NEST: Collaborative to Prevent LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Harris County https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/proposals-2014/nest-collaborative-to-prevent-lgbtq-youth-homelessness-harris-county-1 https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/@@site-logo/sitelogo-75x75.png

NEST: Collaborative to Prevent LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Harris County

Additional Information
Used for	NEST is a collaborative of Houston/Harris County community stakeholders charged with preventing and ending homelessness for adolescents and young adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or those who are questioning their sexual or gender identity, by 2020. As lead agency, the Montrose Center is requesting a one-time grant of $20,000 from The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation to cover costs associated with implementation of the strategic plan during 2015. During this phase, the collaborative will conduct a community wide needs assessment to measure the problem, develop and begin delivering cultural competency training to youth providers, and increase the capacity of the existing network of providers, schools and law enforcement to address LGBTQ youth homelessness using best practices.
Benefits	Overall, the NEST initiative will promote stable housing, permanent connections, education, employment, and social and emotional well-being among LGBTQ youth as a means of preventing homelessness and other risks. Short-term outcomes include expanded local partnerships, identification of community needs, identification of evidence-based or promising practices, identification & promotion of existing resources, identification of strategies to support and sustain the collaborative, and increased participant & community awareness and engagement surrounding LGBTQ youth homelessness.
Proposal Description	Used For NEST is a collaborative of Houston/Harris County community stakeholders charged with preventing and ending homelessness for adolescents and young adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or those who are questioning their sexual or gender identity, by 2020. As lead agency, the Montrose Center is requesting a one-time grant of $20,000 from The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation to cover costs associated with implementation of the strategic plan during 2015. During this phase, the collaborative will conduct a community wide needs assessment to measure the problem, develop and begin delivering cultural competency training to youth providers, and increase the capacity of the existing network of providers, schools and law enforcement to address LGBTQ youth homelessness using best practices. Benefits Overall, the NEST initiative will promote stable housing, permanent connections, education, employment, and social and emotional well-being among LGBTQ youth as a means of preventing homelessness and other risks. Short-term outcomes include expanded local partnerships, identification of community needs, identification of evidence-based or promising practices, identification & promotion of existing resources, identification of strategies to support and sustain the collaborative, and increased participant & community awareness and engagement surrounding LGBTQ youth homelessness. Description NEST is a collaborative of Houston/Harris County community stakeholders charged with preventing and ending homelessness for adolescents and young adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or those who are questioning their sexual or gender identity, by 2020. In this region, the task would change the futures of as many as 5,000 youth who are kicked out of the safety of their home, or nest. This collaborative has identified key stakeholders and expanded relationships and awareness of available services for LGBTQ youth at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. The development of resources for the target population that are culturally competent and apply best practices will require, for example, youth and family input, continued collaboration, and information sharing. The NEST Steering Committee has finalized its Strategic Plan and is beginning the implementation phase and execution of activities, which will continue from the present until December 31, 2016. Background Our community decided to participate in this national initiative for several reasons, in particular the overrepresentation of LGBTQ youth among youth experiencing homelessness. According to the National Lesbian & Gay Task Force, 20-40% of all homeless youth identify as LGBTQ nationwide (Ray, 2006). (NEST’s Research and Data Subcommittee is working to develop methodology for a more robust youth count to capture a more accurate estimate of the number of homeless youth specifically in Houston/Harris County.) Family conflict surrounding sexual and gender orientation is the primary reason for this phenomenon, along with stigma and hostility faced at school, in foster care, and the juvenile justice system. Once on the street, youth become highly vulnerable to sexual victimization, exposure to sexual transmitted infections, and drug/alcohol dependency among other dangers. In spite of these risks, life on the street is viewed by these youth as the safer alternative to non-affirming home and school environments. Objectives (1) Facilitate better local collaboration between stakeholders working with youth to develop & implement a comprehensive community strategy to prevent homelessness among LGBTQ youth (2) Improve identification of LGBTQ youth at-risk of or experiencing episodic homelessness through outreach, screening & assessment (3) Identify, coordinate, & improve policies & interventions to prevent LGBTQ youth homelessness across shelter and housing systems (e.g., primary and behavioral health care, child welfare, education, employment, juvenile justice, law enforcement) (4) Reduce homelessness among LGBTQ youth & improve their outcomes in the areas of permanent connections, stable housing, education/employment, & well-being (5) Inform national strategies for preventing & ending homelessness among LGBTQ youth A detailed description of implementation activities under these objectives and a timeline for achievement is included in the NEST Strategic Plan, available December 1. Outcomes Each of these priorities has specific focus items to improve outcomes for LGBTQ youth that are aligned with the USICH Framework to End Homelessness in four core areas: (1) Stable Housing: increase cultural competence in youth shelters and facilities, provide better transition from foster care and find solutions for youth exiting the justice system. (2) Permanent Connections: increase advocacy for LGBTQ by service providers and connecting caregivers with resources and mentoring support to decrease the number of youth who become homeless from family rejection. (3) Education/Employment: improve graduation rates by strengthening school policies to support LGBTQ youth, provide material to school districts about how staff may advocate with existing resources and community service referrals, and support at-risk youth with helping them develop employment/career goals that achieve employment. (4) Social-Emotional Well-Being: reduce barriers for youth to access culturally competent and affirming primary and behavioral health care that includes awareness of World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) standards of care for transgender youth, as well as increase LGBTQ cultural competence with protective services and law enforcement. A detailed description of anticipated outcomes and logic model is included in the NEST Strategic Plan, available December 1. Funding Request On behalf of NEST, the Montrose Center is requesting a one-time grant of $20,000 from The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation to help cover costs associated with implementation of the strategic plan during 2015. Expenses for this implementation are budgeted at $532,000, or $266,000 per calendar year. A detailed project budget is attached. Personnel involved in implementation consist of: • A full-time project coordinator (Deb Murphy, BS) who will be responsible for serving as primary spokesperson for the initiative, organizing the collaborative’s ongoing meetings and training sessions, preparing documents, coordinating communications, and providing support to sub-committees. Deb Murphy, BS, the person identified for this position, has served as Youth Services Specialist for the Montrose Center since 2003 and coordinates the Hatch Youth and Safe Zones Programs targeting LGBTQ youth. • One full-time educator (vacant) to be hired in Quarter 2 of 2015 to conduct information sessions about NEST and deliver cultural competency training to youth service providers throughout the Houston area. • Funds ($50,000) to contract with another NEST affiliate agency other than the Montrose Center to provide additional training and education. • A full-time case manager (vacant) to assist LGBTQ in accessing housing, medical care, mental health, education, employment and other community resources; and to advocate for affirming care. • Support staff at a 4% cost share for clerical/administrative support, accounting/bookkeeping, payroll processing, and marketing/public relations. In addition to above personnel and associated taxes and fringe benefits, expenses representing 20% of the overall budget are projected for occupancy, licenses and permits, program supplies, telephone and Internet connectivity, postage, insurance, equipment lease and purchase, printing, publications, staff travel, and conferences/meetings of the overall budget. The timing of this request is significant, as we will be able leverage funding received from the Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation to secure matching grants through 2015 and 2016. A commitment from The Frees Foundation in Houston has also been secured at an amount similar to this request. ABOUT THE MONTROSE CENTER Mission: The Montrose Center empowers our community – primarily lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and their families – to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. The Montrose Center was founded in 1978 as Montrose Counseling Center to address the gap in accessible and affirming mental health services for gay men and lesbians. The Center was one of the first to respond to the emergence of HIV and AIDS in the 1980's and continues to provide HIV counseling, case management, and housing assistance. Today, we are recognized as Houston’s “LGBT center” with In addition to counseling, the Center provides intensive outpatient treatment for alcohol and chemical dependency [WAY OUT Recovery Program]; violence survivor services for same-sex and transgender domestic violence, sexual assault and hate crimes; programs designed specifically to meet the needs of youth age 13-20 [Hatch Youth], and seniors age 60+ [SPRY: Seniors Preparing for Rainbow Years]. Our LGBT Switchboard 24-hour help line is accessible 24-hours for crisis intervention, peer phone counseling, and information/referral. The Center provides health education and disease prevention outreach to more than 40,000 individuals each year, and offers training to schools, corporations and healthcare professionals on these topics as well as general LGBT and diversity issues. The Center has become the hub of LGBT community events and organizing, with 6800 sq.ft. of affordable lease and single use rent space. Resident organizations including PFLAG-Houston, Lesbian Health Initiative, Pride Houston, Dignity Houston and others call the Center home. With free wellness and learning classes and activities hosted regularly by the Center, plus meetings and events hosted by dozens of other social, civic and nonprofit groups, there is literally something for everyone happening at the Center nearly every day. The Center is an affiliated agency of United Way of Greater Houston and accredited by The Joint Commission in behavioral health. REFERENCE Ray, N. (2006). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth: An Epidemic of Homelessness. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute and the National Coalition for the Homeless. Retrieved from http://fortytonone.org/get-informed/learn-about-the-issue/overview/#sthash.uOZ6KvWJ.dpuf