Via its proposed Montgomery County, TX, GBHI Program, Volunteers of America Texas (VOATX) will use GBHI funds to assist homeless individuals and families in Montgomery County, Texas, who have substance abuse or co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders, to acquire and maintain permanent housing that will help them remain engaged in treatment and services and ultimately avoid a return to homelessness.
VOATX will enhance integration of evidence-based behavioral health treatment, permanent housing, and critical services for homeless individuals and families with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The objective is to develop a community-based, collaborative, best-practices housing and services model that incorporates clinical treatment, recovery supports, case management, supportive services, linkages to enrollment resources and benefits, and placement in and retention in permanent housing that will improve the health of individuals and families and prepare them for long-term housing stability. VOATX expects to achieve both increased housing placements and a reduction in returns to homelessness, along with a higher rate of ongoing treatment engagement. The ultimate aim of the project is to reduce homelessness in Montgomery County, Texas, a community where the number of individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness is growing rapidly. Program partnerships include the Housing Authority of Montgomery County, New Hope Housing, Montgomery County Hospital District (MCHD), Tri-County Services (behavioral health), St. Vincent de Paul, Compassion United, The Salvation Army of Greater Houston, and Northwest Assistance Ministries, and the Montgomery Women’s Center (domestic violence).
Targeted populations will enter the GBHI program primarily through the Way Home (Houston Region) Continuum of Care’s Coordinated Access System, but also from VOATX’s existing clientbase and planned outreach strategies in the community, including referral relationships with many homeless providers, supportive services agencies, behavioral health and healthcare providers, veterans programs, reentry programs, and other agencies serving the targeted population.
VOATX plans to serve 60 persons in Year 1, for a total of 300 persons over the 5-year grant period. Of total to be served, VOATX predicts 60% will be male, 33% female, and 7% transgender; 60% will be Caucasian, 30% African American, and 10% of other or two or more races; 13% are expected to be Hispanic; and in terms of sexual orientation, 85% are expected to report as straight, 5% gay, 5% lesbian, and 5% bisexual.
Key program outcomes anticipated include 100% of participants will be placed in permanent housing within 6 months of enrollment; 70% will demonstrate substance abstinence during the first year of enrollment; and 85% will remain in permanent housing for at least one year post-placement.