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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-19-0045 Lotus House ProposalTo: Jason Walker, Omni CRA From: Constance Collins, Sundari Foundation, Inc. dba Lotus House Women's Shelter Re: Proposal for $100,000 for Supportive Emergency Shelter Dated: October 17, 2019 The Need — Domestic Violence is a Public Health Crisis The statistics show domestic violence is a public health crisis in our community. Over the period of 2008-2018, there were 106,706 reported domestic violence offenses in Miami - Dade County, including at least 247 murders/manslaughters, 2,871 forcible sex offenses, 22,532 aggravated assaults/stalking, and 81,056 other assaults and domestic violence related crimes.' For the same period 2008-2018 in the City of Miami, there were 27,511 reported domestic violence offenses in Miami, including 49 murders, 51 forcible sex offenses, 49 aggravated assaults/stalking, and 20,371 other assaults and domestic violence related crimes.2 Many more domestic violence crimes go unreported. Domestic violence is deadly. For the period of 1999-2017 (awaiting final 2018 fatality review), there were 1028 "domestic violence related"3 deaths in Miami -Dade County.4 In 2017, over 10% of all homicides in Miami -Dade County were "domestic violence related" homicides.6 Domestic violence is also a lead cause of homelessness for women and children. According to multiple studies examining the causes of homelessness, among mothers with children, more than 80% had experienced domestic violence.6 Approximately one homeless woman in four is homeless mainly because of her experiences with violence.' 1 Florida Uniform Crime Report, Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Upon review, the Miami -Dade County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team determined the number of homicides for 2008-2017 was 332, with an additional 127 domestic violence related suicides. 2018 Fatality Review Team analysis has not been received. 2 Ibid. 3 A domestic violence related death in one where the relationship between the victim and perpetrator is that of current or former spouse, family members (including those related by current or former marriage), persons presently or formerly in a romantic or intimate relationship (regardless of whether they have resided together in the past or present), or involving any significant others of persons presently or formerly in a romantic or intimate relationship. Additionally, this definition includes child deaths that result from abuse involving family violence and are ruled a homicide. 4 Miami -Dade County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team from Medical Examiner Source Data 5 Miami Dade County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team Breakdown of Homicide and Suicide Death Statistics, from Medical Examiner Source Data; Florida Uniform Crime Report, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, County and Medical Offense Data, 2017 6 Family & Youth Services Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, numerous citations. See: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fvsb/resource/dv-homelessness-stats-2016. 1 Jasinski, J.L., Wesely, J.K., Mustaine, E. & Wright, J.D. (2005, November). The Experience of Violence in the Lives of Homeless Women: A Research Report. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice. From 2013 to date, more than 15,800 Miami -Dade residents who received homeless emergency shelter and other housing assistance reported fleeing domestic violence.8 The Omni CRA is no exception. Many women and children located within the boundaries of the Omni CRA are victims of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, violent crimes, trafficking and other serious, complex traumas. Solutions - Shelter and Supportive Services Are Life Saving An important study prepared for the National Institute of Justice by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, surveying domestic violence survivors and services in eight states, concluded that; "domestic violence shelters serve a critical need for people who have experienced abuse. The survivors who turn to domestic violence shelter programs have limited to no safe, supportive alternatives to their shelter stay. Without access to shelter, the survivors report that their situations would be dire: they would face substantial loss or continued abuse." 9 For many, such shelters are "life-saving., "10 Without access to shelter, the consequences for victims are "homelessness, serious losses including children, continued abuse or death, or actions taken in desperation .... [D]omestic violence shelters address compelling needs that survivors cannot meet elsewhere. Shelter programs provide a complex array of services to victims of abuse and their children; most prominent are safety, information help with children and help with emotional distress." 