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Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners <br />February 3, 2009 <br /> 26 <br />Advocate for mental health subsidies for persons who qualify. X <br />Collaborate with local public health officials for free or <br />reduced cost health and dental services to be available for <br />homeless and low-income clients. <br />X <br />Support local agencies in their strategies to strengthen and <br />expand case management services to homeless individuals <br />and families, focusing on household assessment an <br />appropriate housing choice. . <br />X <br />Establish sub-committee of Continuum of Care to address <br />employment issues of the homeless, to include EDC, DSHS, <br />HACC, business, vets, educators and develop strategies to <br />increase flexible job opportunities and income supports <br /> X <br />Identify ways to increase availability of childcare subsidies for <br />homeless and low-income working households, expand <br />availability of childcare for non-traditional hours/days, <br />increase therapeutic childcare options <br /> X <br /> <br />Goal 3. Prevent homelessness through timely financial assistance with case <br />management and effective discharge planning. <br /> <br />The National Alliance to End Homelessness has established a goal to “close the front door” to <br />homelessness. In our county, there are cost-burdened households, whose financial situation <br />puts them very much at risk of losing housing. This can happen when a parent is forced to stay <br />home with a sick child and loses income, or even their job, due to excess sick hours. In other <br />situations, a prolonged illness or sudden accident may mean the loss of employment. Changes <br />in the economy with subsequent job lay-offs can also occur. A domestic dispute (domestic <br />violence, parent/youth conflict) may result in a member leaving the household and becoming <br />homeless. <br />Financial Hardship <br /> <br />When financial hardship occurs, some landlords will work with the family or individuals, setting <br />up a payment plan or waiting until the tenant can obtain emergency funding to cover <br />outstanding rent or utility costs. Some, however, may not be willing to work with the tenant, <br />making homelessness a likely outcome. It is more cost effective and less disruptive to these <br />families or individuals to find a way to help them maintain their current housing than to <br />admit them into a shelter or transitional housing program after they lose their housing. <br /> <br />What Needs to Happen: 2009 By 2012 By 2015 <br />Identify additional prevention funding sources and develop a <br />structure to disperse these funds in emergency situations (job <br />loss, medical emergency, etc) to prevent loss of housing <br />because of inability to pay the mortgage or the rent. <br /> <br />X <br /> <br />Provide case management to all households who receive these <br />funds. <br /> X <br />