Among Top 50 Government Innovations for 2006 Semifinalist for
Prestigious Innovations in American Government Award

March 24, 2006 – Department of Homeless Services Acting Commissioner Fran Winter announced today that HomeBase, a community-based homelessness prevention program, has been recognized by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government – in cooperation with the Council for Excellence in Government, as one of the Top 50 Government Innovations for 2006 and is a semifinalist for the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award.

“The HomeBase prevention program is a major step toward shifting our service model away from a focus on shelter to a focus on actually preventing homelessness,” noted Acting Commissioner Winter.  “This program is a key component of Mayor Bloomberg’s five-year action plan to end chronic homelessness and we’re pleased that it has earned the distinction of being one of the best in the nation.” 

Started in September 2004, HomeBase is a $12 million program that has served more than 3,000 clients, helping them avoid the trauma of homelessness. HomeBase was created around the concept of preventing homelessness before it starts by working with at-risk families in high-need communities and helping them stabilize their housing situation before they reach the point of needing emergency shelter.

Six non-profit organizations - Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB), HELP USA, Church Avenue Merchant’s Block Association (CAMBA), Builders for Family and Youth (BFFY), the Bushwick Collaborative to Prevent Homelessness, and Palladia - offer an array of flexible services designed to meet the individual needs of each client, including job training, entitlements advocacy, assistance with legal action, housing relocation, and in select cases, financial assistance for the payment of rent arrears, or broker’s fees. In all cases, HomeBase staff visits the clients’ home as part of the initial assessment process and a crucial part of the verification procedure.

In addition, the data gathered by HomeBase allows DHS to better measure the specific factors that often lead to a shelter stay, such as eviction and overcrowding and to then respond to residents before they experience a housing crisis. 

“We’re proud to have our peers in government recognize the HomeBase program as a leader in the field of social services,” said Deputy Commissioner of Prevention Services Carine Barometre. “But the real measure of our success is the number of families and individuals we help avoid homelessness.”

  All semi-finalists for the Innovations in American Government Award were selected for their creativity and novelty, effectiveness at addressing significant issues and problems, and ability to be replicated by other jurisdictions. They represent the nation’s very best government efforts in the areas of education and training, criminal justice and public safety, economic and community development, housing, health and human services, management, transportation, public works and environment.

Eighteen finalists will be chosen from the top 50 and announced on May 4 during Public Service Recognition Week. The National Selection Committee on Innovations in American Government will select five winners, in addition to two special awards: the Annie E. Casey Foundation Innovations Award for Children and Family Services and the Fannie Mae Foundation Award for Innovation in Affordable Housing. All seven winners will be announced on July 10 in Washington, D.C.  

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