Nevada



June 27, 2018TO:Nevada Statewide Independent Living CouncilRE:Funding Request for - HOUSING AND TENANCY SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAMSUBMITTED BY:Northern Nevada Center for Independent LivingThis is a statewide proposal under two covers, one from NNCIL and one from SNCIL.In the last ten months NNCIL has recorded a marked increase in call volume for housing assistance. Calls tend to spike at the beginning and end of the month with our office responding to up to eight calls a day concerning housing issues alone. People with disabilities who are currently living independently in the community on a fixed income are at increased risk of being displaced. Between record rent increases, new reductions in our public transportation’s service area, and the disappearance of weekly motels, our consumers on fixed incomes who are currently spending more than 50% or more of their monthly budget on housing costs are at very serious risk of becoming homeless or becoming institutionalized.Kelly Marschall, director of a local social services nonprofit that helps conduct the annual homeless headcount, there were 1,119 living on Reno’s streets in January 2018 — or more than twice the number of permanent housing units available to house them. “When we asked people why they were homeless in 2010, the answer was they had lost their job. When we asked in 2018, the answer was they could not afford a place to live.”To respond to this critical need, our proposed pilot project will provide targeted support for NNCIL’s advocacy team’s efforts to assist individuals with disabilities and their families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless with individual housing search/acquisition assistance and tenancy sustaining services. This will include assistance by:Conducting an in-depth intake interview to determine each consumer’s independent living housing goal(s), as well as assessing their current housing status (if applicable).Determining which housing assistance programs and supports the consumer qualifies for, educate and connect them with each resource, assist with application process when requested.Educating consumers on how to conduct a housing search and exploring non-traditional housing solutions.Assisting consumers who are in an immediate housing crisis to identify short term solutions while working on a more long term plan.Providing a work space and access to a computer to conduct housing searches.Connecting with project and community partners to assist in arranging for and supporting the details of the move such as utility connection, purchase housing items to set up apartment (bedroom, living room, bathroom), and coordinate to arrange transportation to move items to apartment. Ensuring that the living environment is safe and ready for move-in.Housing recertification process.Restoring the individual’s connection to community resources to prevent eviction when housing is, or may potentially become jeopardized.Understanding the role, rights and responsibilities of the tenant and landlord.Restoring skills to develop key relationships with landlords/property managers with a goal of fostering successful tenancy.Establishing or restoring the individual’s ability to comply with lease agreement and manage his or her household.Monitoring for and providing early identification and intervention for behaviors that may jeopardize housing, such as late rental payment and other lease violations.Key to the implementation of this pilot project is to hire a part-time Tenancy Support Housing Advocate (TSHA) who will be working collaboratively with NNCIL’s Independent Living Advocacy team both in a general office environment and in the community. The TSHA’s primary objective will be to assist individuals with disabilities to remain independent and living in our community. This will be achieved with supportive services provided directly by NNCIL and/or in conjunction with other services provided by community agencies to promote self-sufficiency, integration into the community with the goal of stable, community based housing.The TSHA’s essential duties will be :First point on contact for all incoming calls or walk-ins who are requesting housing assistance.Assessing housing barriers of individuals with disabilities and families experiencing homelessness to determine housing and other independent living service needs.Assisting consumers in development of a strength-based/solution-focused individualized independent living goal and an action plan that promotes permanent housing , self-sufficiency and independent, community based livingProviding information and referral assistance regarding available support from appropriate social service agencies and/or community programs. Develop and maintain a current list of low income housing resources for consumer referrals.Work with project and community partners to identify resources to cover expenses such as security deposits, moving costs, furnishings, adaptive aids, environmental modifications, moving costs and other one-time expenses.Assistance with the housing application and search process including locating available rental units, identifying landlord partners, completing applications, identifying resources to cover application fees, completing applications for eligible housing programs, identifying transportation options for housing search process.Assisting consumers in understanding the role, rights and responsibilities of the tenant and landlord. Providing mediation and advocacy with landlords on the consumer’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and or maintain housing.Assisting in development of and encourage adherence to a personal budget through pro-active housing and budget counseling sessions; provide budget counseling and education to assist consumers in establishing payments plans for bills and past debts and to assist consumers in obtaining and maintaining their housing.Create and maintain consistent communication channels, both verbal and written, between several parties (tenant, landlord, referral source, collaborating agencies).BUDGET ASSUMPTIONPROJECT PERIOD :August 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019AREA OF SERVICE:Washoe County ................
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