FHCHI Sober Housing Expedited Application
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
PROJECT APPLICATION COVER SHEET
I: Project Information
Project Title: Housing First: Sober Housing for Chronically Homeless Individuals
Project Summary: Hampshire County Friends of the Homeless (FHCHI seeks an additional
$30,000 to support the purchase of a house in Northampton that will provide up to six (6)
units of permanent supported housing for chronically homeless individuals in Northampton,
with a history of chronic addiction and have demonstrated a commitment to sobriety. It will
build on the “successful initial endeavor, “Yvonne’s House” in Florence, which houses 6
chronically homeless individuals in housing that was purchased through CPA and FHCHI
funds and is operated by ServiceNet as a Housing First mode. This model targets and
identifies chronically homeless individuals who are placed in permanent affordable housing,
following a period of assessment and engagement. FHCHI will partner with Gandara Center,
Inc., a multi-service agency with an extensive history of operating residential recovery
program and community housing, who has recently assumed operation of Hairston House.
Additional partners, the Alliance for Sober Living and the Recover Project. HCHOH will
leverage up to $100,000 of private funds through its fund-raising efforts, and an additional
$75,000 through MassHousing/CCRI funding.
Estimated start date: __12/1/10_ Estimated completion date:__6/30/11_________
CPA Program Area (check all that apply):
� Open Space � Historic Preservation
x Community Housing � Recreation
II: Applicant/Developer Information
Contact Person and or/primary applicant: Yvonne Freccero
Organization (if applicable): Hampshire County Friends of the Homeless
Mailing Address: HCFOHI, PO Box 60398, Florence, MA 01062, or Yvonne Freccero
602 North Farms Road, Florence, MA 01062
Daytime phone #: Fax #:
413.586.2354
E-mail address & Website: yfreccero602@comcast.net
III: Budget Summary
Total budget for project: $320,000
Additional CPA funding request: $30,000
CPA request as percentage of total budget: 47%
Applicant’s Signature: ____________________________
Date Submitted
:
2/14/2011
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COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT
HOUSING FIRST - COMMUNITY HOUSING NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION
1.Project Description: Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals (FHCHI)
, in
collaboration with Gandara Center, Inc. (Hairston House), the Alliance for Sober Living
and the Recover Project is seeking an additional $30,000 funds to support the purchase of
a house in Northampton that will provide up to six (6) slots of permanent supported
housing for chronically homeless individuals in Northampton. K
2.Housing First
own as , this model targets and identifies chronically homeless individuals
with addictions who have a desire/commitment to live in sober housing who may access
permanent affordable housing, following a period of assessment and engagement.
Residents will have access to a multi-disciplinary team comprised of clinical, medical
and case management staff and peer mentors who will provide intensive, flexible
outreach services sufficient to help individuals maintain their stability. HCFHI will
leverage up to $150,000 of state/private funds (CCRI & local fundraising) through its
fund-raising efforts. .Gandara Center, Inc. has committed to owning, managing the
(Attachment 1).
property and providing support services to the residents
Housing First
The approach places immediate and primary focus on helping chronically
Housing First
homeless individuals to quickly access and then sustain housing. Key elements of
programs include assistance in overcoming housing barriers, rental assistance—whether as first
month’s rent and security deposit, or a short- or long-term housing subsidy—landlord outreach,
Housing First
and individualized services to help the household remain stable. services include
crisis intervention, assessment of short and long-term needs, re-housing as quickly as possible,
follow-up case management and housing support services where necessary. While Yvonne’s
House has concentrated on individuals with mental health disabilities, the proposed project will
concentrate on chronically homeless individuals whose disability is manifested through
addiction.
