Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Outreach Services (Annual) (Baltimore County FY19 and Beyond)
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Better off: % of unaccompanied homeless youth who were engaged in the community that requested and received shelter - (Annual)
Current Value
50%
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
“Shelter” refers to the public or private (e.g., faith-based agencies) shelter system, as well as such alternatives as hotels, transitional housing, and temporary community placement such as a friend or family member’s home. Outreach staff offer to locate shelter and secure other resources for 100% of referred youth. However, the number of shelter opportunities on any given night is limited. As such, shelter cannot be guaranteed.
Partners
The outreach program relied on its’ partnership with the Community Assistance Network (CAN) to facilitate shelter admittance when spaces were available. Additionally, the program looked to neighboring jurisdictions such as the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services to obtain shelter space for clients when needed.
What Works
Programs that are Unaccompanied Homeless Youth-specific are often the most successful when serving this population. The outreach program has found that youth have a difficult time adjusting to programs that are not built to address their unique needs. All of the homeless shelters in Baltimore County are designed to serve the adult population and do not have the capacity to provide intensive and individualized services to youth. However, the newly created County Department of Housing and Community Development is actively pursuing opportunities to create a youth-focused system of services
Data Discussion
The annual target percentage for youth requesting and receiving shelter is 35%. During FY22, a total of 84% or 27 of 32 youth that requested shelter received shelter.
Definitions:
Basic Need: “Basic Needs” include food, water, clothing, transportation, and referrals to healthcare.
Shelter: “Shelter” refers to the public or private shelter system, as well as such alternatives as hotels, transitional housing, and temporary community placement such as a friend or family member’s home. Outreach staff offer to try to locate shelter and secure other resources for 100% of referred youth. However, the number of shelter opportunities on any given night is limited. As such, shelter cannot be guaranteed.
Measurement Tool Used
Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.