendship Place; HELP of Southern Nevada; The Homeless Families Foundation; Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System; HOPE Atlanta; House of Ruth; Housing Matters; Housing Up; Kahumana; MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership, Inc.; Metro Denver Homeless Initiative; MUST Ministries; The National Center for Children and Families; Native American Youth and Family Center; North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness; One80 Place; Poverello House; Rainbow Services; Refugee Women's Alliance; Safe Haven Family Shelter; Samaritan House; Solid Ground; St. Vincent de Paul CARES; Su Casa – Ending Domestic Violence; The Salvation Army Austin Area Command; Time for Change Foundation; United American Indian Involvement, Inc.; and WestCare California.

“We can immediately put these funds to use, meeting identified needs in our community for families experiencing homelessness, needs that other funding sources can’t meet,” added Meyer. “We are incredibly grateful to the Day 1 Families Fund for their support.”

The Bezos Day One Fund was launched in 2018 with a commitment of $2 billion and a focus on two areas: funding existing nonprofits that help homeless families, and creating a network of new, nonprofit tier-one preschools in low-income communities. The Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families. The vision statement comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child sleeps outside. For more information, click here. 

About Metro Denver Homeless Initiative

Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) is the Metro Denver Continuum of Care, the regional system that coordinates services and housing for people experiencing homelessness. This includes prevention/diversion, street outreach, emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing. MDHI works closely with each county in its continuum (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson) to build a homeless crisis response system that gets people back into housing as quickly as possible.

Recognize a Colleague with a Housing Firsty

Know someone who's doing amazing work in the field of homelessness? Think they deserve a high five accompanied by a pat on the back? Nominate them for one of MDHI's Housing Firsty Awards! We'll be sure to help celebrate them. While we aren't promising any red carpet walks in the near future, we can promise to lift their spirits, send them a handy award (their choice on whether or not to frame it), and share with the world all the unsung heroes out there. 

Fill out this simple form to nominate someone you appreciate today!