On-Going and New Partners:Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals
The
(FHCHI),
a non-profit corporation formed in 2000, builds on a successful community
City of NorthamptonServiceNet Inc
partnership with the , . and hundreds of volunteers and
donors who have helped to support and sustain the Interfaith Winter Shelter over the past 10
years, now located on Center Street. With this project we will be strengthening our ties to the
Gandara Center/Hairston House, the Alliance
recovery community through a partnership with
for Sober Living and the Recover Project.FHCHI
has committed to raising funds sufficient to
cover the cost of the winter shelter non-personnel “operations” costs, (e.g. condo fees, utilities,
telephone, site maintenance, food, supplies, and the cost of some “emergency” client costs
(boots, 1st/last month rent, street outreach group meeting; dental/prescription costs).
Additionally, more then 40 houses of worship and community groups provide volunteer teams
comprised of some 450 volunteers who prepare and bring meals, collect supplies, fulfill
FHCHI
organizational tasks, and provide supplementary overnight staffing). Every year the sets
aside extra funds beyond our operating costs. As prudent stewards, once again, we have
accumulated over $75,000. Our vision is to continue to use these funds to increase permanent
affordable housing capacity for chronically homeless individuals in Northampton. Over the years
we see people who live going from one shelter to another. They are folks who for various
reasons seem unable to live what we consider a normal, sustainable life, frequently as a result of
long-term mental health issues and addictions that are too crippling for them to cope with finding
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or sustaining housing. This year we want to target an additional gap - permanent supportive
sober housing to address this gap in capacity for individuals who know they need a sober
environment to sustain sobriety. No permanent supported housing has been identified up front as
sober housing in the community. All of the existing sober housing for individuals is transitional.
ServiceNet
, Inc. will continue as an important ally in this projects through it management of
Grove Street and the Interfaith Winter Shelter, the Drop-In Center and Yvonne’s House. Their
Drop In centers are available weekdays for health care, information and referral and case
management services for homeless individuals and residents of their shelter and housing
programs. SN collaborates closely with allied agencies and service providers to help clients
achieve stability and find permanent, sustainable housing, including one of its strongest
Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals (FHCHI)
community collaborations with .
The Northampton Drop-In Center and Interfaith and Grove Street Shelter will continue to be a
Housing First
critical referral source to the new site.
City of Northampton
The has played a key leadership and support role in the development of
shelter, affordable housing and key services to homeless individuals in it’s role as the 3-County
Continuum of Care coordinator, Next Step (to end homelessness) committee coordinator and
through the essential initial and on-going support of both Grove Street Inn and the Interfaith
Winter Shelter. The City has played a key role in preserving a number of SRO’s located
Housing First
throughout Northampton, and provided the core funding for FHCHI’s initial
project. It is therefore appropriate that FHCHI and the City continue to plan for a future whereby
funds can increasingly go towards prevention, stabilization and housing that may ultimately lead
to the elimination of homelessness.
Gandara Center
was established in 1977 to provide outpatient mental health and substance
abuse treatment and support to the growing and largely unserved Hispanic community in
Springfield. Headquartered in West Springfield, Gandara has grown into a $19.5M multi-
service, SOMBWA certified minority business enterprise, that now includes a mixed spectrum
of populations. Gandara's 31 service locations extend throughout Western MA (Corrections to
Community/Intensive HIV/AIDS re-entry case management for 4 Western MA. counties
HOC's). Services are concentrated along the I-91 Corrider extending from Hampden to Franklin
Adolescent and Family Residential Services
Counties and include six areas of specialization:
serve over 600 youth annually in shelter/assessment programs, BTR and group homes,
therapeutic foster and a therapeutic Title I After School; a full array substance abuse and mental
Behavioral Health Ambulatory Services
health clinical programs through its , at two
Substance Abuse, Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Residential
Springfield sites;
ServicesPrevention and
provide housing in Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee and Northampton;
Health Education
programs that include environmental strategies to prevent /reduce tobacco
consumption and under-age drinking, HIV/AIDS prevention and case management, and health
disparities among minority populations primarily in Springfield and Hampden County. Gandara's
Specialized Community Services
funded by Community Behavioral Health Initiative, uses a
family driven wraparound approach to stabilize adolescents with serious emotional issues and
their families, and targets Hispanic families in greater Holyoke/Springfield and elsewhere as
requested. Gandara recently assumed operation of Hairston House through a Department of
Public Health contract and purchased the current site from Cooley Dickenson Hospital. The
majority of the Hairston House staff remained with the program.
