SHB 5314
Dr. Shannon
6/12/14
Saralyn Thompson
Project Restoration is a nonprofit Christian organization
that partners with future and current homeowners to build simple, decent, and
affordable housing for low to very low-income families. Volunteers and future
homeowners work together in the building process. Houses are sold at no profit
and owners are charged no interest. The purpose of the organization is to bring
families and communities in need together with resources and volunteers to
eliminate substandard housing in low-income areas.
Project Restoration seeks out low-income families …show more content…
Currently the
follow-up time frame to determine client stabilization in order to measure program
success is insufficient. Program follow-up has been recorded at the three month mark
however there is no long-term tracking to determine recidivism rates. (Larkin 2012)
In analyzing the impact of HPRP on Saginaw County’s homeless, it must
be stated that beyond the number of individuals served, the program is working to
improve how the problem of homelessness is handled both in Saginaw County and
nationally. On a national level, the HPRP program focuses on “housing stabilization,”
which looks at both prevention of homelessness, as well as rehousing of the homeless. It
builds on the continuum of care model , which has been in place for more than fifteen
years. (Larkin 2012) The model links community agencies together and the Coalition has
been instrumental in bringing them all together. “Housing stabilization” adds new
elements of legal aid, credit and budget counseling, mental health and immigration …show more content…
The model requires a potential client to enter a non-profit
agency, request services and then be referred to a participating agency. If the person who
greets them is not familiar with the program, the potential client may not get served. If
the greeter refers them to the wrong place, the potential client will lose time going to the
wrong agency.
As of September 7, 2011, a total of 259 individuals had been provided homeless
preventions services (106 households) including short-term rental assistance and payment
of utility bills. However, according to Bill Sermons, director of the Homelessness
Research Institute of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, it is very difficult to
prove causation in discussing the effects of a homeless prevention program. Without a
control group, it is difficult to say with any certainty that the prevention of homelessness
is definitely attributable to the services received. So, the value of tracking the
number of seekers of homeless prevention services is unreliable. Tracking that data
would be a better indicator of the need for services in Saginaw