Community Housing Innovations Inc

CHI, INC. PROVIDES HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES THAT SUPPORT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE.

SUFFOLK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, NASSAU COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AND DUTCHESS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.THROUGH THE SUFFOLK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, CHI OPERATED 9 TRANSITIONAL PERMANENT HOUSES (TPH), 1 RECOVERY HOME (RHI), 10 CONGREGATE SUPERVISED FAMILY RESIDENCES (SFRS), 3 ARE NY STATE TIER II CERTIFIED, 10 CONGREGATE SUPERVISED SINGLE RESIDENCE (SESS), ONE WHICH IS CERTIFIED TIER II BY NYS, AND THE RESOURCE CENTER (TRC). SFRS AND SESS HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR. TPH/RHI HAS INTENSIVE CARE MANAGEMENT AND SERVES 24 MEN, 10 FAMILIES AND 12 WOMEN. THROUGH ON SITE CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE HOMELESS PERSONS ARE ASSISTED IN BECOMING PERSONALLY, AND ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT. THE SEARCH FOR PERMANENT HOUSING IS THE PRIMARY GOAL FOR ALL SHELTER RESIDENTS AND CHI PROMOTES AND ASSISTS THEM WITH THE HOUSING SEARCH. PARENTS, SINGLE INDIVIDUALS, AND CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED WITH A SAFE HOME AND ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, EMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES BASED UPON THE GOALS THEY SET FOR THEMSELVES. THIS ALSO INCLUDES REFERRALS TO RESOURCES FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES, HISTORIES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, AND OTHER SPECIALIZED NEEDS. CHI HAS IMPLEMENTED A TUTORING INITIATIVE FOR PARENTS WORKING TOWARDS A GED AS WELL AS HOMEWORK TUTORING FOR CHILDREN.WITH CONSISTENT INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION BY HIGHLY QUALIFIED SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER STAFF, SHELTER RESIDENTS ARE HELPED TO SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING OR OTHER APPROPRIATE RESIDENCE IF THEY ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. PARENTS ARE COUNSELED AND CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND SCHOOL AND COMPLETE HOMEWORK. WORKSHOPS ARE FREQUENTLY PROVIDED OFFERING GUIDANCE IN AREAS SUCH AS NUTRITION, BUDGETING, AND PARENTING. THE SERVICES PROVIDED DURING THE SHELTER STAY ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS WITH FINDING AND RETAINING APPROPRIATE PERMANENT HOUSING.CHI ALSO OPERATES SMALLER BUT SIMILAR SERVICES IN DUTCHESS, ORANGE AND NASSAU COUNTIES: 1 EMERGENCY SHELTER IN ORANGE COUNTY, 1 TRANSITIONAL FACILITY IN BOTH ORANGE AND DUTCHESS COUNTIES, AND 1 MIXED USE FACILITY (COMBINED TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING) IN BOTH ORANGE AND DUTCHESS COUNTIES AND 2 EMERGENCY SHELTERS FOR FAMILIES IN NASSAU COUNTY.764 PEOPLE INCLUDING 218 FAMILIES AND 244 SINGLES WERE ASSISTED BY CHI SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IN DUTCHESS, ORANGE, AND NASSAU COUNTIES.DUTCHESS COUNTY SERVED: 254 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING 91 FAMILIES- VANDERBILT: 91 FAMILIES, 174 PEOPLE - 24 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING- ROSE ST.: 55 MEN - 12 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING- NORTH HAMILTON: 25 MEN - 8 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSINGORANGE COUNTY SERVED: 370 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING 67 FAMILIES- 44 GRAND: 164 MEN - 78 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING- 9W: 60 FAMILIES, 174 PEOPLE - 24 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING- PORT JERVIS: 7 FAMILIES, 32 PEOPLE - 3 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSINGNASSAU COUNTY SERVED: 139 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING 60 FAMILIES- JERUSALEM AVE: 26 FAMILIES, 64 PEOPLE - 4 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING- CORNELL ST.: SERVED 34 FAMILIES, 75 PEOPLE - 7 MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING

THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.HUD AWARDS FUNDING TO AGENCIES FOR THE ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION, OPERATION, AND PROVISION OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE A DISABLING CONDITION AS PART OF THEIR ELIGIBILITY.THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM (SHP) IS A VALUABLE TOOL IN THE EFFORT TO END HOMELESSNESS. EACH GRANT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER AGENCIES. THOSE PARTNERSHIPS DRAW ON THE EXPERTISE OF CHI AND OTHER AGENCIES TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WHILE CHI ACTS AS THE HOUSING DEVELOPER AND PROPERTY MANAGER.USING THIS MODEL, CHI'S SHP CREATED PERMANENT HOUSING FOR SINGLES AND FAMILIES WHO WERE FORMERLY HOMELESS. THE HOUSING PERMANENCY AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES HAVE ENABLED THEM TO DEVELOP PERSONAL AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INDEPENDENCE.DURING THE PAST YEAR, THESE HOMES HAVE SERVED 16 HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH FAMILIES AND 13 SINGLES. ON AVERAGE, 86% OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH OR DUAL DIAGNOSIS, 41% HAVE A HISTORY OF CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE, 13% HAVE A CO-OCCURRING DISORDER, 55% HAVE A CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION AND 6% HAVE A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY. 28% DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS WHITE OR CAUCASIAN AND 72% AS BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN. 45% OF THE PARTICIPANTS REPORT HAVING EITHER A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.THERE IS LITTLE TURNOVER IN THESE UNITS WHERE TENANTS PAY NO MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.14 FAMILY UNITS HAVE LIVED WITH CHI FOR OVER 10 YEARS;6 FAMILY UNITS HAVE LIVED IN SHP HOUSING FOR 5-10 YEARS;9 FAMILY UNITS HAVE LIVED WITH CHI FOR LESS THAN 5 YEARS.CHI ALSO OPERATES 231 AFFORDABLE RENTAL APARTMENTS IN SUFFOLK, NASSAU, AND WESTCHESTER COUNTIES. ALTHOUGH CHI DOES NOT PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THESE UNITS, CHI PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THESE TENANTS TO ENABLE THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, CHI'S EMERGENCY HOUSING APARTMENT PROGRAM (EHAP) PROVIDES SCATTERED-SITE TEMPORARY HOUSING IN TRADITIONAL APARTMENTS. THE EHAP PROGRAM WAS MODIFIED AND PUT UP FOR RFP IN 2017 FOR SPECIFIC CATCHMENT AREAS OF THE FOUR LOCAL WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (DSS) OFFICES; PEEKSKILL, WHITE PLAINS, YONKERS, AND MT. VERNON. CHI SOUGHT AND WAS AWARDED FIVE ONE-YEAR RENEWABLE EHAP CONTRACTS FOR THE MT. VERNON AND NEW ROCHELLE CATCHMENT AREAS. THE 2019 CONTRACT TOTAL AWARD WAS $2,655,185 TO PROVIDE 90 EMERGENCY HOUSING UNITS (EHUS) LOCATED IN COMMUNITY RENTAL BUILDINGS IN THE TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.DSS'S CASE MANAGEMENT UNIT DOES THE FULL FAMILY HOLISTIC CASE MANAGEMENT TO WORK WITH THE FAMILIES IN THE EHAP REGARDING THEIR NEEDS (ACADEMIC, VOCATIONAL, MENTAL HEALTH, TREATMENT, ETC.). CHI EHAP STAFF ARE HOUSING SPECIALISTS WHO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON ASSISTING FAMILIES TO SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING. THEY ASSESS THE FAMILY'S HOUSING NEEDS AND BUDGET, TEACH FAMILY MEMBERS HOW TO MAINTAIN THE UNITS, TO SELF-ADVOCATE WITH THE BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT, AND PROVIDE CRITICAL SKILLS NEEDED AS THEY SEEK PERMANENT HOUSING. THEY CALL AND ADVOCATE FOR THE CLIENTS WITH LANDLORDS, DO ROLE-PLAYING WITH FAMILIES FOR HOUSING INTERVIEWS, ASSIST IN OBTAINING NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO OBTAIN HOUSING AND MOVES, MEET WITH LANDLORDS, AND CONDUCT HOUSING QUALITY STANDARD REVIEWS OF EHUS AND PERMANENT HOUSING UNITS. A CHI MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN FULFILLS UNIT MAINTENANCE REPAIR REQUESTS, CLEANS, AND PREPARES UNITS FOR RE-OCCUPANCY, SETS UP FURNITURE, ASSESSES BUILDING NEEDS AND COORDINATES WITH SERVICE STAFF. A CHI PROPERTY MANAGER ORDERS FURNITURE, MANAGES THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN, AND COLLABORATES WITH PROPERTY OWNERS.IN 2019, 120 HOUSEHOLDS WITH A TOTAL OF 356 PEOPLE WERE PROVIDED SHELTER IN THE CHI EHAP. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 693 DAYS. 42 FAMILIES LEFT THE PROGRAM - 25 OR 58% MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING

CHI OPERATES OTHER SMALLER PROGRAMS TO HELP LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.IN 2019 -HOMEOWNERSHIP & FORECLOSURE PREVENTION COUNSELING SERVED 1,821 PEOPLE- PROVIDED HOMEBUYER COUNSELING TO 423 INDIVIDUALS- PROVIDED THE E-HOME ONLINE COURSE TO 227 INDIVIDUALS AND 205 COMPLETED THE PROGRAM- PROVIDED ORIENTATIONS TO 1,549 PEOPLE- ENABLED THE PURCHASE OF 31 HOMES WITH DOWN PAYMENT AND REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE GRANTS (10 IN WESTCHESTER, INCLUDING 2 MANUFACTURED HOMES, AND 21 ON LONG ISLAND)- ENABLED THE PURCHASE OF 70 HOMES THROUGH EDUCATION, COUNSELING, AND GRANT ASSISTANCE- PROVIDED FORECLOSURE PREVENTION COUNSELING TO 45 HOUSEHOLDS- SECURED 8 LOAN MODIFICATIONSPROPERTY DEVELOPMENT- AWARDED EMPIRE STATE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INITIATIVE (ESSHI) FUNDING TO CREATE 23 UNITS OF HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR HOMELESS SINGLE ADULTSWESTCHESTER COUNTY- IN 2019, THE MODERN SERVED A TOTAL OF 22 PEOPLE IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING