COMPONENT: PREVENTION

SERVICES IN PLACE:

Catholic Social Service operates homeless prevention programs that provide one-month rental assistance to low-income individuals and families threatened with eviction for non-payment of rent. Catholic Social Service receives funds to provide homeless prevention assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Sanctuary, Inc. operates a 24-hour crisis hotline and provides families and youth with crisis intervention and counseling to deal with family problems that may cause the youth to runaway or that may cause the parents to sever ties with the youth.

The Salvation Army – Family Service Center operates homeless prevention programs that provide one-month rental assistance to low-income individuals and families threatened with eviction for non-payment of rent. The Family Service Center also has a food bank and clothing assistance program. The Center also offers life skills and financial management training to homeless families and individuals. Center staff conduct follow up home visits with clients. Funding for homeless prevention assistance through The Salvation Army is funded by a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.

SERVICES PLANNED:

Provide briefings on the Continuum of Care to mainstream social service providers including the Department of Public Health and Social Service, Department of Education, the Guam Police Department and the Guam Fire Department.

HOW HOMELESS PERSONS ACCESS/RECEIVE ASSISTANCE:

Homeless persons access the emergency shelter programs through self-referral or referral from other homeless providers or mainstream organizations. Homeless individuals and families who would like to participate in these programs may apply at their offices.

COMPONENT: OUTREACH/ASSESSMENT

SERVICES IN PLACE:

Outreach and assessment depends heavily on public awareness and the ability of complex organizational networks to educate the community about the services available for "at-risk" and homeless individuals and families. Local providers share information to foster smooth transition of a shared clientele base. Law enforcement agencies, village mayors, religious organizations or non-profits that offer various homeless services usually make referrals. To promote community awareness, organizations conduct focus group meetings, fund drives, sponsored community events, or community education programs through public service announcement in the various media outlets.

Today, assessment networks are maintained through diverse community interest groups and concerned government agencies developed over years of experience. They include:

Sanctuary, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides services to youth and their families. Sanctuary conducts outreach and assessment of at-risk, runaway and homeless youth. Youth are assessed for participation in shelter programs. Youth and their families are assessed for participation in parenting classes, crisis intervention programs and counseling programs. Sanctuary conducts outreach activities in Guam’s public housing neighborhoods. Sanctuary also conducts outreach activities through sponsored community events, fund drives and community education programs through public service announcement in the media outlets.

Catholic Social Service is a non-profit organization that provides housing and supportive services to homeless families and homeless individuals. CSS conducts intake and assessment activities for its various shelter programs especially for elderly, persons with disabilities and persons with mental illness. CSS conducts outreach activities through fund drives and community events.

Guma Mami, Inc. Comprehensive Case Management Program provides support services to assist persons with developmental disabilities and their families access available resources in the community. The Comprehensive Case Management Program focuses its approaches towards community outreach and awareness activities, program linkages and other mainstream social service benefits. Guma Mami emphasizes active consumer and family/legal guardian involvement in developing the client’s support plan that defines client needs, preferences, goals and objectives. Guma Mami also conducts outreach activities through fund drives, focus group meetings, community presentations, and other community sponsored events.

Department of Public Health and Social Services is a government agency that provides mainstream supportive services. DPHSS conducts assessment activities for its various programs; Adult Protective Services, Division of Public Welfare, Division of Senior Citizens. DPHSS provides welfare assistance, food stamps for low-income families. DPHSS provides funds to run operations on Guam for shelter for homeless families and individuals, abused elderly and abused persons with disabilities. DPHSS refers homeless families to the various homeless providers for assistance.

Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with disabilities is a government agency that provides supportive services and linkages with organizations serving persons with disabilities. DISID conducts outreach and assessment activities for persons with disabilities applying for its programs. DISID provides fund to run shelter operations for persons with disabilities.
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse is a government agency that conducts outreach and education activities on mental illness and substance abuse issues. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse also assesses individuals with mental illness, individuals with emotional problems, and individuals with substance abuse problems for treatment and care in its programs.

