Downtown Streets Team (DST) is a volunteer work-experience program in which Team Members (those experiencing homelessness) beautify their community in exchange for comprehensive case management services, employment services, and basic needs stipends. Through their volunteer work, Team Members rebuild effective work habits, take on leadership opportunities, further their education and ready themselves to re-enter the workforce through the support of a positive community. Team Members earn valuable work-experience skills while giving back to their city.

- Gallons of Debris Removed: 2,624,199

- Bags of Debris Collected: 77,754

- Cigarette Butts Collected: 244,328

- Discarded Syringes Removed: 10,171

- Barriers Removed: 2,135

- People Housed: 58 (32 through Rapid ReHousing in 2022)

- People Employed over 90 Days For Jobs Gained Since 01/01/2019: 25

- Number of Active Team Members / Unique Individuals Served: 235

- DST Team Member Volunteer Hours: 65,705

Reasons vary, but the main reason people become homeless is because they cannot find housing they can afford. Other factors can include a chronic health condition, domestic violence and systemic inequality. Read more about the causes of homelessness.

Literally Homeless

1. Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation; or

2. Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs); or

3. Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution.

Imminent Risk of Homelessness

1. Residence will be lost within 14 days of the date of application for homeless assistance;

2. No subsequent residence has been identified; and

3. The individual or family lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing.

Homeless Under Other Federal Statutes

1. Are defined as homeless under the other listed federal statutes;

2. Have not had a lease, ownership interest in permanent housing during the 60 days prior to the homeless assistance application;

3. Have experienced persistent instability as measured by two moves or more during in the preceding 60 days; and

4. Can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time due to special needs or barriers

Fleeing/Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence

1. Is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence;

2. Has no other residence; and

3. Lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing

Rapid ReHousing provides short-term rental assistance and services. The goals are to help people obtain housing quickly, increase self- sufficiency, and stay housed. It is usually offered without preconditions (such as employment, income, absence of criminal record, or sobriety) and the resources and services provided are typically tailored to the needs of the person.

1. Those that are included in Category 1 (Literally Homeless), Category 3 (Homeless Under Other Federal Statutes), and Category 4 (Fleeing/Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence by HUD’s definition included above

2. Those that have permanent employment (or dependable income) but are still unhoused

DST is a service provider working to support individuals experiencing homelessness. We are never going to tell a Team Member, or program participant, what their goals should be. But, if they come to us and say that they want to get a job or find an apartment, we will do everything in our power to remove barriers in the way of their success. We are professional problem solvers. We are not a housing first organization, we are a people first first organization. We are focused on each individual human being and identifying whatever path to housing is best for them. We are that slow ramp up they need to move from experiencing homelessness to self-sufficiency

We will collaborate with other service providers to combine resources as often as possible. The reality is that the funding we have to do this work is not remotely close to the total that is needed to provide this type of support. We have excellent working relationships with other nonprofits serving our unhoused community members.

1. Since inception, DST has employed a unique case management model called “opt-in,” meaning that Team Members are not required to meet with a case manager regularly. The goal of the Case Manager and the primary purpose of theVolunteerWork Experience Program is to get Team members motivated. We don’t require regularly scheduled case management sessions because often times an unmotivatedTeam Member won’t show up for required sessions or won’t followthrough on goals.

2. We’ve found that when a Team Member is self-motivated to achieve goals with the help of a Case Manager we are more efficient and this approach is more in line with our accountability structure.In a way, CMs have to “earn” their caseload by building trust with Team Members and demonstrating their value, rather than being assigned a random group of people. Building trust is essential and is covered in more detail at the end of this chapter. This approach is one of the most unique aspects of the DST and has led to successful outcomes with “service resistant” Team Members.

3. Our Rapid ReHousing work builds on this opt-in, meet you where you are approach to help those that are motivated to secure housing and already on their way to doing so.

Because our Program Participants are not relying on DST’s financial support to qualify for housing, they will be able to sustain full rental payments after the initial 6 months of assistance. DST will help to support our Program Participants by offering comprehensive case management support through the entire duration of the 12 month lease to include in-office appointments, goals setting and in-unit inspections every month.

DST will be providing case management support to the Program Participant to help them stay successful in their rental and continue to achieve their goals. We will walk with Participants every step of the way from searching for available rental units to finding furniture for a new home. For Landlords, you will have clear, open communication with a direct contact from DST, on-time rental assistance payments, in-unit inspections, and additional support for coaching, if ever needed.

1. Support your local community, provide a pathway to recover from homelessness, inspire change within our community, join the fight against the stigma of homelessness.

2. For landlords, a reliable and consistent partner in cultivating a tenant pipeline. Landlord incentives are available for the initial housing placement (one per property management company). DST conducts site visits and inspections with Program

- Ongoing open communication with DST and tenant

- Open to collaboration and problem-solving with DST

- Willing to think creatively while working towards solutions on behalf of tenants

- Long term working relationship with DST (housing multiple Participants, sending referrals over to DST, etc)

At a minimum, the unit should include:

Mailbox, internet access, range stove, locking doors, at least one full bath, kitchen access, basic utilities (trash, water, heat, etc)

- Unit Sizes: Studio and 1 -4 bedrooms

- Rooms in private residences

1. W-9

2. Completed lease agreement w/ tenant

3. Confirmed address where DST should mail the rent check

1. Providing a living wage, open to hiring individuals with varied backgrounds

2. Part-time and Full-time positions available

3. Potential long term career opportunities

4. Employers willing to contributive the transformative journey of our Team Members