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Recently, 74 youth who have, or are experiencing houselessness participated in an assessment to share their experiences to increase awareness of the state of youth houselessness in Spokane County. Houselessness, as defined in the assessment, encompasses not having a stable, safe, or permanent place to live. For the participants of the survey, this meant moving frequently between places—often relying on temporary accommodations like couch-surfing, shelters, or even public spaces like cars or parks.

The Better Health Together / Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Youth and Young Adult Housing Needs Assessment results express the challenges and experiences of 74 youth and young adults in Spokane County who have either experienced or are currently experiencing houselessness. The assessment, conducted from October 2023 to January 2024, focused not just on documenting these experiences but delving into the underlying reasons behind youth and young adult houselessness.

Of particular concern were historically underserved groups such as young people of color, LGBTQIA+ youth, transgender or gender non-conforming individuals, those with disabilities, pregnant or parenting youth, and those involved in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems.

Key Findings and Insights

The survey painted a comprehensive picture of the challenges faced by these young individuals:

• Prevalence of Risk Factors: A significant majority of respondents belonged to one or more high-risk groups, underscoring the disproportionate impact of houselessness on marginalized communities.

• Barriers to Housing: Economic factors, mental health challenges, and systemic barriers such as discrimination were identified as primary obstacles to accessing and maintaining housing stability.

• Social Service Experiences: While there were positive aspects in terms of communication with service providers, issues such as care coordination and access to services remained problematic for many respondents.

• Social Disconnectedness: Many respondents reported feelings of social isolation and a lack of community trust, highlighting the broader societal impacts of houselessness beyond mere housing instability.

Challenges and Limitations

While the assessment was able to capture a number of different perspectives, there are always limitations. The sampling method for gathering this data was volunteer-based, and it’s hard to get the full picture without a large sampling base, as we want to avoid generalizing the houseless population. However, the insights help inform targeted interventions and policy decisions aimed at preventing youth and young adult houselessness.

Moving Forward

The data from this assessment will be crucial in shaping community responses and support systems. By amplifying the voices of those affected and advocating for their needs, stakeholders—ranging from policymakers to service providers—can work towards creating more inclusive and effective solutions.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the YHDP Youth and Young Adult Housing Needs Assessment not only serves as a wake-up call but also as a blueprint for action. It highlights the urgent need for comprehensive support systems that address the multifaceted challenges faced by youth and young adults experiencing houselessness. Through collaborative efforts and targeted initiatives, we can strive towards a future where every young person in Spokane County has access to safe, stable housing and the opportunities they need to thrive.

Better Health Together (BHT) coordinated the Warrant Fest at 2024 Spokane Valley Homeless Connect. The event was held on May 30, 2024, at Opportunity Presbyterian Church.

Warrant Fest played a pivotal role in addressing the legal challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness and/or housing instability. This event focused on recalling warrants, providing individuals with crucial legal relief, and creating a more supportive and equitable community.

Warrant Fest addressed a critical aspect of the challenges individuals face without stable housing. The recall of 18 warrants reflects a tangible and immediate impact, providing legal relief and fostering a sense of empowerment within the community. Warrant Fest showcased the potential for targeted, community-driven efforts to address systemic issues and create positive change. Public defenders also answered warrant-related questions for cases outside Spokane County and/or Washington State. Even though they could not assist in these cases, the attorneys felt it was beneficial to answer questions, find court contact information, and encourage individuals to address those outstanding warrants.

Key Highlights

1. Warrant Recalls: 18 warrants were successfully quashed during the event. This event aimed to alleviate the legal burdens on individuals affected by homelessness by reconnecting individuals with courts to address legal issues.

2.  Legal Advocacy: The event featured legal professionals and court staff who actively worked to recall warrants. This collaborative effort addressed legal challenges that disproportionately impact individuals without stable housing.

3.  System Partnerships: Warrant Fest fostered partnerships with Courts, public defenders, and prosecutors to streamline the recall process. These partnerships were instrumental in ensuring individuals had access to the necessary resources and support to navigate the legal system.

4.  Education and Resources: Spokane Valley Connect featured legal and justice resources to educate attendees about their legal rights, the warrant recall process, and avenues for seeking legal assistance in the future. Empowering individuals with knowledge was a key aspect of Warrant Fest and Homeless Connect.

5.  Impact on Systemic Issues: Beyond the immediate recall of warrants, the initiative aimed to shed light on systemic issues contributing to the legal challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness. By addressing these issues, the event contributed to a broader conversation about the need for systemic change.

BHT will continue to support legal advocacy efforts throughout eastern Washington throughout 2024 and beyond.

We are SO excited to announce that we have been selected as one of 20 organizations to be awarded funding through the US Aging Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care (COE). The COE is supported by the Administration for Community Living and will support community care hubs in their work to assess and address individuals’ health-related social needs and promote whole-person care.

The intent of these awards is to provide infrastructure funding to the selected CCHs like BHT in support of their contracting efforts with healthcare organizations for coordinated access to and delivery of social care programs and services (including support for hospital-to-home care transition programs) that assess and address health-related social needs and improve health equity and inclusion for individuals, families, and/or caregivers. These efforts will also enhance Washington’s No Wrong Door access systems and coordinate with local and/or state public health departments.

“Health care providers and plans are increasingly prioritizing screening for health-related social needs such as food insecurity, housing instability, unaffordable utilities and lack of transportation, and the aging and disability networks are critical partners in connecting people to the services and programs needed to address them,” said Alison Barkoff, who leads ACL. “It has been truly amazing to see the speed at which this work has advanced, thanks in large part to our network’s creation of community care hubs, which are establishing partnerships and contracts between community-based organizations and health care organizations across the nation. ACL looks forward to ongoing collaboration with the Center of Excellence to continue growing community care hubs across the entire country.” 

About USAging

USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Our members help older adults and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities. For more information, visit usaging.org and follow @theUSAging on Facebook, X and Instagram.

About the Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care

The Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care (COE), part of the Aging and Disability Business Institute at USAging, is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through a cooperative agreement totaling approximately $12 million over a three-year period with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS.

The renewal of Waiver 1115 has brought BHT an exciting opportunity to dive deeper into Medicaid transformation and, specifically, how we create better avenues of access to equitable care in the community. 9 ACHS (Accountable Communities of Health) have received an opportunity to create this kind of community-based care within their regions (BHT being lucky enough to be one of them).

Recently, our president, Alison Poulsen, joined with several other leaders of the Washington ACHs (Accountable Communities of Health) to share state approaches to addressing health-related social needs and the future of community-based care coordination. The webinar was hosted by the Roundtable on Population Health Improvement and the Funders Forum on Accountable Health at the George Washington University Milken School of Public Health, and featured the latest progress and lessons learned from a range of states (Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington) that vary in geography, policy context (i.e., Medicaid expansion status), and their approaches to addressing health-related social needs.