11 More Shelter Beds and Supportive Services are Urgently Needed At this date, Miami Dade County has only 3 certified domestic violence centers with a total county -wide capacity of approximately 164 beds and 28 cribs for 2.7 Million people.12 Since October 2016 when this data was tracked through April 2019, Safe Space turned away 2179 people seeking shelter.13 The Lotus House Women's Shelter is likewise forced regularly to turn away women and children in need in the absence of additional funding for shelter beds and supportive services. There is a serious shortage of shelter beds and supportive services for women and children who are victims of domestic violence and/or at risk of violence in Miami Dade County, the City of Miami and the Omni CRA, both in the near and long term foreseeable future. Access to safe, supportive shelter for women and children experiencing homelessness who are victims of violence is inimical to the quality of life of our entire community, including the Omni CRA, because lives are at stake. 8 Miami -Dade County Homeless Trust data, 2013 to August, 2018. 9 Lyon, E., Lane, S. & Menard, A. (October 2008). Meeting Survivors' Needs: A Multi -State Study of Domestic Violence Shelter Experiences. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, p.126 (emphasis added). See: httos.//www.ncirs.gov/pdffiles1/nii/grants/225025.pdf. 10 Lyon, p. 16-17 (emphasis added). 11 Id. p.iv. 12 The population of Miami -Dade County has continued to increase since the last census and the Miami -Dade Metropolitan area is estimated to be the 4t" largest in the nation, with an estimated 5.5 Million people. http.//worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/miami-population 93 Miami -Dade County Domestic Violence Oversight Board Proposal for Additional Lotus House Funding for Victims of Violence With a proposal in hand from the Lotus House Women's Shelter to provide supportive shelter for women, youth and children, the Omni CRA is able to both leverage private philanthropic dollars and provide immediate much needed additional capacity for women, youth and children experiencing homelessness within the boundaries of and/or in immediate proximity to the Omni CRA. Many will be victims of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, trafficking, abuse, violent crimes and/or other complex traumas or at risk of such in the absence of supportive shelter. It is imperative to the quality of life in the Omni CRA that women and children experiencing homelessness who are victims of violence, trafficking, abuse, and crimes and/or at risk of such due to homelessness have safe, supportive shelter in which to heal and begin again. A complex array of supportive services are needed for victims of abuse and their children to break the cycle of violence and homelessness, most importantly safe, supportive shelter for women and their children, help for emotional distress, and affordable housing. The trauma -informed shelter and wrap around supports at Lotus House includes universal screening for children, evidence based therapies for victims of violence, 14 child and family therapies to rebuild bonds of attachment broken by violence and help resolve trauma, resource coordination, job readiness training and educational supports, assistance with housing and a wide range of other assistance, to help women and children heal, reclaim their lives, and build the foundation for safer, brighter futures. The enriched therapeutic supports offered by Lotus House are essential to breaking the cycle of homelessness and violence and keeping these fragile families together. Lotus House has submitted a proposal to the Omni CRA for $100,000 for fiscal year October 1, 2019-September 30, 2020 to provide supportive shelter beds for women, youth and children experiencing homelessness within the boundaries of and/or in the immediate proximity to the Omni CRA, many of whom are victims and/or at risk of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, trafficking, abuse, violent crimes and/or other domestic violence related incidents, at a per diem rate of $23.36/night per person." Funding from the City for an average of 11.7 beds nightly equals $100,000 annually and will provide 4,280 shelter bed nights on an annual basis. While Lotus House already serves as a direct access point for victims of domestic violence in the homeless and domestic violence continua, this funding would open up access to shelter beds for victims referred directly by the City of Miami's Homeless Outreach teams, Miami's police department, the Lodge, Safe Space, and the Coordinated Victims 14 On the cutting edge nationally, Lotus House provides universal screening for all children, including: For Children: Battelle Developmental Inventory Screening Test (Glascoe, 2007), Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (Sachser, 2016), and Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (Eyberg & Pincus, 1999); For Mothers: Parenting Stress Index 4- SF (Abidin, R.R., 2012), Dyadic Parent - Child Coding System (Eyberg, Nelson, Duke, Boggs, 2004) and Clinical Interview. Evidence based therapeutic supports include: For Children and Families: Child -Parent Psychotherapy; Parent Child Interaction Therapy; and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; as well as Triple P Parenting Classes; For Women: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and evidence based groups such as Seeking Safety and Say It Straight. is Per diem rate is equal to the existing contracted rates with Miami Dade Homeless Trust and approximately half the actual cost of shelter and supportive services. It is substantially lower than the rates paid by HHS and the Veterans Administration. Lotus House will raise the additional funding needed through grants, corporate sponsorships, and