Independent evaluation finds Sunflower Houses cut recidivism and emergency service calls; researchers recommend stable county funding

Independent researchers Dr. Paula Ioannide and Dr. Charlie Willison presented the final assessment of the Sunflower Houses transitional housing pilot on July 16 and recommended that Tompkins County provide ongoing budget support to stabilize the program and expand wraparound services.

Why it matters: The Sunflower Houses pilot provides low‑barrier transitional housing and intensive case management to people returning from incarceration or experiencing chronic homelessness. Researchers said the program reduced re‑arrest/rebooking events for residents while in program, increased health‑care access and likely reduced calls for emergency response services.

Key findings: The researchers summarized quantitative and qualitative findings from the 2021–2024 pilot: - Program size and model: Sunflower Houses operates small three‑bedroom units serving roughly 12 residents at a time with wraparound services provided by the Ultimate Reentry Opportunity Initiative (OER); Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) subsidizes units to OER below market rates. - Recidivism: For residents while they were in Sunflower Houses the rebooking rate was 7%. By contrast researchers reported a countywide two‑year rebooking rate of 34.8% (2021–2023), and an OER client comparison group rate of 17.5% (different samples; the researchers cautioned comparisons are not strictly equivalent because of differing sample sets and tracking methodologies). - Homelessness and employment: Eighty‑one percent of Sunflower entrants were homeless on intake; researchers found several residents obtained housing upon program exit and 60% worked while in the program. Chronic medical conditions and disabilities were significant barriers to sustained employment for many participants. - Health care access and cost implications: The study found an estimated 57% increase in health‑insurance coverage among residents and 86% of participants reported using health care services while living at Sunflower. Researchers emphasized these outcomes reduce downstream emergency and criminal justice costs.

Recommendations and fiscal request: Researchers and OER Director Dave Sanders urged the county to move Sunflower Houses from short‑term pilot funding to ongoing county budget support. The independent recommendation cited a proposed annual budget of roughly $170,000 to stabilize staffing (including credible messengers and case managers), expand medical and behavioral health supports, and sustain the wraparound model. Researchers said that, given current federal and state funding uncertainty, a county appropriation would secure the program while staff pursue Medicaid 1115 waiver billing, opioid settlement funding, and forthcoming state reentry funds.

Legislator discussion: Committee members pressed researchers and OER staff on sustainability and funding timelines. Several legislators said they support the program’s outcomes but asked for a clear plan describing how the program would secure Medicaid billing under the Section 1115 waiver, apply for state reentry funding, and a multi‑year plan showing how county support would decline if alternative funding is secured. Researchers said OER has pursued waiver billing and opioid settlement funds but that Medicaid waiver infrastructure and state funding remain precarious and not guaranteed long term.

Next steps: Researchers provided their reports to the clerk and offered to follow up by email with committee members. Committee members asked staff to attach the presentation and qualitative report to the legislature packet. Researchers recommended the county examine scaling the model — with distinct tracks for lower‑support residents and higher‑support residents requiring more intensive medical and behavioral health services — and stressed that staffing intensity is the primary cost driver.