ARTISTS HELPING THE HOMELESS INC

AHH OPERATES IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY, KANSAS. IN 2024, AHH ASSISTED 1,498 PEOPLE FROM ALL SEGMENTS OF THE LOCAL HOMELESS POPULATIONS BY INDIVIDUALLY TAILORING SERVICES TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS. THE SCOPE OF AHH SERVICES FALL WITHIN THREE LEVELS.GENERAL ASSISTANCE USUALLY INVOLVES ONE TO TWO INTERACTIONS, SUCH AS A RIDE, FOOD OR OVERNIGHT STAY TO MEET AN IMMEDIATE NEED. THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES ONE-TIME CALL FOR REFERRALS FOR HOUSING OR OTHER PROVIDERS AND RIDES TO MEDICAL, LEGAL OR HOUSING SERVICES FOR BOTH SHELTERED AND UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE AT RISK OF OR RECENTLY BECOMING UNHOUSED AND STRANDED TRAVELERS. AHH WAS CREATED IN 2008 TO FUND A SUNDAY MEAL PROGRAM. THAT MEAL CONTINUES AS A FORM OF OUTREACH, BUILDING TRUST WITHIN THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.DISCHARGE ASSISTANCE ASSISTS REFERRING CASE WORKERS AT VARIOUS FACILITIES IN IDENTIFYING, ARRANGING AND TRANSPORTING INDIVIDUALS UPON RELEASE FROM THAT AGENCY TO THEIR NEXT STEP. AHH IS UNIQUE ENSURING PREREQUISITES ARE MET FOR A WARM HANDOFF. IN SOME CASES, AHH WILL PROVIDE TEMPORARY HOUSING AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, FOLLOW-UP WITH ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. DISCHARGE ASSISTANCE ACCOUNTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF THOSE AHH ASSIST INCLUDE THOSE MOVING TO RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE.RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE AHH OPERATES 3 RESPITE HOUSES TARGETING OTHERWISE UNHOUSED MEN WHO LACK THE RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY, ACCESS AND FOLLOW-THROUGH WITH SERVICES. FOOD, SHELTER AND BASIC NEEDS ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE, SO RESIDENTS CAN FOCUS ON PLANS FOR RECOVERY AND REINTEGRATION. AHH PROVIDED WRAP-AROUND SERVICES INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK. SCHOOL, APPOINTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT LED TO OR RESULTED FROM BEING UNHOUSED. SIMILARLY, IN-HOUSE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON LIFE/COPING SKILLS, RECOVERY, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS, TO NAME A FEW, SO RESIDENTS WILL THRIVE AND LEAD FULFILLING LIVES. THE RESPITE HOUSES PROVIDE A CLEAN/SOBER ENVIRONMENT WITH PEER SUPPORT 24/7. AHH ALSO OPERATES 3 TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITIES. INDIVIDUALS MAY PROGRESS THROUGH THESE LEVELS OF SERVICE. FOR INSTANCE, MOST RESPITE HOUSE RESIDENTS WERE INITIALLY DISCHARGE ASSISTANCE CLIENTS REFERRED BY CASE WORKERS. BESIDES THE OBVIOUS BENEFIT TO THE INDIVIDUALS, THIS PROGRAM BENEFITS OTHER SAFETY NET PROVIDERS AND OUR WIDER COMMUNITY. DURING THE RE-ACCREDITATION PROCESS, TWO URBAN CORE HOSPITALS CITED AHH AS A PRIMARY MEANS OF ASSISTING UNHOUSED PATIENTS BEING RELEASED. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN CREDITED WITH REDUCING RECIDIVISM AND FRAGMENTATION AND DUPLICATION OF SERVICES. RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDES THE MOST DRAMATIC IMPACT. AHH HOUSED 245 MEN IN 2024, AN AVEERAGE OF 64 EACH NIGHT. OF THOSE, 178 WERE AT RESPITE HOUSE. ONCE STABILIZED, 85%-90% OF RESPITE HOUSE RESIDENTS PROGRESS TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, INDEPENDENT LIVING, REUNITE WITH FAMILY OR TAKE ANOTHER STEP IN THEIR RECOVERY PLAN. AROUND 80% OF RESIDENTS MAINTAIN SOBRIETY (VS. 40%-60% IN OTHER SETTINGS) AND 80%-85% ARE EMPLOYED AT DISCHARGE. THEY HAVE GONE ON TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS, BECOME HUSBANDS AND FATHERS AND, IN SOME CASES, HOMEOWNERS. A RECENT STUDY OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY PROGRAM DETERMINED PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS HAD FEWER SUBSEQUENT JAIL STAYS AND AMBULANCE CALLS THAN A CONTROL GROUP THAT DID NOT PARTICIPATE. THE STUDY VALUED THE ANNUAL JAIL AND AMBULANCE COSTS AVOIDED TO BE BETWEEN $336,000 AND $550,000. AN INTERNAL ESTIMATE OF COST AVOIDED BY HOSPITAL EDS WOULD ADD $235,000 TO $395,000. THESE PRIOR RESIDENTS NOW PAY TAXES WHICH FUND THE VERY SERVICES THEY ONCE RELIED UPON.