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The Alliance for Sober Living
(ASL) was established as a not-for- profit housing organization in
1994, to support individual and alumni of programs at the Hairston House and other recovery
programs. The organization developed during a transition period when Cooley Dickenson
Hospital assumed operation of the Hairston House through a contract with the Department of
Public Health. Community Advocates devoted their energy to purchasing transitional housing at
18 Summer Street that continues to support the recovery efforts of men and women in the
community. Residents may stay up to 18 months. In addition to operating the Summer Street
house, the Alliance’s purpose is to facilitate the development of other sober housing, to foster
community spirit to create and environment that is supportive to recovering individuals and to
provide residential and non-residential services for individuals in recovery for alcohol/drug
addiction and provide support for other recovery programs. The Alliance has an active board
that meets monthly to supervise the operation of the housing, manage the budget, and address
policy issues. It is comprised of Hairston alumni, community residents, and representatives from
local human service organizations, including Gandara Center.
The Recover Project
is a community open to all concerned with alcohol and drug addiction and
exists to foster recovery and empower individuals, families and their communities. Its goal is to
foster a participatory environment that promotes and enhances the development of a healing and
a healthy community. Operated by the Consortium, the Recover Project is the first of its kind in
the state to develop a peer supported gathering place based on the social model. It is guided by
belief that people can and do recover from alcohol/drug addiction, and lived experience brings
competence and wisdom to that process. Peer to peer support and activities help individuals
overcome emotional and social isolation, increase opportunities for self-sufficiency, build
leadership capacity and prevent relapse. A peer-driven approach infuses all of the Consortium's
programs, regardless of the program type. It collaborates with Gandara Center to build a
connection between tge internal Hairston House social model of recovery and the community
based social model of recovery manifested by the Recover Project.
2. Property Description and Proposed Use: FHCHI has conducted
a search for available,
appropriate housing in suitable areas in proximity to services and public transportation. General
criteria for selecting a site includes:
Capacity to house up to five-six individuals in private bedrooms.
o
Mixed neighborhood in a well traveled area.
o
Proximity to public transportation, services and neighborhood amenities.
o
Condition of building and cost of converting site to meet residents’ needs.
o
Willingness of owner to sign a Purchase and Sale agreement that includes as a
o
contingency approval of CPA funding, MassHousing/CCRI funding, zoning
requirements, and cost estimates for rehabilitation.
Priority has been given to site(s) that save/up-grade existing housing (rather than new
o
construction) and preserves existing rental stock and site availability.
FHCHI
has signed a purchase and sale agreement (attached) for a duplex at 15-17 Maple
Avenue after examining at least six sites in Northampton. Each unit of the duplex consists of 3
bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom, living-room.. The house is located in a well-traveled area at
the east end of town, is on a public transportation/bus line, and within walking distance to
services, amenities, and the downtown area. The house has met with the approval of Gandara’s
director and his facilities manager. The engineer’s inspection report is available. The estimate
for a new roof is attached. Included in the purchase and sale agreement are the following
provisions;
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Seller shall have a licensed plumber replace leaking water heater ion unit 17 prior to
closing.
Seller shall remove all abandoned oil tanks from the premises priot to closing..
Seller shall encapsulate damaged asbestos pip insulation prior to closing.
Seller shall replace damaged storm door.
Housing First
The site will be used as a residence for up to six chronically homeless individuals
in Northampton, who have a commitment to living in sober housing. Individuals will be
identified, evaluated and selected through Gandara’s Hairston House and Outreach staff and may
include referrals from the staff of the Interfaith Community Shelter and the Resource &
Stabilization Center will identify individuals who meet the chronically homeless criteria and
other local organizations. Priority will be given to chronically homeless individuals from
Northampton. The number of chronically homeless individuals has been gradually dropping over
the past three years and ranges from 35-20 individuals at the winter shelter. Gandara
Center/Hairston Housing and community case management staff will provide on-going case
management including 24/7 access to services.
