If You Build It, They Will Come (Not Really, So…) - Don’t Miss This Important Training Opportunity!

One of the ideas at the core of Opening Doors and our CoC Strategic Work Plan is that in the area of homeless services, an “If you build it, they will come,” approach does not work. This should surprise no one, as every product requires a delivery system, certainly a scarce product, like housing for those experiencing homelessness. As we explain in our playbook, that delivery system, our homeless response system, addresses the demand side of the equation (who needs housing) and the supply side (who has housing).

Cynthia Scaife, Housing Resources Liaison

 

To this end, in late 2016, MDHA hired James McClinton, our Housing Resources Director. James manages the Housing Inventory Chart (HIC) of all CoC programs (so when a person is ready to be housed, a unit is available, as soon as possible), while also growing the supply of known housing, and finding housing units beyond the reach of the HIC. Recently, we added another member to our team, Cynthia Scaife, as Housing Resources Liaison, to work with James on that last piece, finding housing units in the private market. In hiring Cynthia, a licensed and experienced realtor, we have already begun to pack more of a punch in the supply side of our homeless response system.

In an exciting development, MDHA has teamed up with the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to offer two training sessions next week on Engaging Community Partners to Expand Supportive Housing. On August 1, 2017, 1-4pm, we will discuss Linking Development with Services, and on August 2, 2017, 9am-12pm, we will discuss Finding Community Partners. Click through for all the details. RSVP is required, so click here and act now!

 

In related news, if there is one population for which the, "If you build it, they will come," approach might have the smallest chance of working, it is youth. To that end, our VISTA, Victoria Jackson created a brand new, up to date, Youth Services Directory. Victoria is in the process of building a web page version of the directory, which is currently available as a PDF. We will also be distributing print desk copies to public high schools and middle schools, throughout Dallas and Collin Counties.