Women's Community Development Organization: Duluth, Minnesota

WCDO Programs

Townhouse Units with Sideyard Playground

Introduction

In 2006, WCDO's Transitional Housing Program served 111 women and children, of which 9 were single women, 28 were families and 74 were children.

Transitional Housing has developed its programs to serve homeless families and individuals, who generally have the fewest resources and who tend to be most at risk of future homelessness and long-term dependence on welfare assistance. In 2006, 100% of WCDO participants were homeless at the time of entry.

The individuals/families who are served by WCDO have multiple issues and barriers. Most of the participants have a history of sexual and/or physical abuse (95%) and many are in recovery from chemical dependency (51%). Most have a long history of poverty with little past experience of economic success or stability and many have been repeatedly homeless in the last three years.

Households are unable to afford standard rent rates. Participants generally have extremely low-incomes when enetering our programs. In 2006 a third had an annual income below $4,000 and 75% had an annual income below $8,000. Last year (2006) over 70% of families entering WCDO were on Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), which is Minnesota's TANF program, and 95% of families entering WCDO had been on MFIP in the past 6 months. An average of 80% of women have some criminal history due to being victims of domestic violence. 95% have a negative rental history that stems from domestic violence, which makes it almost impossible to secure permanent housing without advocacy and intervention and often renders participants ineligible for Section 8 and Public housing according to Duluth Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) guidelines. These complex and multiple barriers must be addressed in order for households to maintain permanent housing, stability and self-sufficiency.

WCDO has seen a huge increase in large families with multiple disabilities, mental illness and chemical dependency. In 1988, when WCDO began providing services to families, the average family size was 2.1 children per household. In 2002 the family size increased to 3.2 children per household with 31% of families entering WCDO having between 4-9 children. Last year (2006) family size was 2.6 children per household. Large families in particular are having increasing problems trying to obtain and maintain affordable permanent housing suitable for their family size.

The WCDO population is very diverse as well; in Duluth communities of color represent a small fraction of the general population (1.4% African American, 1.9% American Indian, and 0.8% Latina). According to the 2000 U.S. Census in 2006, 24% were African American, 30% Native American, 49% European American and 11% were multi racial.

Living in a city that is predominately Caucasian (92%-2000 U. S. Census) creates additional barriers for families of color. Children of color face racism and isolation in the school system and are routinely subverted into special education classes and behavior programs. Parents also face racism within traditional systems such as social services, legal systems and schools, where a lack of awareness of cultural differences and discrimination cause families of color to undergo extra scrutiny and imposed restrictions. Furthermore, racism is one of the leading causes of housing discrimination in Minnesota. The City of Duluth Consolidated Plan states that 94% of people surveyed felt that the housing shortage in Duluth is due primarily to affordability, no new construction and discrimination. The discrimination and isolation faced by families of color in Duluth increases the need for intensive services particularly advocacy, a community which fosters diversity, permanent housing which is accessible to people of color, and staff which represent the people being served. WCDO is one of the only housing programs in Duluth whose staff and board reflect the diversity of the clientele it serves.

In order to maintain our mission and assist people in our program with accessing and maintaining quality permanent housing, reaching financial self-sufficiency and maintaining personal and family stability, WCDO has designed a comprehensive service package which is provided to all Transitional Housing participants.

Women's Program:

Affordable housing component:

The majority of families entering WCDO are homeless, have been inadequately housed, and are living in poverty. Without stable housing, families cannot focus on long-term change. WCDO maintains 20 apartments of transitional housing ranging in size from efficiencies to three-bedrooms. The buildings are secure, in good condition, and affordable. WCDO subsidizes rental rates at 30% of income.

Life / Career-Assessment and Goal-Setting Component:

Through a combination of on-site services and liaison with other community agencies, WCDO assists participants in developing and implementing individual plans in areas of personal and/or family growth, education and/or employment.

Advocacy / Case Management:

WCDO staff ensures that all participants are assessed and provided access to mainstream health and social service programs. Upon entering Transitional Housing, residents complete an assessment/intake form which asks specific questions pertaining to mainstream programs such as: do you and your children currently have health insurance? If so what is the source? From this intake form a client directed goal plan is developed addressing these areas of income and source, health coverage ect, and addressing accessibility issues such as childcare and transportation. Intake forms for TANF, Medicaid, Food Stamp Programs and Workforce Investment Act are kept on site and advocates assist families in completing the forms and setting the initial intake appointment. Staff assists clients with setting appointments for doctors and therapists and assures that there is follow-through on the appointments. Transportation and childcare are provided for initial and subsequent eligibility meetings and staff attends meetings with families to provide advocacy and ensure that they receive the benefits they are eligible for. Advocates continue to work with participants to ensure compliance with program regulations and provide assistance with navigating the complexity of the systems.

Advocates maintain working relationships with mainstream systems to ensure a consistent delivery of services. WCDO staff and participants receive on-going training to clarify TANF, SSI and other system regulations, rights and responsibilities. Staff provides referrals to legal advocacy services when necessary.