Potential residents will meet the following criteria:
Meets chronically homeless definition
o
Willing to engage with staff and housing, and support services
o
Have a desire and interest in living in sober housing
o
Resident of Northampton
o
At or below 50% median income
o
This approach is based on the premise that chronically homeless individuals are better able to
regain and sustain housing if they are “housed immediately” with intensive support services,
rather than waiting for an individual to treat and stabilize their mental health, substance abuse,
Housing First
and/or health issues, prior to housing. Some residents will use the site as their
permanent home; others will be ready to move onto other types of housing (SRO, apartment,
family) once they have regained and sustained a period of stability.
A team of providers, has been working with the WMA Interagency on Homelessness, DHCD
and local housing authorities to identify a mechanism to obtain housing subsidies for these units,
and regulatory waivers that will allow communities to prioritize this population waiting lists.
The recent state Homeless Commission’s 5-Year Plan to End Homelessness, supports increased
access to housing subsidies for Housing First programs, leaving us optimistic that certificates
will be obtainable, including access to mobile Section 8 certificates for residents who have
successfully maintained 1 year of housing at this program.
3. Compliance with Criteria:
This project meets most of the CPA General Project criteria and
Community Housing criteria, including the following:
Serves more than one CPA criteria
: this project meets the Community Housing criteria, and
o
indirectly meets the Open Space criteria, in that it does not encroach on any existing open
space.
Contributes to the preservation of Northampton’s unique character, boosts community
o
vitality and enhances the quality of life for its residents
: this project improves the quality of
life for the general residents of Northampton, by housing chronically homeless individuals
who otherwise spend a lot of time “on the streets”, frequently in the downtown area -- a
condition that sometimes causes distress among the downtown businesses who view it as a
deterrent to their businesses and quality of life in the City. The reason most cited by
chronically homeless individuals grappling with addiction is a dearth of housing environments
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that support recovery - hence they continuously recycle into homelessness, and the streets. It
supports the unique character of the City, including our reputation as an inclusive community.
This project ensures that every member of the community, even those with serious health
conditions and challenging behaviors have a “place” in our community.
Addresses recommendations in Sustainable Northampton, The 3County HUD Continuum
-
o
of Care plan, and the draft 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness - “All Roads Lead Home”.
Sustainable Northampton: This project meets the Goal H-1: Create new housing, Objectives 8
and 10 (rental housing for households at/or below 60% of average median income; and
housing that meet the needs of special needs populations). Goal H-2 -Preserve and sustain
existing affordable housing, Objective 1 (preserves existing rental housing stock that is
currently for sale and retains it as affordable housing. Goal H-3 - Work to end homelessness,
Objectives 2 and 4 (it increases supply of affordable, supportive housing for rapid re-housing
of homeless; and fills gaps in support services for chronically homeless individuals. Goal ED-
4 - Provide a positive business environment, Objective 4 (this project helps to mitigate the
tension between creating a vibrant, thriving downtown and the clustering of homeless people
who may create the perception of an unsafe or undesirable environment, by getting people
housed who otherwise would be loitering on the streets).
HUD 3-County Continum of Care Plan: Each year the City of Northampton receives
approximately $1.3M of funding to HUD which supports transitional, permanent supported
housing and 1st/last month rent to program in Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties
(except for Springfield). In order to access funds, the Continuum must establish targets to
reduce the number of chronically homeless in the region. The plan calls for the development
of 20 “Housing First” units within 5 years; this project provides 20% of these units.
Regional 10-Year Plan: The plan calls for the development of a 130 units of permanent
supported housing in the 3-County region, outside of Springfield, including 26 units/year.
This project will create 6 of the 26 units for this year.
Serves under-served populations:
chronically homeless individuals are some of the hardest to
o
house individuals, who are the “least compliant” in shelters. Outcome data from pilot projects
demonstrate that the combination of re-housing with flexibly intensive support services has
(Source: City of
resulted in 85% of individuals remaining housed after one year
Springfield)
.
