Project 25, Home Again’s Frequent User Initiative, Teams Up with St. Vincent de Paul Village Inc.

Jan. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- The initiative, providing at least 25 of San Diego County’s chronically homeless who are some of the most frequent users of public resources with permanent housing and supportive services, is the first program of its kind in the county, involving multiple government and nonprofit partnerships.

“Project 25 is a first for our county, but the moral, ethical and monetary value of housing the chronically homeless, who are some of the most frequent users of public services, has been proven in cities and counties across the nation,” said Commissioner Brian Maienschein. “We have already started working with St. Vincent de Paul Village, the City and the County to identify the top homeless users of public resources and hope to have the first Project 25 participant in permanent supportive housing within the next few weeks.”

Based on the proven “Housing First” model, Project 25 will provide permanent housing in partnership with the San Diego Housing Commission. Project 25 will also provide supportive services, and St. Vincent de Paul Village will oversee a comprehensive discharge plan.

“Our mission is to help our neighbors in need and provide a ‘continuum of care’ that promotes self-sufficiency and independence,” said Father Joe Carroll of St. Vincent de Paul Village. “Project 25 is an essential extension to the other services available to the homeless.”

Currently, the chronically homeless represent 24 percent of the overall homeless population in San Diego County, but they use 50 percent of available public resources, including shelters, emergency medical and law enforcement services, mental health support and detox services. One local study, found that 15 homeless San Diegans consumed $1.5 million in medical services alone over 1.5 years, totaling nearly $100,000 per person. In comparison, Housing First has led to a 43 percent savings for taxpayers in Los Angeles, and in Portland, the cost per person for supportive services plus housing is only $26,000.  

“Shelter is one of the basic necessities of life,” said San Diego Housing Commission President and CEO Richard C. Gentry. “The San Diego Housing Commission will provide the critical housing component that Project 25 participants need to get off the streets permanently.”

As part of Project 25, the County of San Diego is currently compiling the first comprehensive data collection for San Diego’s 100 most frequent homeless users. The data includes the costs for emergency room visits, incarceration, jail mental health, ambulance trips, alcohol detox services and many other public resources. The three-year pilot program will track economic savings on a quarterly basis.

“The data we will gather for Project 25 will calculate the total cost of services used by each chronically homeless person, before and after entering into the program,” said Nick Macchione, Director of the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency. “We look forward to seeing the results, and using this data to make a positive impact on our region.”

Project 25’s additional partners include: Alpha Project, County of San Diego District Attorney, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Family Health Centers of San Diego, San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, San Diego Housing Commission, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Rescue Mission, San Diego Medical Services Enterprise, the UC San Diego Medical Center, St. Vincent de Paul Village and United Way of San Diego County. These organizations will share information to improve coordinated services, outcome measurements, efficacy of services, intervention trends/ strategies, housing opportunities and medical home development.

* The chronically homeless are defined as people who are continuously homeless for one year or without shelter four or more times in the past three years. There are 1,600 chronically homeless people throughout our region.

About Home Again
“Home Again” is United Way’s public engagement campaign to involve the broader community in ending chronic homelessness in San Diego County. It educates San Diegans about the proven “Housing First” model, which advocates for affordable housing first while simultaneously integrating supportive services. The campaign encourages the general public to “Learn more.  Spread the word. Open a door.”

The chronically homeless are defined as people who are continuously homeless for one year or without shelter four or more times in the past three years. They often have some sort of disability. Although the chronically homeless are a minority of the overall homeless population, they drain significant resources – including legal, medical and emergency services – at a high cost to our community.

The funding United Way is raising will be spent on additional permanent supportive housing and services for the chronically homeless throughout San Diego County. For more information, visit http://www.homeagainsd.org, “like” on Facebook or “follow” on Twitter.

About United Way of San Diego County
Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, United Way of San Diego County (UWSD) is a nonprofit organization that improves lives and creates long-lasting change. The United Way movement addresses the underlying causes of problems and mobilizes the community to solve education, income and health issues. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to become part of the change. UWSD’s 90th anniversary celebration will include a variety of events to celebrate the spirit of Living United and advancing the common good in San Diego. To learn more or to donate, visit http://www.uwsd.org.

# # #

United Way of San Diego County is a nonprofit organization that improves lives and creates lasting change by raising money and mobilizing the community to solve education, income and health issues. To learn more or to donate, please visit www.uwsd.org