Guam Developmental Disabilities Council provides venues for focus groups to address the concerns of those with developmental disabilities and their families. The Council also sponsors community education activities, information dissemination and referrals, and policy maker and family supports forms.

The Salvation Army is a non-profit organization. The Salvation Army’s Lighthouse Recovery Center provides intake and assessment for homeless adult males. The Salvation Army’s Family Service Center/One-Stop Homeless Assistance Center is committed to developing an effective central intake and referral system that provides case management and intake procedures that can be used by homeless providers. The Salvation Army’s One-Stop Database system is currently under development. When completed, the database will hold information on all homeless provider organizations and serve as a referral mechanism. All homeless providers will be able to access the database and use to database to work together. The database will also improve also improve the actual tracking of clients and provide for a more comprehensive analysis of gaps in the Continuum of Care system. The homeless database was developed by Caracole, Inc., an organization that provides housing and supportive services for persons with HIV/AIDS. Caracole, Inc. originally developed the database under a continuum of health and human services in the greater Cincinnati Area.

SERVICES PLANNED:

HOW HOMELESS PERSONS ACCESS/RECEIVE ASSISTANCE:

The referral network includes the Guam Police Department, the local and federal courts, the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Churches, the Mayor’s Office, The Guam Memorial Hospital, the American Red Cross, and homeless service providers. Informal referrals are made among homeless providers. Homeless individuals and families in need of services may apply at the program offices.

COMPONENT: EMERGENCY SHELTER

HOUSING/SERVICES IN PLACE:

All shelter programs are designed to provide food, clothing and other support services to homeless individuals identified within the community on an immediate basis. Providers and the various sub-populations these organizations serve include:

Catholic Social Service – Alee Shelters provides emergency shelter for women and children who are victims of family violence. Alee Shelters consists of two facilities a 6-bedroom facility and a 10-bed facility. Abused women and children may stay at the shelter for up to 45 to 60 days. Alee Shelter offers case management, transportation, individual and family counseling and referral services.

Catholic Social Service – Guma Sagrada provides protective shelter for abused adults with disabilities and elderly. Guma Sagrada is an eight-bed facility. Abused adults and elderly may stay at the shelter for up to 45 days. Guma Sagrada provides education, transportation, rehabilitation and personal care. Guma Sagrada provides social caseworkers to resolve problems including assessments, investigation, advocacy, mediation and placement.

Catholic Social Service – Guma San Jose provides emergency shelter for families and individuals. Guma San Jose is a 15-bed facility. Homeless families and individuals may stay at the shelter for up to 60 days. Guma San Jose provides case management, counseling, transportation, educational workshops, clothing, food and referral services.

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse – Acute Care Unit provides 24-hour emergency in-patient care to adults with serious mental illness and youth with severe emotional disturbances who are a threat to themselves or others. The Acute Care Unit has six beds for adults and six beds for youth.

Sanctuary, Inc. – Emergency Shelter is an emergency shelter for runaway, homeless, abused and troubled youth. The shelter is a 16-bed facility with 8 beds for females and 8 beds for males. Homeless youth may stay at the shelter for up to 30 days. The emergency shelter provides case management, outreach, life skills training, education, transportation, substance abuse counseling, personal care, and mental health care. Youth and their families receive individual and family supportive counseling during the youth’s stay at the shelter. Sanctuary also provides 90-day off-site follow-up care.

HOUSING/SERVICES PLANNED:

Construction of Emergency Shelter for Homeless Youth. Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority is working with Sanctuary, Inc. to construct an emergency shelter for homeless youth. GHURA has budgeted funds under a Community Development Block Grant from HUD to construct the facility on GHURA property. The current emergency shelter is a rented home with a maximum capacity of 16 youth. When completed the new shelter will house a maximum of 26 youth.

HOW HOMELESS PERSONS ACCESS/RECEIVE ASSISTANCE:

Homeless persons access the emergency shelter programs through self-referral or referral from other homeless providers or mainstream organizations including the Guam Police Department, the local and federal courts, the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Churches, the Mayor’s Office, the Guam Memorial Hospital, the American Red Cross. Homeless individuals and families in need of these services may apply at the program offices.

