Policy & Practice | December 2021

HOMELESSNESS continued from page 11

Leading jurisdictions arepointing theway forward, embracingnewdigital tools anddata-driven, targeted approaches that call on the entire ecosystemto come togetherandalignarounda sharedgoal.

A broader ecosystem with multiple stakeholders—nonprofits, the private sector, and citizen activists—is needed to help solve the problem. Case in point: Denver’s Road Home initiative. In 2005, Denver launched a campaign to end chronic homelessness in the city. The Road Home initiative brought together government agencies, nonprofit organizations, faith communities, and local businesses to work toward several aims: find shelter and permanent housing for people who were currently homeless, help such individuals gain skills they could use to support themselves, and prevent evictions that could add to the homeless population. A key strategy was to keep the initia tive local and let communities be part of the strategy. The program asked religious congregations to sponsor and mentor qualified individuals, pro viding $1,200 for a security deposit and first month’s rent, plus ongoing advice and moral support. 10 It got Denver’s four professional sports teams to donate money or provide stadium boxes for engaging potential donors. Mile High United Way lent its fundraising muscle and also provided shelter space for homeless individuals in its headquarters. 11 Denver’s Road Home not only helped thousands of people find or retain housing, but also showed that effective solutions can save money. Before the ini tiative was launched, Denver spent an average of $40,000 a year on emergency department care, detox programs, emer gency shelters, among other programs, for one homeless person. By 2010, the city found ways to keep people in homes for about $15,000 each. 12 Looking Ahead To meaningfully address the growing ranks of the housing insecure and homeless population, a mindset shift is needed. With the funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, cities and counties have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in tools that will help reduce housing insecurity. These tools will make it easier to access resources across

a spectrum of housing needs; provide real-time, integrated data for more effective prevention andmitigation strategies; and help support the entire ecosystemdedicated to ending homelessness in a community. Leading jurisdictions are pointing the way forward, embracing new digital tools and data-driven, targeted approaches that call on the entire ecosystem to come together and align around a shared goal. Their success is demonstrating the value of coordinated and individualized responses using real-time data to address the spectrum of housing needs. This article contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this article, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This article is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte Consulting, LLP a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/ us/about for a detailed description of our legal structure. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

4. National Alliance to End

Homelessness. (2021). State of homelessness: 2021 edition. https:// endhomelessness.org/homelessness in-america/homelessness-statistics/ state-of-homelessness-2021 5. Flaming, D. Orlando, A. W., Burns, P., & Pickens, S., (2021, January 11). Locked out: Unemployment and homelessness in the COVID economy. Economic Roundtable. https://economicrt.org/ publication/locked-out 6. Poon, L. (2020, December 2) Climate change will flood affordable housing. City Lab Daily. Bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/ newsletters/2020-12-02/citylab-daily climate-change-will-flood-affordable housing Zero. https://community.solutions/ built-for-zero/ 8. National Alliance to End Homelessness. State of Homelessness. https:// 9. Smith, D. (2019, December 27). Is there a way to predict who will become homeless? These UCLA researchers say yes. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/ california/story/2019-12-27/homeless prevention-ucla-research-housing assistance 10. Draper, E. (2010, June 1). Faith teams make strides with homeless in Denver. The Denver Post. https://www.denverpost. 7. Community Solutions. Built for endhomelessness.org/homelessness in-america/homelessness-statistics/ state-of-homelessness-2021/ 11. Denver’s Road Home (2015). Denver’s ten-year plan to end homelessness 2005 2015. https://www.denvergov.org/content/ dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/ Zoning/text_amendments/Group_Living/ Denvers_Road_Home_Ten_Year_Plan_to_ End_Homelessness.pdf 12. Mayor’s Housing Task Force. (2012, September 30). City of Denver housing policy recommendations. https://www .coloradocoalition.org/sites/default/ files/2017-01/Housing%20Policy%20 Recommendations_121112%20draft.pdf com/2010/06/01/faith-teams-make strides-with-homeless-in-denver/

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Reference Notes 1. Kellogg, K. (2020, July 10). Bergen County, New Jersey: Functional zero case study. Built for Zero. Community solutions. https://www.joinbuiltforzero.org/case studies/case-study-bergen-county-new jersey-reaches-and-sustains-functional zero-for-veteran-and-chronic-homelessness

2. Ibid. 3. Ibid.

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