WIXLIB

OUTCOMES: WHAT HAS WORKEDAND WHAT HAS NOT WORKEDHomeBASE was originally touted as a “program of short-termhousing assistance” with the expectation that families would beable to assume their own rent payments when the program ended.The program was targeted to families with children who wereeligible for temporary emergency shelter. For families who haveparticipated in the program for at least a year, the average annualincome when they entered the program was 9,786. 65,880 49,512The short-term housing assistance has worked, with 2,000families obtaining housing in MBHP’s region. The stabilizationefforts of MBHP, its subcontractors, and shelter staff have alsobeen successful at addressing emergency situations and keepingpeople housed. To date, very few families have been terminatedfor cause (violating the lease, eviction, failure to recertify, violationof program requirements). 10,140Current averageMBHP HomeBASEparticipant incomefor all participantsObtaining jobs and an income to be self-sufficient has been lesssuccessful. In the 20 months from July 2011 through February2013 the unemployment rate in Massachusetts averaged 6.8%.Although down from the high of 7.4% during this period, jobswere and remain difficult to find, especially for applicants whodo not have a college degree.6 Still, 36% of families receivingHomeBASE rental assistance from MBHP are employed andhave income from wages at this time, but their incomes are notsufficient in our high-cost area.Income necessary toafford two-bedroomapartment at fairmarket rent (FMR)Economic independencethreshold(Source: CrittentonWomen’s Union)FIGURE 2: Gap between HomeBASE participant income andself-sufficiency measuresIn fact, in July 2012, MBHP’s HomeBASE Program Results for theMBHP Region August 2011—June 2012, stated, “[W]e are concernedabout what will happen at the end of 24 months of HomeBASERental Assistance. Few families are likely to see a substantialincome increase in the short-term, and without additional supportthey could lose their housing.” Unfortunately, it looks like thisprediction may become true, but it does not have to be that way.Additionally, in the Massachusetts Economic Independence Index 2013report released in March, Crittenton Women’s Union found thatin Massachusetts, one adult with a preschooler and one schoolage child would need to earn 65,880 for the family to meet itsmost basic needs. That figure was even larger in the areas servedby MBHP.RECOMMENDATIONSThere are a variety of options that can be taken to maintain thehousing stability and safety of families as well as the investmentthat the Commonwealth has already made.The barriers faced by families receiving HomeBASE rentalassistance coupled with the state’s unemployment rate andthe competition for scarce jobs, as well as the requirement ofspecialized training or higher education for most jobs thatpay a living wage made it unlikely that these families would reachthe goal of economic self-sufficiency within two years. In otherwords, although a few have succeeded, it was short-sighted tobelieve that a majority of families who were homeless, making 815 a month, and facing numerous other barriers would beable to dramatically increase their economic self-sufficiency injust a short period of time. R estore HomeBASE rental assistance to the 36 monthsthat was originally committed. This is the most expensiveoption because it would cost an additional 35 million, but itis the most effective and would be the least disruptive choicefor families. Instead, families would be able to remain in place,avoiding potential eviction and homelessness and allowing timeto find alternative and more tolerable solutions.7 Landlords whohave worked with MBHP to house the families would not beforced to undertake the difficult, expensive, and time consumingeviction process.6T his was confirmed by the Commonwealth Corporation and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston last fall when in Labor Market Trends in the Boston/Metro North Region they said, “jobvacancies in the region tend to be most common among occupations where workers have higher levels of post-secondary education.”The report also said, “those with lower educationalattainment tend to be disproportionately represented among the unemployed.”7 It also costs less than the 120 million that would be required if 5,000 families enter emergency shelter and stay for eight months, the average stay at an emergency shelter, at a cost of 3,000 per month.4

