QUESTION
What measures has DHS taken to track exit outcomes for families with children leaving homeless shelters?
1:51:11
·
3 min
DHS focuses on families exiting shelters with housing subsidies, as they are less likely to return to the shelter system.
- The return rate for families exiting with subsidies is 0.6%
- DHS does not track families who make their own arrangements to leave shelters without assistance
- For permanent exits, families work with staff to develop an exit plan and receive services to move to permanent housing
- The administrator refers to moving to permanent housing as 'moving home' with these families
Diana I. Ayala
1:51:11
My final two question are regarding the reporting of so city limits in May reported that over 50% of shelter access were are marked as unknown in DHS's system.
1:51:23
Can you tell us what measures DHS has taken to capture, exit, outcome, from families with children leaving the shelter.
1:51:30
While outreach is done to stay connected with those families who are formerly in the shelter system,
Joslyn Carter
1:51:38
The families as they exit shelter And most of our exits that we we that that we want to happen with subsidies.
1:51:50
Right?
1:51:51
Because those are the ones that we find that stick.
1:51:54
When when families leave with a subsidy, they don't return.
1:52:00
To us.
1:52:01
The return rate is point 6.
Angela Serda
1:52:02
Yeah.
Joslyn Carter
1:52:03
And so they stay out longer.
1:52:06
Those are the ones that we push it something that may stay a little bit longer and shoulder because they really need to get themselves much more stable before before they leave.
1:52:15
Some families come in and leave just, you know, they come in and leave.
1:52:20
And that's really they make their own arrangements.
1:52:23
We don't track those, ma'am.
1:52:25
Is we really track families who come because, you know, if I decide I'm gonna leave, I don't want people just kind of you know, I've decided I'm not going to stay.
1:52:31
It's not the place for me.
1:52:32
And I think people have a right to sell determination if they decided that I don't want shelter.
1:52:38
And so even if we used to have a aftercare program, early on in my career here, and when you call people like, why are you calling me?
1:52:46
Right?
1:52:47
So I want nothing else to do with you.
1:52:49
But when people make new arrangements, But for a permanent shelter exits, which are up this year more ready, more than they were last fiscal year, they're the ones that are sticking and those are the ones that people are moving to permanency and those are the ones that we want to have happened.
1:53:03
Those that come through front door, develop an exit strategy with our staff, get their emotions enhanced quickly, which made a lot of changes to make sure that happens quickly.
1:53:14
Get our processing in place, get a key, move home, not to permanency when I speak to families because I never say I'm moving to permanency.
1:53:21
I always am moving home.
1:53:22
And then they stay because they're actually moving a voucher.
1:53:26
Those are the ones that we wanna see.
1:53:27
You know, those who make their own arrangement decide.
1:53:29
I wanted to go live with a family or whatever else.
1:53:31
I don't track I don't track them at all.
Diana I. Ayala
1:53:33
So 50% is a pretty big number.
1:53:35
Right?
1:53:35
And I I I mean, I would imagine that people are not just walking out, like, their peace.
1:53:42
You know?
1:53:42
Like, they're saying to somebody, I'm leaving.
1:53:46
I'm, you know, I'm not gonna live here anymore.
1:53:49
And that that somebody's asking, you know, maybe congratulating them or saying, you know, are you sure?
1:53:55
Are you know, where are you going so that folks have an understanding of whether they're leaving because they found something their own because they've decided to go back to wherever they came from, because they got tired of waiting.
1:54:12
You know, and just decided it wasn't in their present interest.
1:54:15
I think that information is helpful.
1:54:18
Yeah.
Joslyn Carter
1:54:18
Hold on.
1:54:20
Could I wouldn't have to follow-up on that one.
1:54:23
I also remember.
Diana I. Ayala
1:54:24
Okay.
1:54:24
Mhmm.
1:54:25
Yeah.