COMPONENT: TRANSITIONAL HOUSING

HOUSING/SERVICES IN PLACE:

The average length of stay in our transitional housing programs ranges from 90 days up to 24 months, which is dependent on a case-by-case basis. All families in transitional housing are provided intensive case management and life skills development to achieve individual and family self-sufficiency. Organizations such as Sanctuary and the Department of Mental Health have developed youth building programs with the Department of Youth Affairs, Department of Education, and the private business community that enhance self-esteem and alleviate adolescent pressures they address.

Funding for operations of transitional services comes from other federal and local funding contracts administered either by the Department of Public Health and Social Services, or the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities. Supplemental funding to expand transitional housing programs has been U.S. HUD’s Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership Grant Program, and the Emergency Shelter Grant.

Catholic Social Service – Caridad supportive housing for adults with severe disabilities. Caridad is a five-bed facility. Caridad provides case management, information and referral services, counseling, and life skill training.
Catholic Social Service – Liheng Program provides transitional housing for homeless families and individuals. The Liheng Program consists of three facilities with a total of 30 units with two bedrooms in each unit. Homeless individuals and families may stay in the Liheng Program for up to two years. Liheng Program clients are provided with case management, outreach, counseling, job skills training, job placement assistance and life skills training.
Department of Mental Health – Guma Ifil is a transitional living program for adults with chronic mental illness. Guma Ifil is a 12-bed facility. Guma Ifil provides case management, mental health care, life skills training, transportation, personal care, and supportive counseling.

Guma Mami, Inc. – Mary Clare Home is a housing support program for adults with developmental disabilities. This housing support program is able to accommodate up to five individuals. The Mary Clare Home provides access to community resources and flexible supports. In addition, this housing support program provides crisis intervention, supportive counseling, positive behavior supports, independent living, social and physical integration, and other supports that result in direct changes in how a person lives with an emphasis on choice making and personal independence.

Sanctuary, Inc. – Transitional Living Program is a transitional shelter program for homeless and runaway youth. Sanctuary operates the only Transitional Living Program that provides a comprehensive, continuum of services to youth. Sanctuary provides youth will life skills instruction on securing employment, job maintenance, anger management, conflict resolution, budgeting and good communication skills in preparation for independent living. The Transitional Living Program is 8-bed facility.

The Salvation Army – Lighthouse Recovery Center is a transitional shelter for homeless men with substance abuse problems. The Lighthouse Recovery Center is a 16-bed facility. Homeless men may stay at the center for up to 90 days. The Lighthouse Recovery Center provides counseling, life skills training, addiction and recovery classes, information and referral services and job placement assistance.

HOUSING/SERVICES PLANNED:

Construction of Group Home for Adults with Chronic Mental Illness. Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority is working with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse to construct a group home for the Guma Ifil program. Currently, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse is lease a housing unit in the former Naval Air Station. The unit is in an area scheduled for demolition to expand the near by airport runway. The new facility will provide transitional housing for clients who can achieve independent living and supportive housing services for clients unable to live independently.

Acquisition of a Residential Facility for Youth with Severe Emotional Disturbances. Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority is working with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse to purchase and renovate a building for the Guma Manhoben program, a residential treatment program for children with severe emotional disturbances. Guma Manhoben will be a 10-bed facility. Guma Manhoben will provide supervision and support in a therapeutic living environment. Guma Manhoben will provide intermediate to long-term residential treatment services including individual, group and family therapy, behavior management interventions, recreational therapy and casework.

Construction of a Transitional Shelter for Homeless Youth. Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority will partner with Sanctuary, Incorporated to construct a Transitional Living Program Shelter for homeless and runaway youth. Currently, Sanctuary is leasing a home for use as a transitional shelter with a maximum capacity of eight (8) clients. When completed, the facility will include a 10-person occupancy group home and a 4-person occupancy apartment section.