Receives endorsement by community groups, municipal boards and/or departments:
o
FHCHI enjoys the support of a variety of community organizations and groups, including:
Northampton Office of Planning and Development -Housing and Community Development
Planner, the Department of Mental Health, Eliot Homeless Services, the Forbes Library,
Florence Savings Bank, City Businesses, and Houses of Worship.
Demonstrates that other funding sources are not sufficient: FHCHI
The has the capacity to
o
spearhead and leverage this project and is able to obtain donated or reduced rehabilitation
support. Gandara Center has both the service, operating and administrative capacity to
manage the project and resources to cover modest rehabilitation (up to $25,000) if necessary.
Demonstrates high benefit/cost value:
Chronically homeless individuals extract some of the
o
highest costs to a community. Frequent interaction with emergency systems of care, including
hospital emergency room, jail, detox programs and crisis psychiatric care averages more than
$40,000 per homeless person per year. Baystate Hospital documented hospital costs
associated with 10 chronically homeless individuals averaged $100,000/person/year. The cost
of providing flexibly intensive services to chronically homeless individuals averages $8-
Housing First
10,000 annually in scattered sites. Even with the cost of subsidized housing, is
a more cost effective alternative to extended homelessness.
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Can be implemented expeditiously and within budget.
The projected timeline of this project
o
may be seen in detail in Number 11; however, we anticipate that full occupancy can be
achieved within six months of grant award. We anticipate that the alignment with the
Regional Network and Continuum of Care plans will provide leverage for housing subsidies,
that will ensure adequate long term operating funds.
This project meets most of the Community Housing criteria. It creates community housing that
matches an identified gap (housing with services for the chronically homeless). The project will
use an existing building that already “fits” in with the surrounding neighborhood, which is
comprised of intermingled affordable and market rate housing. The neighborhood is located
within walking distance or in each access by public transportation to all local amenities. The
project will ensure long term affordability by having a deed restriction that will guarantee a 30-
year housing affordability clause, and provides the City with credit for units under Chapter 40B.
The project will provide services for underserved populations, give priority to Northampton
residents, and provide housing for very low-income individuals. Rehabilitation will be designed
to meet Energy Star certification.
4. Description of Need:
This project serves a variety of community needs, including targeting
the difficult to engage and house chronically homeless individuals. It increases the stock of
affordable housing for very low individuals, increased support services to “hard to serve”
individuals, and targets individuals who, if un-housed, impact the downtown business area by
panhandling or hanging out in public spaces dues to lack of housing. Chronically homeless
individuals comprised 29-38% of the individuals who access the Interfaith Shelter in the past
three years. This included 77 in 07-08, 60 in 08-09 and 73 in 09-10 individuals in 2005-6 and 92
in 2006-7. Annually, chronically homeless individuals from Northampton, range from 16-35
individuals. Chronically homeless individuals are defined as someone who is continuously
homeless for one year or 4 times in 3 years and has a documented disability. Individuals who are
chronically homeless are the primary target population of the 3-County HUD Continuum of Care
(CoC) and 10-Year Regional Plan to End Homelessness (under development). National data
demonstrates that chronically homeless people, who frequently have multiple disabilities, use a
disproportionate amount of community resources; once housed community costs can be reduced
by nearly 50%. The 3-County Continuum has set a target goal of creating 20 new units of
affordable housing with support services for chronically homeless persons, within the next five
years. Yvonne’s House has primarily concentrated on individuals with mental health disabilities
the new project will concentrate on developing a similar expertise with individuals who
disability is manifested through addictions. CPA support of this project makes a major
contribution to meet this target.
5. Community Support: FHCHI
The Interfaith Community Shelter and enjoy an
unprecedented level of community support. More then 40 teams of volunteers comprised of
some 450 volunteers offer time, food and supplies that permit a very cost effective shelter
operation. Most importantly, a wide cross-section of the community has had a first hand
education for volunteers, regarding the complex needs and issues that homeless people face.