C ontinue HomeBASE rental assistance for (or targetnew rental assistance resources to) families who are ineducational or job training programs or who havedisabilities that prevent them from working at a jobthat pays a living wage. Families who are investing in theireducation whether at school or training for a career could losethat investment if they lose their housing. If they do obtainwork upon completing their program, the amount of the rentalassistance will most likely decrease. Also, for families where thehead of household or a member of the household has a disabilitythat prevents them from obtaining a living wage, it will cost lessper month to have the family stably housed with rental assistancethan if they re-enter emergency shelter.CONCLUSIONThere are no easy answers and reasonable people can disagreeon the “right thing to do.” However, it is unfair to change rulesmidstream, and it is unfair to set unreasonable expectations whenresearch and data show that something is unlikely to work. It isalso clear that when housing resources are available, the numberof families who are homeless decreases, and it costs less per monthto provide rental assistance in a private apartment than to provideemergency shelter. Concentrating on solving homelessness and itsroot causes would be a more positive use of time than taking aBand-Aid approach. Massachusetts has many excellent housingprograms. By investing more deeply in these programs, we canhelp families achieve housing and provide the stability familiesneed to be successful. Restore families’ homelessness priority for public andsubsidized housing so that they are not penalized for havingparticipated in HomeBASE. HomeBASE was not meant to helpfamilies forever but rather to provide assistance for a limitedperiod of time. Restoring the homelessness priority will increasethe likelihood that families are able to obtain permanent housingthat they can afford.Families should not need to become homeless to accesshousing they can afford. And, if adequate funds are not goingto be made available to provide a long-term housing solutionfor those in need, that should be stated clearly by decisionmakers. Homelessness prevention services and resources shouldbe expanded to keep families in as stable a situation as possible.After all, everyone deserves a place to call home. E nsure that families who do lose their HomeBASErental assistance when the program ends are eligiblefor resources such as Residential Assistance for Familiesin Transition (a flexible, short-term funding programto prevent homelessness) or HomeBASE householdassistance and that they are not prevented from accessingemergency shelter.FAMILY CASE STUDIESIn the following pages are the true stories of eight families. Theirpersonal challenges and triumphs range from those who havesuccessfully transitioned from HomeBASE through education andemployment to those who continue to need assistance in arecession ravaged economy. These stories speak for themselves. F ocus on long-term housing rather than just avoidingshelter stays by increasing the supply of housing acrossa continuum (shelters, supportive housing, public housing,subsidized housing that is privately owned, and private rentalhousing) to meet the needs of all families. Ensure that familieswho are or were homeless are not prevented from accessingthis housing.5

Natascia: MaldenLOSS OF HOMEBASE IS A STEP BACKWARDS FOR MOTHER AND SON“I’ve already been through so much. I really don’t know what I’m going to doif it [HomeBASE] doesn’t continue. I just don’t want us to go backwards.”Homelessness can affect anyone. For Natascia, her housinginstability began with a horrific car accident that causedmyriad physical and mental disabilities. The repercussions ofthe accident hampered her ability to be self-sufficient and carefor her 7-year-old boy. Natascia suffers from severe nerve andspinal damage and frequent migraines, which has made regularemployment incredibly difficult because she has been unableto sustain multiple days of work at a time.happy. I feel like when you have your own place, of course youfeel good,” says Natascia. “Knowing your son is going to sleepwell is worth so much.”She remains tremendously grateful to MBHP and the rentalassistance she gets from the HomeBASE program. “HomeBASEhas been wonderful, even emotionally—they [MBHP caseworkers] check in on you, see how you are doing, are alwayslooking out for different resources,” says Natascia.For a few years, she was able to stay with her brother in a tinyone-bedroom apartment, with her and her son sleeping on afuton in the living room. As her son grew older and bigger, spacebecame more of an issue and her brother eventually asked themto leave. Faced with homelessness, Natascia turned to the stateand was referred to MBHP who successfully diverted her towardhousing with the state’s re-housing program (which eventuallyturned into HomeBASE rental assistance).Despite her disabilities and pain, Natascia volunteers at the localTransitional Assistance Office for short periods of time, and shecleans her local park on a regular basis—anything to feel like she’sable to give back to her community.Yet the threat of losing her HomeBASE rental assistance hascaused great anxiety. “I’ve already been through so much,”says Natascia. “I really don’t know what I’m going to do ifit [HomeBASE] doesn’t continue. I just don’t want us togo backwards.”Having her own apartment in her hometown of Malden, and herson having his own room has been a blessing. “Right now, I’m6

Ana Bela: DorchesterARMING HERSELF WITH EDUCATION IN THE FACE OF HOMEBASE TERMINATIONCaring for a severely disabled child can be a full-time job initself. Add two more children and a recession-fueled layoff,and it’s easy to see how Ana Bela and her family became homeless.Taking stock of her situation, Ana Bela enrolled

implementation of HomeBASE, almost 1,800 families were living in motels because emergency shelter beds were full. By December 31, 2011, six months after HomeBASE was created, that number dropped