HOMEWARD PIKES PEAK

The Permanent Coordinating Organization for Homeless Services in the Pikes Peak Region

Annual Report: 2004

A watershed event in the area of homeless services in Colorado Springs occurred on January 27, 2004. On this date Homeward Pikes Peak convened a Community Forum on Homelessness, attended by approximately 150 citizens. The purpose of the meeting was to solicit input for a philosophy of helping the homeless in Colorado Springs that was to be formulated later by a panel of eight homeless service providers, utilizing community comments.

The committee of eight met twice subsequent to the forum and agreed upon the following: "The philosophy of helping the homeless in the Pikes Peak region shall be to expect the entire community: organizations, individuals and governments to act in a responsible and efficient fashion to prevent homelessness and to assist and hold accountable each homeless individual in moving toward self-sufficiency in a manner commensurate with his or her capabilities." This action set a philosophical reference point from which established and new services could be measured.

CHAP (Comprehensive Homeless Assistance Providers)

In January a new format was introduced to CHAP and HPP was asked to be the lead organization. This past year the topic of "Accessing Mainstream Resources" was stressed, since it had been identified in the past by HUD as an area of weakness in our Continuum of Care. Led by the Social Security Administration and assisted by Colorado Springs' DHS and Veterans' Affairs, a total of five seminars were conducted this year to train homeless service agencies in more efficiently and more accurately helping the needy and homeless to file claims. In addition, such current topics as Super-NOFA grant information, HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) training and preparing for the Homeless Headcount have been addressed.

Accessing Mainstream Resources

This has been an area of weakness in the Continuum of Care. With the support of CHAP and the assistance of the Social Security Administration and the El Paso Count Department of Human Services, an all-day seminar was held May 13 on this topic. The June CHAP meeting was a follow-up from which two committees were formed: one to study the best intake procedures from around the U.S., and another to examine the possibility of computers from the HMI System, the Department of Human Services and the public medical service providers to "talk to" one another.

Additionally, September 2 and 9 were scheduled as training days for intake procedures, one for all service personnel and one for medical personnel. The final training in December demonstrated how individuals could begin to work and still keep some Social Security benefits. The ultimate goal is to expedite services to eligible homeless individuals, especially in the SSI and Medicaid areas.

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

The HMIS, as of 2004, is a pre-requisite to receiving any HUD funds. Our system is being developed in conjunction with the rest of the state; but Anne Beer, of Pikes Peak United Way, has taken a leadership role in the state and with the software developer.

Because of this, it will be easier for us, I believe, to do some spin-offs later with the basic technology for specific local applications such as monitoring usage of food services. State-wide beta-testing is ongoing. Interfaith Hospitality Network will be the first provider "on-line" with the bulk of remaining agencies participating during 2005.

Super-NOFA

The HUD Super-NOFA is certainly the most visible and potentially the most lucrative source of funding for homeless service agencies. In 2003 we received $1, 791,000 or 91.2% of the maximum possible HUD funds. In 2004 we received $1, 885,000 or 99.8% of the maximum possible.

Our success with the Shelter + Care part of this grant means that we can provide single room or efficiency type housing and services for approximately 25 chronic recidivist substance abusers who would normally use the system: emergency room services, police, AMR and fire personnel at a rate of approximately $25,000 per year.

Food Services for the Homeless

In the late spring, HPP and Catholic Charities formed a group of providers to discuss the topic of decentralizing food services to the homeless. One could argue that services were already decentralized, but in reality the vast majority of homeless individuals were served by Catholic Charities. The group continues to meet. Some questions discussed are: Who will assign meal service locations to the homeless, and what will be the criteria for that decision? A card system will be used, like a swipe-card, to assure that people eat where assigned.

The idea is that the card system will be stand-alone at the beginning, but then will be integrated into the Homeless Management Information System. The members of the group, in general, are also interested in skills and job training; so a person's meal assignment may be tied to the location of his or her training.

This is probably the most exciting aspect of all of HPP's involvement in homeless services. It embodies the "helping, not enabling" philosophy formulated in January, and it could have a dramatically positive impact on the lives of many of the homeless. With faith-based members of the group--the "weekend in the park" food service providers--we are discussing how their operations could be modified to preserve the integrity of their mission while bringing it into line with that of the mainstream food service providers.

