RD300 - Annual Report on Virginia's Homeless Programs


Executive Summary:
[11-21-06 --- The report was replaced by the author because of duplicate text.]

This report was prepared in accordance with Budget Item 103 D (see Appendix 1) to provide elected officials with information on the sheltered homeless in Virginia during FY2006. "Virginia's Homeless Programs for FY 2006: 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 2006, the 111 participating emergency, domestic violence, transitional and winter shelters served 20,070 households representing 27,329 persons.

• Providers denied 37,984 requests for shelter, primarily because of a lack of bed space.

• Approximately 27 % of all persons sheltered in funded programs were under the age of 18.

• Over 28% 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 (SSG) and/or Federal Shelter Grant (FSG) funded 5,255beds in FY 2006. Of these 2,270 were emergency shelter beds, 1,838 were transitional housing beds, 800 were domestic violence emergency shelter, 260 were winter shelter beds and five were day shelter programs (87 beds).

Cost of Providing Shelter and Services

• The total cost of providing shelter and supportive services to homeless individuals and families in fiscal year 2006 was $52,497,047 including the Shelter Support Grant, Federal Emergency Shelter Grant and local financial support.

• The cost of providing each bed of shelter for the fiscal year was $9,990; state-administered funds (SSG, FSG, and TANF) provided approximately 13.6%.

• SSG and TANF provided $1100 per bed to 5,168 beds and FSG provided an average of $494 per bed to 2,890 beds during the year.

• Project sponsors reported 557,460 volunteer hours with a value of $5,574,600 ($10.00 per hour), and donated goods and services valued at $7,285,510.

• DHCD allocated $3,101,411 in Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds to Shelter Support Grant recipients, which accounted for 10.8% of the total budget for emergency shelter and transitional housing facilities. Excluding TANF funds, the SSG accounted for 4.9%. The Federal Shelter Grant accounted for 2.7%.

• Local governments provided 25% of the financial support for shelter and transitional housing.

• Providers estimated that over $11.5 million would be required to increase, expandand/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 2006, citizens in every jurisdiction in Virginia continued to have access to program funds and services.

• The Homeless Intervention Program provided rent, mortgage, security deposit assistance, and housing counseling services to 1,419 households representing 3,859 persons.

• Rental assistance accounted for 78% of the total direct service funds, mortgage assistance for 14%, and deposits and fees the remaining 8%.

• Of the heads of household, 56.5% were employed on a full time basis, 14% on apart time basis, 16.8% were unemployed, 1.8% were retired, and 10.8% were disabled.

• Fifty-three percent (53%) of the persons in households receiving assistance were under the age of 18.

• In fiscal year 2006, $4.5 million in general funds were awarded to the 27 HIP grantees.

• State funds were supplemented by $630,000 from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program.

• Local programs received $264,196 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 2006, child service coordinators assisted 4,785 homeless children in 47 emergency shelter and transitional housing facilities.

• In FY 2006, an appropriation of $500,000 in state general funds and An allocation of $563,125 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 2006, 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.

• 396 children received childcare during the year at a per child cost of approximately $720.

• Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the households receiving childcare assistance had at least one parent employed at the time they exited the shelter.