FHCHI
Each year the undertakes a $30,000 campaign to underwrite the non-personnel cost of
FHCHI
the Interfaith Shelter. has exceeded it’s goal each year, due to a generous community
response, Additional funding, supports a boot program, emergency dental/prescriptions, street
outreach group and 1st/last months rent fund). An overview of the community partnerships and
support was provided in Section 1 of this application. Letters of collaboration are provided in
Attachment 2
. Worthy of note is the level of community acceptance that Yvonne’s House has
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enjoyed in the nearly two years it has resided on Straw Avenue. In that time neighbors have
attended an open house and cook-out, tenants have participated in community service jobs,
including helping out at the Garfield Street -Habitat for Humanity project
6. Project Measures:
Project measures will include adhering to the acquisition, rehabilitation,
and occupancy timelines outlined in number 11. An overview of triage criteria and substance
abuse criteria along with specific goal and measures, outcome and process measures may be
Attachment 3
seen in .
7. Operation Plan:
Gandara Center, Inc. will own and operate the Housing First site and
program. Services will be coordinated by a part-time case manager who will be affiliated with
Hairston House and function as an extension of Gandara’s current Supportive Case Management
for Community Housing Program which provides case management to individuals and families
living in community housing in Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke and Leeds. Both programs
receive funding through the Department of Public Health (DPH), funds will be reallocated to
include these units. Supports will include the availability of clinical supports through the
Hairston House clinical supervisor and 24-hour access to staff. DPH’s outreach services
program will be re-procured in the winter of 2011 and Gandara has had discussions with DPH
staff who assure that this project is eligible for support. Additional operating funds will be
obtained through housing subsidies, and a commitment by members of the Recovery Community
to devote some of its annual fundraising proceeds to support a sober permanent supportive
housing program. It should be noted that data collected from both Yvonne’s House and the
Alliance for Sober Living suggest that while staff are available for more intense levels of
support, in actuality staff provide an average of 2-5 hours per week to the residents.
Much like the Shelter and Housing Day Program, Hairston House staff provide informal on-
going supports to many graduates of the program and provide a critical bridge to community
services/activities that support sobriety and stable housing. This project offers an opportunity to
formalize and expand the role of peer mentors (individuals in recovery who have knowledge
through lived experience, and well-established community supports by which they maintain their
recovery). Gandara’s affiliation with both the Alliance for Sober Living and the Recover Project
Housing
who are committed to developing a strong program of peer support of the proposed
First
project, creates an exciting opportunity to implement an integrated housing/community
support model for individuals with pernicious homelessness and addiction. Staff and mentors
will participate in joint trainings per year that explores this combined approach that uses
professional resources in combination with peer mentors to sustain the residence and promote the
on-going growth of social, recovery, and skills. The part-time site coordinator and a mentor
when available (and appropriate) will participate in the Hampshire County Shelter & Housing
team meetings including First/last months rent housing placement committee, and Next Step as
appropriate, and meet regularly with Hairston House/and the Alliance manager to identify
eligible participants and any issues that may be emerging among residents.
8. Project Budget: Sources and Use for Housing First Site:
Source Amount Use Total
CPA $120,000 Acquisition (confirmed)
FHCHI $75,000 Acquisition (confirmed)
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MassHousing/ $75,000 Acquisition (pending)
CCRI
Charles Home $50,000 Acquisition (pending)
Community (Goal: $30,000) Acquisition & minor rehab. New roof.
Donations
Total $320,000 Acqusition/Rehabilitation/furnishings.
9. On-going Operation/Maintenance:
Gandara Center has an agency maintenance department
for their residences, who will be responsible for on-going site maintenance. The maintenance
department and volunteers will also perform any rehabilitation for the site. Projected operating
Attachment 4
costs are outlined in ; revenue for operating cost will be secured through the
housing subsidies.
10. Multi-year Funding:
CPA funds will be used for acquisition of the site. We do not
anticipate needing multi-year funding.