Accessing / Maintaining Mainstream Services:

WCDO staff ensures that all participants are assessed and provided access to mainstream health and social service programs. Upon entering Transitional Housing residents complete an assessment/intake form which asks specific questions pertaining to mainstream programs such as: do you and your children currently have health insurance? If so what is the source. From this intake form a client directed goal plan is developed addressing these areas of income and source, health coverage ect. and addressing accessibility issues such as childcare and transportation. Intake forms for TANF, Medicaid, Food Stamp Programs and Workforce Investment Act are kept on site and advocates assist families in completing the forms and setting the initial intake appointment. Staff assists clients with setting appointments for doctors, therapists, ect. and assures that there is follow-through on the appointments. Transportation and childcare are provided for initial and subsequent eligibility meetings and staff attends meetings with families to provide advocacy and ensure that they receive the benefits they are eligible for. Advocates continue to work with participants to ensure compliance with program regulations and provide assistance with navigating the complexity of the systems.

Financial Assistance:

WCDO has funds to help subsidize costs for goal-related activities that are not covered by other programs. WCDO staff assist participants to make use of a wide range of Duluth resources to pursue their goals.

Community-Building Component:

WCDO builds community and self-confidence through education groups and community activities. WCDO provides a minimum of three groups on site each week. Current groups include a parenting group, a support and education group and an aftercare sobriety group. Participants attend a monthly community meeting to address issues related to community, program development, etc. Participants are encouraged and assisted to volunteer in a variety of community settings. WCDO organizes community retreats and celebrations to promote community- building and ownership. WCDO nurtures peer support systems among residents that result in shared transportation, childcare swaps, mutual advocacy, and friendships.

SAFAH-Follow-Up Program:

Participants exiting Transitional Housing are provided six months of follow up services which focus on accessing and maintaining quality affordable housing and transitioning into the larger community. Monthly support groups are provided and advocates assist households in accessing available community resources as well as provide monthly work incentives and financial assistance.

Permanent Housing Component:

For those participants wishing to pursue homeownership, WCDO refers them to the appropriate agency for first-time homebuyer/loan information. There are a variety of groups providing this information including Neighborhood Housing Services which runs a four-week homeownership workshop on-site at Transitional Housing covering many aspects of home purchase. This course provides a certification required by many banks that finance low-income home purchases. WCDO works hard to ensure families have affordable permanent housing at exit; and, that families have support in maintaining their housing. Our six-month follow-up SAFAH program is of critical importance in accomplishing this. WCDO has a highly cooperative relationship with the local HRA, working closely with them as families near their exit date.

Sheila's Place:

This 6-unit rental project was the first permanent supportive housing project developed (2003) in Duluth. Sheila’s Place provides subsidized rent and supportive services to disabled homeless families. Outreach is targeted to populations of color and currently 50% of the units are occupied by American Indian households. Participants recieve ongoing case management with goal setting, monthly education groups and are provided assistance with accessing community services to meet their needs.

DHS/Giiwe Mobil Team:

WCDO DHS/Giiwe Advocate provides services to 8 long term homeless individuals and families who are considered to be long term homeles in finding housing and stability within our community. The target population is Native American families living in the Duluth area. DHS participants live in WCDO site based housing and Giiwe participants live in scatterd site housing.

The Advocate provides intensive case management, intervention, support, counseling, and refferals and assist households in accessing available community resources. An intake is done to find out what gaps in services the household has not recieved. As with our other programs, the advocate works with participants on maintaining housing and goals to achieve that.

Giiwe Mobile Team's Mission is to end long-term homelessness, by offering people the oportunity to plant ojibikaans (roots) and spread their anikan (wings), by strengthening people's ability to be grounded and take flight with their dreams and life goals.

This newly formed team (2006) is a collabortive of six non-profit agencies that include;WCDO, American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO), Churches United inMinistry (CHUM), Housing Access Center (HAC), Human Development Center(HDC), and Life House.

Alicia's Place:

Alicia’s Place opened its doors March 2006; WCDO is the developer and owner of Alicia’s Place. Alicia’s provides affordable housing for 10 low-income homeless women who have experienced long-term homelessness.

Supportive Services for residents are provided through the Human Development Center’s Homeless Outreach office, located on-site. Services include helping residents access health care, deal with crisis and, most importantly, stay in their housing and avoid a return to homelessness. Alicia’s Place is equipped with spacious, newly remodeled efficiency apartments as well as office space for HDC staff.

Funding

Transitional Housing's Programs receive on-going funding from a variety of sources including:

Transitional Housing raises money from a variety of community and national foundations to fill funding gaps and WCDO's permanent housing projects provide income which supplement the Transitional Housing Program.

