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New Metro Office of Homeless Services outlines Scribe House, coordinated entry and landlord partnerships
Summary
The new Office of Homeless Services described a first Metro-owned permanent supportive housing project (Scribe House), coordinated-entry phone lines and landlord mitigation incentives as part of a strategy to reduce chronic homelessness.
Online briefing — Metro's Office of Homeless Services summarized the agency's early work, new programs and partnerships aimed at reducing homelessness and improving connections to housing.
April Calvin, director of the Office of Homeless Services, said the office turns one on July 1 and is focused on funding, data management and coordination with service providers. "In July, Metro will have the first of its own permanent supportive housing opportunity," Calvin said, referring to the Scribe House project and a planned July opening and celebration.
Calvin said the office operates as a funder and resource manager for about 45 partner agencies that use the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to coordinate placements. She noted that last year those partner agencies housed 1,927 people and that many people experiencing homelessness fall in the 0'to 30% AMI range (Calvin cited a separate task force estimate of higher unit needs for that bracket).
The office also described operational changes: Metro will assume responsibility for the cold-weather shelter, is launching a coordinated-entry phone line (to reduce duplicate client waiting lists) and plans more intensive outreach including weekly service fairs, larger resource events and camp cleanups. Calvin said the city maintains a low-barrier housing collective of roughly 186 landlords and property managers who partner with nonprofits and use landlord mitigation funds and sign-on bonuses to increase housing placements.
Calvin asked Metro partners to contribute to a unified housing strategy and said the office is coordinating with the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to reach diverse populations and translate engagement materials.
Next steps: the office expects to operate the coordinated-entry line, support shelter operations in winter months, expand outreach and finalize Scribe House opening dates.
