Sustaining Functional Zero

Learn how to sustain your progress, once you end homelessness for a population.

Functional Zero Case Studies

Prevent New Inflow

Prevent Veteran Inflow

• Survey veterans assessed in the past 90 days and use data to discover the systems and services they touched previous to entering the homeless system.
  • Urban Institute Report: Community Strategies to Understand and Reduce Veteran Inflow into Homelessness
    
• Implement a simple tool to assess risk of homelessness for use in mental health clinics, VA hospitals and medical care, and prison or jail prior to exit; create a pathway to connect the individual with diversion resources within that non-homeless program or in the homeless system.

Prevent Chronic Inflow

• For individuals with disabilities, provide support for securing SSI or SSDI.
  • SSI/SSDI Strategies
    
• Work with local and county affordable housing programs to create preferences or define eligibility in ways that prioritize CoC referrals of those who are at-risk of chronic homelessness.
  • Bright Spot: Montgomery County, MD
    
• Utilize available RRH resources paired with PHA resources to prevent people from entering chronic homelessness.
  • Bright Spot: Lancaster, PA
    
• For individuals at risk of experiencing chronic homelessness, partner with PHA to create a homeless preference in which PHA takes prioritized referrals from the CoC for Section 8 vouchers.
  • Bright Spot: Lancaster, PA

Focus on Housing Retention

• Implement Critical Time Intervention model in PSH, HUD-VASH, SSVF, and other housing programs to increase retention rates.
  • Critical Time Intervention
    
• Implement an eviction-prevention program for those who have been housed through the Coordinated Entry System.
  • Bright Spot: Chicago, IL
  • Eviction Prevention Guide for Case Managers – from our partners in Canada
  • Strategies for Eviction Prevention
    
• Create release of information (ROI) form in order to secure client consent to allow property managers to contact a case manager if a problem arises; this practice will inspire landlord confidence.
  • Community Sample: Release of Information (ROI) for Landlords, Tenants, and Case Management Communication
    
• Host separate case-conference meetings for veterans already in housing to assess their housing stability and coordinate support and interventions as needed.
  • Bright Spot: Gulfport/Gulf Coast Region, MS

Strengthen Community-Based Service Networks

• Use team-based approach for housing navigation and support, rather than assigning only one case manager.
  • Bright Spot: Jacksonville, FL
    
• Partner community mental health centers with housing providers to provide mental health care and housing to chronically homeless individuals and formerly homeless individuals with disabilities [Chronic]
  • Bright Spot: Gulf Coast, MS

Maintain a Sustainable System

Monitor and Respond to Change

• When the political climate shifts, update organizational and community-wide practices and policies and procedures to ensure client safety.
  • NAEH: Homelessness and Immigration Enforcement
    
• Ensure the system you’re sustaining works for everyone by monitoring the system’s outcomes and assessing if they are racially equitable.
  • Download the Tool for Assessing Disparate Outcomes from the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ Racial Equity Network