Fund Raising

The Inaugural Homeward Pikes Peak Golf Classic last April, sponsored by Concept Restaurants and directed by Luke Travis, raised $38,000. This translates to approximately 42% of our budgetary needs. The El Pomar Foundation continues to fund HPP yearly, on a declining basis, which will keep both entities within IRS funding regulations. HPP was the recipient, as well, of a $15,000 grant from the J.H. Edmondson Foundation. Our plan is to remain a one-person operation so that the maximum amount of funding dollars for the homeless will continue to go to those agencies working directly with the homeless. We decline offers to compete directly with the agencies we assist for local funds.

Homeless Headcount

Prior to 2003 the homeless population was not literally counted in the Pikes Peak region. The first count was done in May of that year late in the evening, and some estimating was necessary. In March of 2004 a literal headcount was done with the involvement of about 20 organizations and individual volunteers. Anne Beer, of Pikes Peak United Way, designed a form which collected maximum data while avoiding duplication and ensuring anonymity.

This count was done during the day and into the evening hours. We had planned to replicate that count in September, but HUD then mandated that a count be done during the third week of January. So we are switching to a January and July count schedule. The format that will be used in the near future will be more statistically sound and it is one recommended by HUD. We will then change our nomenclature to "Homeless Population Estimate". The plan is to continue with the twice yearly format and to keep beta-testing until we feel that we're getting the most accurate information possible.

Homeless Shelter Mediation

For nine months Homeward Pikes Peak served as broker/mediator between the Salvation Army and the Red Cross in the transfer of management of the R. J. Montgomery Homeless Shelter. On March 1 the Salvation Army assumed the management of the "R.J. Montgomery New Hope Center".

Soup Kitchen Mediation

From February through December, HPP served as a member of the Soup Kitchen Mediation Committee that considered the impact of a proposed renovation/expansion of the existing Marian House Soup Kitchen. The result was a signed Good Neighbor Agreement between the Soup Kitchen and the Downtown Partnership. Talks are ongoing with the Boulder Crescent Neighborhood Association.

Panhandling

In an attempt to assist the Downtown Partnership in coping with a perceived problem of panhandling in the downtown area, Homeward Pikes Peak designed two-sided cards with messages both for merchants and shoppers and for panhandlers. The cards ask individuals to give to homeless service agencies as opposed to panhandlers. The cards direct panhandlers to sources of help and to the "Colorado Springs Survival Manual". The Survival Manual was updated and distributed to the public library and to locally owned coffee shops for this purpose.

The Five Year Blueprint to House Every Citizen of Colorado Springs

Perhaps the broadest activity of Homeward Pikes Peak over the 2004 calendar year has been its involvement in the Five Year Blueprint to House Every Citizen of Colorado Springs. Made up of three components: the plan, per se; the prevention component and the research component, the Blueprint was essentially written by HPP and has been continually vetted among homeless service providers for the past six months. Most recently a Five Year Blueprint Advisory Committee was formed whose members represent funders; homeless service agencies, including housing, health and mental health; government; police and former and currently homeless individuals.

The Blueprint outlines activities, by year, that need to occur in order to move homeless individuals from their current status toward self-sufficiency and stability in a permanent home. It also describes the situations that will lead to homelessness, in hopes that pro-activity may save some of these individuals from homelessness. Finally, research topics are addressed that can arithmetically prove that helping the homeless is a good investment of charitable and taxpayer dollars. A copy of the latest draft of the Five Year Blueprint is attached. A community forum is scheduled January 12, 2005 at 7:00 pm in the Palmer High School mini-auditorium to accept feedback from the public on this topic.

Research

Homeward Pikes Peak is presently conversing with representatives from University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Colorado College to engage in various research projects dealing generally with the cost-efficiency of helping the homeless and realistic expectations of the return on investment of these endeavors. An additional topic of interest is the cost of untreated substance abuse and mental health problems. HPP will pursue these topics in 2005.

Miscellaneous HPP Activities

Offered a three hour seminar for senior citizens on homelessness sponsored by the PILLAR organization.

Met with UCCS students in the MPA program to discuss homelessness, as well as with Palmer High School students and Gold Camp Elementary fifth graders

Presented a program on parenting skills to New Hope Center clients and inaugurated a once-monthly meeting with shelter clients to dispense general information on services available in the region.

Gave a telephone presentation and Q and A for the Lawrence, KS Commission of Homelessness. Facilitated a meeting with Fannie Mae to discuss their helping in the financing of various types of housing for the homeless.

Participate regularly in the Community Round Table, the Substance Abuse Advisory Council and the Downtown Safety Committee.