Stabilizing Client Housing: Homelessness Prevention, Emergency Shelters, Transitional Housing and Permanent Housing

Stable housing remains an integral component of self-sufficiency. We will develop strategies to stabilize the housing environment through prevention of homelessness, restructuring the emergency shelter program, developing transitional housing, and assisting people in obtaining safe, decent, and affordable permanent housing.

We will review causes of homelessness and their relationship (if any) to DSS policies, and effectuate needed revisions. We will step up homelessness prevention efforts and restructure current DSS-funded emergency shelters as Intake/Assessment and ongoing shelters.

We will determine the best role for DSS in assisting non-profit organizations in providing transitional housing. We will identify needs for subsidized permanent housing, advocate and assist neighborhood housing programs and further our partnership with grass roots organizations involved in housing renovation.

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities

New federal law allows for the establishment nationally of 9 Empowerment Zones and 95 Enterprise Communities through a competitive process. The zones and communities, areas of high poverty and distress, will receive:

• Tax benefits to encourage business and job growth;
• Funds to provide services to families and children. Services can include: prevention of child abuse and neglect, drug and alcohol treatment and prevention, job training, and other activities to promote self-sufficiency and economic independence.