RD210 - Annual Report on the Homeless Programs


Executive Summary:
This report was prepared in accordance with Budget Item 110 D (see Appendix 1) to provide elected officials with information on the sheltered homeless in Virginia during FY 2005. Virginia's Homeless Programs for FY 2005: A Report to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees highlights the efforts of the Commonwealth to provide financial support to nonprofit and local government providers of homeless prevention services, emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent housing for the homeless. Although state and federal funds are allocated to numerous state agencies, these funds benefit specific homeless initiatives, such as education, health and mental health care, or domestic violence. This report includes only those programs administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). It is our hope that it will continue to inform lawmakers and staff as to the number of Virginians who were at risk of homelessness, the number and characteristics of homeless individuals sheltered, the costs associated with shelter facility operations and the provision of supportive services to that population. Financial data will illustrate the allocation of state and federal resources administered by DHCD to sustain these efforts.

Provision of Shelter

• During FY 2005, the 114 participating emergency, domestic violence, transitional and winter shelters served 19,537 households representing 27,546 persons.

• Providers denied 55,000 requests for shelter, primarily because of a lack of bed space.

• Almost 25 percent of all persons sheltered in funded programs were under the age of 18.

• Over 35% of all households, including families and single adults, were placed in permanent housing upon leaving shelters or transitional housing. The success rate is significant when the vulnerable nature of the population is considered.

• The Shelter Support Grant and/or Federal Shelter Grant funded a total of 5,577 beds in FY 2005. Of these 2,422 were emergency shelter beds, 2,387were transitional housing, 742 were domestic violence emergency shelter, 183 were winter shelter, and 43 were day shelter programs.

Cost of Providing Shelter and Services

• The total cost of providing shelter and supportive services to homeless individuals and families in fiscal year 2005 was $53,480,762 including the Shelter Support Grant, Federal Shelter Grant and local financial support.

• The cost of providing each bed of shelter for the fiscal year was $8,514; state-administered funds (SSG, FSG, and TANF) provided approximately 12%.

• SSG and TANF provided $803 per bed to 5,577 beds and FSG provided an average of $548 per bed to 2,771 beds during the year.

• Project sponsors reported 497,391 volunteer hours with a value of $4,973,910 ($10.00 per hour), and donated goods and services valued at $6,827,390.

• DHCD allocated $3,200,237 in Temporary Assistance to Needy Families(TANF) funds to Shelter Support Grant recipients, which accounted for 6% of the total budget for emergency shelter and transitional housing facilities. Excluding TANF funds, the SSG accounted for 3%. The Federal Shelter Grant accounted for 3%.

• Local governments provided 28% of the financial support for shelter and transitional housing.

• Providers estimated that $13.9 million would be required to increase, expand and/or enhance supportive services to address the needs of the homeless.

Homeless Prevention Services

• Twenty-seven (27) Homeless Intervention Program (HIP) grantees provided homeless prevention services. In fiscal year 2005, citizens in every jurisdiction in Virginia continued to have access to program funds and services.

• The Homeless Intervention Program provided rent, mortgage and security deposit assistance to 2,028 households representing 5,405 persons.

• Rental assistance accounted for almost 76% of the total, mortgage assistance for 14%, and deposits and fees the remaining 10%.

• Over forty-seven percent (47.2%) of the heads of household were employed on a full time basis, 15% on a part time basis, 21.3% were unemployed, 2.5% were retired, and 14% were disabled.

• Just over fifty percent (50.2%) of the persons in households receiving assistance were under the age of 18.

• In fiscal year 2005, $4.5 million in general funds were awarded to the 27 HIP grantees.

• State funds were supplemented by $812,687 from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program.

• Local programs received $484,320 in loan repayments from households formerly assisted through HIP, one-half of which could be used to offset administrative costs with the remainder available to provide client services.

Coordinators of Services for Homeless Children

• In FY 2005, child service coordinators assisted 6,619 homeless children in 68 emergency shelter and transitional housing facilities.

• In FY 2005, an appropriation of $360,000 in state general funds and an allocation of $620,750 in Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds supported the program.

• Homeless children received services related to health, mental health, and education. In addition, they were screened for evidence of abuse and may have benefited from interventions and training provided to parent(s).

Child Care for Homeless Children

• In fiscal year 2005, DSS provided DHCD with $300,000 ($285,000 for services and $15,000 to cover administrative costs) from its block grant to support the Child Care for Homeless Children Program.

• 390 children received child care during the year at a per child cost of approximately $731.

• Two-thirds of the households receiving child care assistance had at least one parent employed at the time they exited the shelter.