HOW HOMELESS PERSONS ACCESS/RECEIVE ASSISTANCE:

Homeless persons access the transitional shelter programs through self-referral or referral from other homeless providers or mainstream organizations including the Guam Police Department, the local and federal courts, the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Churches, the Mayor’s Office, the Guam Memorial Hospital, the American Red Cross. Homeless individuals and families in needs of these services may apply at the program offices.

COMPONENT: PERMANENT HOUSING

HOUSING/SERVICES IN PLACE:

Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority – Housing Services Program provides Section 8 rental assistance and public housing. GHURA administers over 1,400 Section 8 rental assistance vouchers and certificates for low-income families. This includes 100 vouchers for families separated from their children or at risk of separation because of their current housing situation. This also includes 75 vouchers for disabled families. GHURA manages 751 public housing units for low and moderate-income families. This includes 85 units for elderly and persons with disabilities. GHURA also manages Guma Trankilidat, a 49-unit housing community for the elderly.

Guam Housing Corporation – Guam Rental Corporation provides rental housing assistance to low and moderate-income families. Guam Housing Corporation manages at total of 140 housing units.

Guam Housing Corporation – Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program provides eligible low and moderate-income families with loans to cover the down payment and closing cost of their home mortgage loan.
Habitat for Humanity, Inc. works in partnership with low and moderate-income families to build and sell safe, and affordable housing. Homes are sold at no profit and financed through zero interest mortgages allowing low-income families to break the cycle of poverty through low monthly payments. Families provide 500 hours of seat-equity in building their and others homes. Habitat for Humanity will construct 15 to 20 homes for families who qualify for this program by September 2001.

HOUSING/SERVICES PLANNED:

HOW HOMELESS PERSONS ACCESS/RECEIVE ASSISTANCE:

Individuals and families access these programs through self-referral or referral from homeless shelter providers or mainstream organizations including the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Churches, the Mayor’s Office. Homeless individuals and families in need of these services may apply at the program offices.

COMPONENT: PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

HOUSING/SERVICES IN PLACE:

Catholic Social Service – Elderly Apartments provides permanent supportive housing for elderly persons. Catholic Social Service has 10 housing units set aside for elderly.

Guma Mami, Inc. – Independent Group Home is a housing support program for adults with significant developmental disabilities. This housing support program is able to accommodate up to five individuals. The Independent Group Home has taken an active role, building on people’s strengths and capacities. Individualized supports are built around what works best for the individual. This program provides access to community resources and flexible supports. The program provides independent living, social and physical integration, crisis intervention, supportive counseling, and positive behavior supports which an emphasis in choice making and personal independence.

HOUSING/SERVICES PLANNED:

HOW HOMELESS PERSONS ACCESS/RECEIVE ASSISTANCE:

Individuals and families in need of a supportive housing environment access these programs through self-referral or referrals from homeless shelter providers or mainstream organizations serving this particular clientele including the Department of Public Health and Social Services, the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities, other Catholic Social Service programs, and other Guma Mami, Inc. programs. Homeless individuals in need of these services may apply at the program offices.

COMPONENT: SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

SERVICES IN PLACE:

Agency for Human Resources Development provides educational assessment, occupational assessment, classroom training, institutional skills training, on-the-job training, and summer youth employment and training and work experience.

Coral Life Foundation provides HIV/AIDS prevention, education and awareness services, counseling, personal care, HIV/AIDS testing, outreach and referral services.

Department of Labor – One Stop Career Center provides career counseling and job search services.

Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities provides case management services for persons with disabilities.

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse – Day Treatment Program is a group therapy program for adults with mental illness unable to transition into community living or at-risk or re-hospitalization. Group therapy activities focus on understanding mental illness, building self-esteem, social rehabilitation and life-skills training.

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse – Drug and Alcohol Outpatient Program is a family-focused education and treatment program for adult and adolescents with substance abuse problems and their families. The program address co-dependency issues for spouses and family members. The program also includes an adolescent outpatient, education, prevention, and Al-Teen 12-step self-help support group.