11. Project Time-line:
Task Timeframe Person(s) Responsible
Site selection December 2010 Yvonne Freccero/Brendan Sullivan
(YF) w/ Gandara Center (GC)
Negotiate P & S agreement December 15 YF
Home Inspection Nov/10 FHCFI/GC
Secure Rehabilitation Estimates Nov./10 FHCHI
Receive Award notices CPA/CCRI YF/Rebecca Muller (RM)
& identify tasks/timeline to
accomplish conditions of funding
Finalize acquisition budget Dec/10
Finalize funding sources (e.g. Dec-Feb/10-11 FHCHI and GC
additional fundraising needs by for
acquisition/light rehab -FHCHI; Feb/11
Finalize operating funds- GC
Identify contractor and/or Feb/11 FHCHI and GC
volunteer/in-kind support
Close on Property March/ 15/11 GC & FHCHI
Completion of Rehabilitation MayJune/11 GC
Negotiate Housing Subsidies Fall/11 GC
Resident Selection July/11 GC- (Hairston House, etc.)
Move-in and Full Occupancy July/11 GC
11. Feasibility:
Hampshire County Friends of the Homeless Individuals has a 12-year track
record for building and sustaining a volunteer network and extensive base of community support
for the Interfaith Community Shelter and associated programs for homeless individuals. It
identified the development of a Housing First project, which targets chronically homeless
individuals for housing, as it’s next effort to reduce the need for shelter in favor of housing with
Yvonne’s House
flexible supports. HCFHI successfully completed the development of in 2008,
through CPA and community support- exceeding the projected timeline. Some 12 individuals
have been housed in the past two years with two individual moving into their own apartments as
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(Attachment 5)
a result of this enhanced support model. This initial endeavor was so
successful the Friends would like to continue this practice as it accrues additional revenue
FHCHI
beyond the expenses of its regular programs. A three-year profile of annual fundraising
demonstrates the feasibility of its fundraising capacity and consistent results. In the past three
FHCHI
years has raised some $25,000 above expenses. The variety of sources attests to the
strength of our fundraising capacity. This year we also hope to leverage $75,000 of acquisition
funds from MassHousing/Center for Community Recovery Innovations which offers one-time
grants (per project) that increase or improve the stock of affordable sober housing in MA. Note
that our goal, as with our first site, is to secure a site that requires minimal rehabilitation.
FY ‘07* $36,583 Funding by source (’09-10): Houses of Worship -27%; Smith
College Vespers -6%; Shelter Sunday- 16%; Anonymous (2 gifts)
FY ‘08** $299,720.76
Individual Donations - 31%%
- 20%
FY ‘09 $55,494.46
* FHCHI budget is on a calendar year, fundraising is on a July-June fiscal year.. **Includes $220,000
from CPA and $16,433.86 from securities sold in order to purchase Yvonne’s House.
Our partner, Gandara Center has demonstrated capacity both in terms of housing acquisition,
rehabilitation and on-going maintenance. It owns 12 properties and manages 31 sites, and has a
five-person maintenance team. It has supervised the rehabilitation of some 12 properties.
Gandara is a primary provider for residential rehabilitation services for individuals and families
in recovery from addictions in Hampden and most recently, Hampshire Counties with the
acquisition of Hairston House. It operates three residential rehabilitation sites (Hispanic men in
Springfield, women and children in Holyoke, and men in Northampton). It has a demonstrated
track record with obtaining operating funds including: federal (SAMHSA, HUD) and state
(DMH, DDS, DPH, DOE, DCF, and DSS). Furthermore, it has experience with managing
properties with housing subsidies through the Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke Housing
Authorities.
The timeline, outlined above, reflects a realistic timeframe in which to purchase duplex and
complete renovations, identify gaps and in-kind funding needs, secure local funding, negotiate
housing subsidies and support service funding. . We invite the City of Northampton to join our
effort to move beyond sheltering so that even our most difficult to serve citizens can enjoy the
safety, security and dignity of permanent affordable housing.
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS
..
Attachment 1: Answers to questions re expedited application, including revised operating
budget.
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