Accessibility

Advocates are on-site at Transitional Housing and deliver services directly to participants. Staff frequently meet with participants in their apartments to assess unit conditions and provide hands on support with parenting and on-going life issues. There is a computer lab and employement/training resource center on site where residents can work on their G.E.D certificate and improve their computer skills. The monthly groups are at our community space which is directly next door to the housing and programming space and childcare is provided during groups. The children's computer lab and programming space is on-site and children receive tutoring and age specific support groups after school. Several community agencies that provide unique services such as: computer training and G.E.D tutoring are brought on site. For community services which are provided off site staff work with resients to address accessibility issues such as chilcare and transportation.

Staff meet one on one with households as often as necessary (at least every other week). Meetings last between 30 minutes and 2 hours depending on the needs of the participant. Staff are available to participants between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, a caretaker is on call twenty-four hours a day and on-site from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m.. Children's Program staff is on-site alternating Saturdays and Program Staff are available evening and weekend hours depending on the needs of the participant. Participants have access to staff 24 hours per day, 365 days a week.

Innovative Services

Women's Community Development Organization, Inc. is a unique organization with a number of innovative program features to ensure the most effective programming for its target population.

WCDO believes that in order for households to change the direction of their lives they must be provided with more than just supportive housing. Two major components of our services are community building and social justice, which extend beyond the ordinary groups provided by other housing programs. WCDO provides residetns with education about oppression and actively works within the Transitional Housing community to address and identify this at every level. Weekly groups address topics such as The Child Indian Welfare Act. This is discussed not only from the historical standpoint but the causes and effect, the "bigger picture" and how this affects people now. All participants have the opportunity to go through a two day "In Our Best Interest" training that is a nationally recognized training on domestic violence. We model our groups on this training, which helps residents, identify societal causes for domestic violence and empower them to change the world along with themselves.

Residents are provided education about local and national issues and are provided opportunities to attend rallies, neighborhood meetings and be an important voice in city wide funding decisions. For example at a recent Community Development Block Grant public needs hearing Transitional Housing organized thirty resients to attend the meeting. Ten participants got up and spoke about the needs in the community and talked about their experiences trying to find housing, childcare and jobs in Duluth. This is just one example; Transitional Housing participants are at the forefront at neighborhood meetings and community events. This gives people not only a sense of personal power and reconnects them to their community but also demonstrates that they have a voice. For the majority of participants who have been victims of physical and sexual abuse, poverty and homelessness this experience of having a public voice and making decisions about their community is the first time they have felt heard.

While providing housing and support services gives residents a safe place and the resources to make the changes in their lives, participants who have successfully completed our program identify social justice and community building as the components the program that inspired them to really become part of their community and want to make the changes in their lives.

Another unique piece of WCDO's programming is its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness at all levels. WCDO's staff and board makeup reflects the diversity of the clients we serve and include an equal representation of Native American, African American, Latina, Asian and Caucasian, GLBT and staff of all ages and economic backgrounds and physical abilities. We showcase this diversity throughout the program. All of our office and programming space is filled with images of people of color, GLBT people and social justice activisits. The group schedules and activities reflect wide range of cultural activities. In December the program staff organize events around Hanukah, Kwanzaa and Solstice. This commitment to diversity and a safe place for all people explains why we serve the most diverse clientele in Duluth. Participants exiting the program often comment on the positive and unique experience of living in a truly diverse environment.

Another innovative program feature is our Women in Construction Training Project and Women In Construction, LLC. This is the only known program of its kind that provides women the opportunity to not only learn a skill in a supportive environment but also get a job making a real livable wage. This program also has provided an incredible opportunity for women to feel empowered and give back to the community by building affordable housing. This program has also provided an innovative way for WCDO to continue providing quality housing while losing income from budget cutes. The Women in Construction Training Project works with our property management to provide maintenance and upkeep for our units. This relationship benefits both parties by providing additional skill training and eventual job opportunities for women in the training program.

Roles and Relationships

WCDO is the developer, owner, service provider to of all of its housing. In 2007 WCDO contracted out property management with Commond Bond...

WCDO is the developer and owner of Alicia's Place with services being provided by Human Development Center (HDC).

WCDO has working relationships with and makes extensive use of the services of existing community agencies to ensure non-duplication of services and ease access to programming. Some of these partnerships include: Neighborhood Housing Services comes on-site at WCDO and provides homeownership training, Housing Access Center provides tenant certification classes on-site, Project SOAR (a soft-skills employment program for displaced homemakers) provides a six week employment readiness series. WCDO also works closely with battered women's shelters, homeless shelters and drop in centers to provide outreach and referrals for our housing programs.

WCDO staff and residents are extremely active in neighborhood association including: monthly neighborhood district meetings which focus on making receiving information and making decisions about everything from street lighting, to housing to the Community Development Block Grant funding priorities. These meetings also give neighbors an opportunity to have input into the City of Duluth Consolidated Plan. WCDO staff and residents also attend the At Home In Duluth neighborhood meetings. These meetings focus on neighborhood revitalization in area of housing, economic development and public services in four identified neighborhoods in Duluth. WCDO provides transportation and childcare so residents can attend these meetings and education groups at Transitional Housing prior to meetings to ensure participants know the history and purpose of the upcoming discussions.

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