https://www.facebook.com/pages/AIDSWalk-Albany-New-York/124482770966658

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Capital-Region-Coalition-to-End-Homelessness/165789653432120?ref=sgm

In the presentation Nancy Chiarella; Executive Director of CARES Inc, assisted by Michelle Dennis; Technical Assistance team member, walked the group through the set-up and execution of the City of Albany’s HPRP Program and reviewed initial outcomes from the Prevention program for which CARES Inc provides oversight and technical assistance. You can find a PDF of the presentation on our website under the Technical Assistance tab here: http://caresny.org/program-monitoring.cfm

It was a fantastic conference and we at CARES enjoyed being able to attend it with so many of our community partners.  We are very excited about some of the things we learned and look forward to discussing some different strategies with our Coalitions.

Allyson Thiessen, HMIS System Administrator x103

Andra Zubkovs, HMIS Associate, x112

Homeless Service Trends in the Capital District:

Comparing 2009 and 2010 Annual Data for Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Saratoga Counties

Changes in Individual/Family Type

The increased service of families in Albany County and Saratoga County (decline in family service in Schenectady, constant in Rensselaer) shows HPRP’s effect on family service depends on what service type was predominate before the program began. Saratoga generally lacks family shelter and DSS does not participate in HMIS, so HPRP numbers have increased the service of families.

Likewise, youth service dropped as a percent of all services, from 22.1% to just 13% since youth were not eligible for service.  However, family services (especially women) were predominating in Schenectady, so the additional HPRP services brought an impact to individuals. In fact, service to individual females increased from 26.6% to 32.3% With increased family service came increased service to female household heads – female service equalized from 44% to 52% of total.

Educational Attainment of Clients Served

Saratoga – Post-secondary school levels increased from 5.4% to 10.7%

Albany – More modest increase in post-secondary school attainment from 5.4% to 7.1%

Monthly Income Sources at Admission

Overall, clients were more likely to have earned income, and less likely to have no income at all. In Albany, percent of clients with earned income increased from 12.1% to 18%.  Rensselaer providers saw earned income increase from 13.5% to 21.5%, while the percentage of clients without any income dropped from 35.5% to 29% In Saratoga, those with earnings rose to 26% from 13.5%, and those without income fell to 41.1% from 59.5%.

Residence Prior to Program Entry

In Albany, those coming from doubled-up living situations dropped from 28.1% to 21.2%, while those coming directly from living in a rental increased from 13.0% to 17.9%.  Schenectady served fewer clients coming from rentals and owned property: clients coming from rentals dropped from 49% to 38.8% and owned units from 7.2% to 2.4%.  Clients in Rensselaer came increasingly from rentals: 24.7% increased to 32.9%.  Saratoga had a similar trend to Albany: rentals increased from 26.3% to 40.3% while doubled-up situations fell from 35.5% to 25.9%.

Service to Those with Disabling Conditions

In Schenectady, service to those with disabilities expanded: overall from 32.3% of all persons served to 37.2%. Specifically, service to those with mental illnesses and substance abuse issues increased respectively to 13.3% and 7.9% of all persons served.  Meanwhile, service to those with disabilities dropped slightly in Saratoga, from 38.6% to 33.7%

Give a Way Out – Homeless ad for United Way

End Homelessness in the Capital Region New York

Thank you to all the Homeless Housing and Support Service Agencies in the Capital Region for helping with this year’s efforts and to the Community Foundation of the Greater Capital Region, the Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, and the Albany Guardian Society for funding this year’s efforts.

This year’s highlights included a Public Service Announcement on Homelessness in the Capital Region, the launch of a new website, endhomelessnessNY.org, a very well attended Media kick off event announcing the beginning of Homelessness Awareness Month at St. Peter’s Residence in Troy NY and two benefit Concerts. These regional efforts are intended to raise awareness at a level never done before by working together through the Capital Region Coalition to End Homelessness. For a list of the homeless housing and support service agencies in our region helping to prevent and end homelessness in our Region please visit www.endhomelessnessNY.org.

The Benefit concert held on November 5 raised over $28,000 for the Capital Region Coalition to End Homelessness and helped educate the Capital Region about the increasing problem of homelessness in our Region and the good work being done to end homelessness.

Many Thanks are Deserved!!
First, a big thank you to this year’s Co-Chairs, our college presidents from the region including Union College, Skidmore College, The Sage Colleges, and St. Rose College.  To our concert Sponsors and Patrons – Tri City Rentals, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and Charitable Foundation, The Community Foundation of the Capital Region, Donna and Richard Esteves, Altria Group Matt Bender IV, Leslie and Dwight Cheu, Kathleen Jimino, Neil and Jane Golub, Christopher Burke, Addictions Care Center of Albany, Chris Bettes of the Community Preservation Corporation, and the Catholic Charities of Diocese of Albany, Rocco and Laurie Ferraro, Seton Health, Gene and Cindy Phillips, CARES Inc., Commission on Economic Opportunity, First Niagara Bank, St. Rose Student Association United Way of the Greater Capital Region and Marty and Nancy Leren. And to all those who attended the concert in support of ending homelessness. Thank you also to Colin Hay who donated a percentage of his CD Sales at the Concert!

On Friday, November 5, The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall welcomes Colin Hay in a benefit for The Capital Region Coalition to End Homelessness. Hay, who began his career as frontman of the Australian pop band Men at Work (“Down Under,” “Overkill,” “Who Can It Be Now?”), has matured into a California-based singer/songwriter. His work can heard in film and TV scores, including the series Scrubs (on which he also appears as an actor). Hay’s new album American Sunshine– recorded in Nashville– reflects his fascination with the American landscape. Fresh from a sold-out solo acoustic tour, please join Colin Hay as he helps to support a worthy cause.

The Capital Region Coalition to End Homelessness is a coalition of over 30 local community groups with one goal in mind– for every family to have safe, secure and affordable housing. CARES is proud to spearhead this campaign, and very proud to have Colin assist us in this effort! Tickets are $15 (for students), $20 and $50.

Please join us at 7:30pm on November 5th for a great concert that will help neighborhood families sleep a little more secure.

Many of our consumers tell us about the challenges they face when looking for psychological counseling services. PLWAs in our Network area who seek assistance with mental health issues often find long waiting lists and out-of-pocket co-pays that are beyond their means.

The State University of New York at Albany’s Psychological Services Center have recently expanded their facilities at 299 Washington Avenue. Counseling is provided by doctoral students, who are closely supervised by  clinicians from the University’s Department of Psychology.

They have day and evening hours, a sliding scale that starts at $10 per visit and are currently accepting referrals.

 Click here for a brochure that describes their program.  For more information about the center visit www.albany.edu/psc/ or call (518)442-4900.

We hope that service providers in our network will find this information helpful.