Is worth a pound of cure.
“The strategy that’s missing the most is prevention.”
Consider this. The average cost to house someone post-homelessness is $4,700. But, by preventing a person from becoming homeless, the cost is reduced to about $1,650.
Shelter Diversion the most cost-effective intervention available toward the goal of ending homelessness. When someone can be ‘diverted’ from going into a shelter, that bed is available for someone else. Someone who may otherwise sleep on the street. And – most critically – prevents families and children from having to experience the trauma of homelessness.
The program also has the best outcomes for participants. Who not only get housed but work with case managers. To increase income, gain access to community services, childcare, re-enroll children in school, and more.
Our system can serve people experiencing homelessness. And well. But there was nothing to help prevent homelessness. That is before Shelter Diversion launched in 2012.
Researching the effectiveness of prevention
To prove – and improve – the effectiveness of the program we recently partnered with Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) to conduct a multi-year research study. LEO helps service providers apply scientific evaluation methods to better understand and share effective poverty interventions.
The Federal government is the largest source of funding for homeless services. But the funding can only be spent when someone is experiencing homelessness – not before it happens. Shelter Diversion is largely ineligible for that funding. So, we work year-round to raise the money needed to keep the program operating.
If Federal funding were directed toward prevention measures such as job services, affordable housing, and addressing substance use and mental illness, it would be more impactful. And better spent.
What can be done?
Local 12 asked Congressman Greg Landsman that very question. “We need a budget, which will get done either this year or next year, that does two things. One provides additional resources for this, but two provides the flexibilities that communities need to spend the dollars the way that they know will have the most impact.”
Earlier this week, the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington D.C. invited our President & CEO Kevin Finn and others to take part in a panel discussion to share how local initiatives with targeted, context-specific approaches can make a significant difference. And to explore how changes in Federal policies can further support these efforts.
While we work to help provide shelter and make housing available for as many people as possible, due to economic hardships and the lack of affordable housing, Cincinnati’s emergency shelter system is almost always operating at full capacity.
In turn, families and individuals end up living in a car or on the street. Families like Lindsey Kelly-Jeffer’s. Your support helps families like Lindsey’s get back on their feet faster.