charitable giving. Assistance Center and other victims services agencies, as well as Miami Dade Public Schools, the Department of Children and Families and the family courts - all of whom regularly seek victims' assistance for women and children located in, from, and/or in the immediate proximity to the Omni CRA. Summary — Increased Capacity and Ongoing Support for Victims In this proposal, the Omni CRA is able to private philanthropic capital investments creating additional shelter capacity in the Lotus House Women's Shelter, as well as its ongoing charitable fundraising for operations, to provide immediate assistance to Omni CRA victims of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, violent crimes, abuse and/or other domestic violence related incidents leading to homelessness. Recognizing victims cannot wait for solutions because lives are at stake, in this public -private partnership with Lotus House, we have a way to creatively provide important new resources to save and change lives for a safer, brighter future for our entire community. Scope of Work: 1) Beginning October 1, 2019, Sundari Foundation, Inc. dba Lotus House Women's Shelter ("Provider") will provide emergency shelter services at Lotus Village, 217 NW 15th Street, Miami, Florida for women and children referred by City of Miami's Homeless Outreach teams, Miami's police department, the Lodge, Safe Space, the Coordinated Victims Assistance Center and other victims services agencies, Miami Dade Public Schools, as well as the Department of Children and Families and the family courts - all of whom regularly seek assistance for women and children located in, from, and/or in immediate proximity to, the Omni CRA. 2) The emergency shelter services ("Services") to be provided by Provider will include but not be limited to: • Emergency shelter beds (inclusive of the day of entry, but exclusive of the day of departure), together with toiletries and basic supplies; • Three (3) prepared meals offered daily; • Needs assessment and development of action plans for transition from homelessness to housing or other appropriate supportive living arrangements; • Resource coordination aka case management and social services advocacy for assistance in applying for benefits (e.g., SSI, VA TANF, Medicaid and other entitlements); • Children's needs assessments, child and families therapies, and parenting classes offered; • Participation in individual and/or group counseling offered; • Transportation assistance, when necessary, for health and social services appointments; • Health, substance abuse and mental health screening and service linkages; • Medical and mental health care services linkages; • Referral to educational, recreational and vocational services as appropriate; • Referral to transitional, permanent and/or advanced care housing and follow up for at least ninety (90) days following placement. 3) All referrals for placement under this contract shall be made by the City of Miami's Outreach Team, Miami's police department, the Lodge, Safe Space, the Coordinated Victims Assistance Center and other victims services agencies, Miami Dade Public Schools, as well as the Department of Children and Families and the family courts, and documented with a homeless verification form. 4) Provider shall provide regular notification by email or call to the City's Homeless Outreach Team of bed availability for children and families. 5) Provider will provide flexible in -take times at the facility seven (7) days a week, subject to availability of staff and space. After hours placement may take place up to 10pm, with sufficient notice to ensure presence of qualified staff to conduct intake and admissions. Provider shall provide an orientation with the client of the facilities and programs within one business day after their entry into the shelter, subject to their cooperation. 6) Provider shall participate in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Client information shall be updates as appropriate to ensure accurate service information. All client cases/records shall be closed promptly within the HMIS system for accurate services information. 7) Monthly progress reports produced by the HMIS system, invoices for services and client attendance rosters signed by the Executive Director of Provider shall be submitted to the City by the Provider for each month within 30 days after the month's close. 8) Provider shall participate in a monthly meeting with the City of Miami, if the City so desires, for purposes of reviewing client status, trainings and other matters relevant to the Contract. 9) Provider shall be reimbursed for Services at the rate of $23.36 per day per client so long as they are sheltered at Provider's facility. In the event a client's stay is anticipated to exceed 180 days, Provider shall notify the City's designee of the reasons therefor. If the City declines to provide an extension of time for such client, it shall make arrangements for an alternative placement such that Provider shall not be required to exit women and children to the street. 10) This contract is for $100,000, which is estimated to provide an average of 11.7 beds nightly depending on the ramp up and length of stay of clients referred, and subject to increase by mutual agreement. Provider and City will monitor placements on a monthly basis and cumulatively.