Homeless Services Network
On average, 524 people per night stayed in seven Tulsa
shelters during 2005.(1) This compares with 526 people per night in 2004 and 534
people per night in 2003. On January 26, 2005, 731 homeless people were surveyed
in shelters, transitional living units and other locations throughout Tulsa
(3). During its inaugural year (2005), 3,710 unduplicated homeless and
formerly homeless individuals were registered into the Homeless Management
Information System at nine different emergency shelters, housing services,
mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment providers (4). On extreme
weather evenings during the 2004/05 winter, shelter demand increased to as high
as 640 men, women and children (1). Substance abuse, poor childhood experiences
resulting in low self-esteem, mental illness, and low wages contribute to the
current state of homelessness throughout the nation (2). Many homeless people in
Tulsa live in shelters and supportive housing or are doubled-up in the homes of
friends or relatives. The federal government allocates approximately 2 million
dollars to Tulsa homeless programs each year (3). Over $500,000 United Way
dollars supported programs serving the homeless in Tulsa in 2005.
The community rightfully
expects these organizations to coordinate their efforts so that clients receive
the best possible service and that public and private dollars are used
effectively. The Tulsa shelter system has traditionally operated under the
guiding principle that no one should go without emergency shelter due to a lack
of available space unless the individual has been barred for recent violent
behavior. Homeless service providers desire fair and effective policies and
adequate financial support in order to promote individual and family recovery
from homelessness.
The Homeless Services Network provides the forum in which service providers,
consumers, public officials, and citizens can work together to achieve common
goals that facilitate the prevention of and recovery from homelessness. The
Community Service Council provides the necessary volunteer and staff leadership
for creating inter-agency collaborations that maximize funding and policy
strategies that promote effective health and human services for the homeless. An
Advisory Committee made up of Network members develops an annual work plan and
priorities for general sessions and special projects of the Network.
Homeless Services Network (HSN) general meetings are held once a month at the
City of Tulsa Urban Development Department. Advisory Committee meetings are held
once a month at the Community Service Council. Special meetings for related
grant, policy or problem solving activities most often occur at the Community
Service Council but may also take place at the facilities of member agencies.
Oversight and coordination for the maintenance of the homeless management
information system and its relationship with Sharelink occurs at Youth Services
of Tulsa.
Inter-agency
service coordination, development of new funding opportunities and staff
education are primary concerns of the HSN group. During 2005, the HSN sponsored
12 Advisory Committee and 12 General Monthly meetings that advanced its
membership’s knowledge of mental health services, substance abuse treatment, HUD
policies, the national living wage standard and other important issues. Special
meetings were held to form collaborations required for federally mandated plans
to end chronic homelessness, the presence of active tuberculosis in the Tulsa
shelter system and organization of an annual survey of homeless Tulsans. The HSN
is responsible for updating an emergency shelter expansion plan that increases
Tulsa’s sheltering capacity for short periods of time when shelter demand
exceeds supply.
Forty-two
non-profit, governmental or religious organizations are represented on the
Homeless Services Network. Executive Directors, program mangers, case managers,
attorneys, nurses, consumers, and board members participate in Homeless Services
Network meetings and committees.
In 2003, a Homeless Services
Network subgroup, the Data Management Task Force, formed a seven agency
partnership that resulted in the creation of the ShareLink Homeless Management
Information System partnership. CSC as the lead agency, successfully received a
two-year HUD grant, a TAUW Venture Grant, and two Zarrow Family Foundation
grants to create a homeless management information system. The ShareLink HMIS
system uses web based software to record client data and coordinate case
management for homeless and formerly homeless clients receiving services at the
ten different agencies. Click
on
HMIS for links to more information on the ShareLink HMIS system.
The Network continues to
work toward:
- Enhancing the availability of emergency shelter and effective services for
homeless people through formal data collection and program planning initiatives
- Enhancing client services and data management with a Homeless Management
Information System (HMIS), developed with Sharelink
- Promoting inter-agency service and funding coordination among Network
members, resulting in enhanced service delivery
- Promoting community understanding of homelessness that results in enhanced
support from the general public
The Homeless Services Network embraces guiding principles of the Community
Service Council for inter-agency coordination by endorsing open membership and
working with diverse service groups. Historically, the Community Service Council
has intentionally sought to strengthen its working relationship with the City of
Tulsa due to the City’s role in securing federal funding for programs serving
the homeless.
Twenty to thirty people comprised of agency directors, program managers,
services consumers, advocates, and case management staff attend monthly Homeless
Services Network meetings. Public agencies, non-profit organizations and
faith-based groups are represented in the Network. A subgroup of the Homeless
Services Network created the partnership for developing a homeless management
information system which became operational during 2003 and expanded its role
with more organizations using Sharelink in 2005.
For more information: Jim
Lyall, CSC Associate Director -
jlyall@csctulsa.org