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse – Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation is a six-week day treatment program for adults with drug and or alcohol problems.

Department of Public Health and Social Service provides general assistance to families including welfare, Food Stamps, the Women, Infants and Children Program, Aid for Families with Dependent Children, Aid to the Blind, Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled, Old Age Assistance (OAA) Program, and child care assistance. DPHSS also provides health care assistance including Medicare, dental care for youth and elderly, medical social services, Medically Indigent Program (MIP), child health services, women’s health services, immunization services, STD/HIV Prevention Program, and health education services. DPHSS also provides self-sufficiency training under the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Program (JOBS). The services include GED Testing Program, Adult High School, Adult Basic Education, English-as-a-Second Language, transitional services, post secondary or vocational training, on-the-job-training, community work experience program, transportation costs, one-time work related expenses, child care services, and job readiness, job skills training, job placement, and job search.

Guam Developmental Disabilities Council sponsors and provides funding for the creation of demonstration projects as well as training and studies to show responsive, positive ways of meeting the needs of people with developmental disabilities to enhance their independence, productivity, inclusion and integrations. Training activities include consumer self-advocacy, pre-employment training, service provider training and employer power training.
Guam Legal Service Corporation is a non-profit corporation providing legal services to low-income individuals and families, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and victims of family violence in areas including domestic violence and family law, disability rights, public benefits, consumer protection and civil rights.

Guam University Affiliated Program provides supports for other programs in helping to expand and improve programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Services include training, technical assistance, research, program development, program evaluation, strategic planning and organization development. Current programs include Guam System for Assistive Technology (GSAT) and Pediatric Evaluation and Developmental Services (PEDS). GSAT advocates for increase access and use of assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities. GSAT provides information, referral and training on assistive technology equipment. PEDS provides newborn developmental assessment, developmental evaluations, audiological evaluations, speech-language evaluations, physical therapy, consultation services, and referral services for children up to 34 months of age with or at risk for developmental delay or disability.
Guma Mami, Inc. – Comprehensive Case Management Program is a community liaison program. It provides adults with developmental disabilities access to community resources and supports. Essential services include information and referral, needs assessments, service coordination, crisis intervention, home visits and other personal contacts, independent living, advocacy, supportive counseling, access to transportation, advocacy training, mobility training and follow-up services.

Sanctuary, Inc. provides parenting and child development classes, family counseling services, youth and family case management services, crisis intervention and management services, drug prevention and education programs, and youth and family outreach activities.

Victim Advocates Reaching Out (VARO) is a crisis intervention program for victims of violence. When necessary, VARO can provide individuals or families in need of shelter with overnight shelter in a motel.

SERVICES PLANNED:

Catholic Social Service Guidance Counseling and Training Program. Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority has been working with Catholic Social Service to expand their capacity to provide guidance counseling and training to homeless individuals and families. CSS will provide guidance counseling and training services to homeless families in CSS’s Liheng Transitional Homes and emergency shelters. Currently, homeless individuals and families in shelters are not offered a comprehensive guidance counseling and training program. . Many homeless families constantly recycle through the homeless shelters because of the absence of intervention or a supportive environment. The homeless clients will participate in a two-year self-sufficiency program. The program will provide individual assessment, goal setting, budgeting, financial tips, career development, resume writing interview techniques, job coaching and placement, stress management, and follow-up counseling. GHURA has identified funding for the program under HUD’s Emergency Shelter Grant.
Guam Developmental Disabilities Council will sponsor and provide funding for the creation of a personal assistance program for individuals with developmental disabilities capable of independent living with the support of an aide.

HOW HOMELESS PERSONS ACCESS/RECEIVE ASSISTANCE:

Individuals and families access these programs through self-referral or referral from homeless providers or mainstream organizations including the Guam Police Department, the local and federal courts, the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Churches, the Mayor’s Office, and the Guam Memorial Hospital. Homeless individuals and families in need of these services may apply at the program offices.