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Capital Investment for Social Success | Vanessa Fry | TEDxSunValley


[Applause]

[Applause] balance it’s something my five-year-old

balance it’s something my five-year-old

balance it’s something my five-year-old seeks out on nearly a daily basis for

seeks out on nearly a daily basis for

seeks out on nearly a daily basis for the mirror thrill of it as adults

the mirror thrill of it as adults

the mirror thrill of it as adults balance seems to become more of a

balance seems to become more of a

balance seems to become more of a dichotomous relationship between two

dichotomous relationship between two

dichotomous relationship between two things neither of which we can really

things neither of which we can really

things neither of which we can really live without intellect versus heart

live without intellect versus heart

live without intellect versus heart right versus left religion versus

right versus left religion versus

right versus left religion versus science I’m sure looking back on your

science I’m sure looking back on your

science I’m sure looking back on your own life you can see where you’ve sought

own life you can see where you’ve sought

own life you can see where you’ve sought a balance I can too and I found that

a balance I can too and I found that

a balance I can too and I found that balancing two seemingly different issues

balancing two seemingly different issues

balancing two seemingly different issues can actually be quite beneficial rather

can actually be quite beneficial rather

can actually be quite beneficial rather than compete with one another they can

than compete with one another they can

than compete with one another they can strengthen each other and I found this

strengthen each other and I found this

strengthen each other and I found this in my work as well the last fourteen

in my work as well the last fourteen

in my work as well the last fourteen years I’ve lived in both Boise and Sun

years I’ve lived in both Boise and Sun

years I’ve lived in both Boise and Sun Valley Idaho but I’ve had the

Valley Idaho but I’ve had the

Valley Idaho but I’ve had the opportunity to work all across the state

opportunity to work all across the state

opportunity to work all across the state I’ve worked on issues like homelessness

I’ve worked on issues like homelessness

I’ve worked on issues like homelessness and recidivism and transportation and

and recidivism and transportation and

and recidivism and transportation and economic development and I’ve had

economic development and I’ve had

economic development and I’ve had opportunity work with all kinds of

opportunity work with all kinds of

opportunity work with all kinds of people liberals and conservatives

people liberals and conservatives

people liberals and conservatives ranchers and executives nonprofits and

ranchers and executives nonprofits and

ranchers and executives nonprofits and government agencies as you can imagine

government agencies as you can imagine

government agencies as you can imagine I’ve seen all kinds of conflicts under

I’ve seen all kinds of conflicts under

I’ve seen all kinds of conflicts under the surface of those conflicts however I

the surface of those conflicts however I

the surface of those conflicts however I found people who seem to have the same

found people who seem to have the same

found people who seem to have the same goals in mind a strong economy a healthy

goals in mind a strong economy a healthy

goals in mind a strong economy a healthy environment and opportunities for all

environment and opportunities for all

environment and opportunities for all it’s not the long-term goal they’re in

it’s not the long-term goal they’re in

it’s not the long-term goal they’re in conflict about rather it’s the pathways

conflict about rather it’s the pathways

conflict about rather it’s the pathways to achieving them by bringing together

to achieving them by bringing together

to achieving them by bringing together groups and helping them focus on

groups and helping them focus on

groups and helping them focus on outcomes we can balance out with what is

outcomes we can balance out with what is

outcomes we can balance out with what is otherwise a contentious and very

otherwise a contentious and very

otherwise a contentious and very ineffective situation you see balance

ineffective situation you see balance

ineffective situation you see balance isn’t about a dichotomous relationship

isn’t about a dichotomous relationship

isn’t about a dichotomous relationship it’s about a collaborative one

it’s about a collaborative one

it’s about a collaborative one it’s about not about a relationship

it’s about not about a relationship

it’s about not about a relationship where there are winners and losers but a

where there are winners and losers but a

where there are winners and losers but a relationship where knowledge and

relationship where knowledge and

relationship where knowledge and resources can combine to address a

resources can combine to address a

resources can combine to address a common goal and I think this is key to

common goal and I think this is key to

common goal and I think this is key to solving many of the issues in the world

solving many of the issues in the world

solving many of the issues in the world today let’s look at one issue I’ve been

today let’s look at one issue I’ve been

today let’s look at one issue I’ve been working on lately chronic homelessness

working on lately chronic homelessness

working on lately chronic homelessness chronically homeless individuals have

chronically homeless individuals have

chronically homeless individuals have been without housing for a year or more

been without housing for a year or more

been without housing for a year or more and they also have a disabling condition

and they also have a disabling condition

and they also have a disabling condition like heart disease or diabetes or long

like heart disease or diabetes or long

like heart disease or diabetes or long term substance misuse so the last year

term substance misuse so the last year

term substance misuse so the last year I’ve been working on addressing issues

I’ve been working on addressing issues

I’ve been working on addressing issues related to chronic homelessness and Ada

related to chronic homelessness and Ada

related to chronic homelessness and Ada County Idaho home to our state’s capital

County Idaho home to our state’s capital

County Idaho home to our state’s capital Boise I went into my work specifically

Boise I went into my work specifically

Boise I went into my work specifically looking at the financial cost that

looking at the financial cost that

looking at the financial cost that homelessness has on the community and I

homelessness has on the community and I

homelessness has on the community and I was completely blown away completely

was completely blown away completely

was completely blown away completely blown away there’s one in July met that

blown away there’s one in July met that

blown away there’s one in July met that really stuck out his name is Joe Joe’s

really stuck out his name is Joe Joe’s

really stuck out his name is Joe Joe’s in his mid-40s and for nearly his entire

in his mid-40s and for nearly his entire

in his mid-40s and for nearly his entire adult life Joe has suffered from serious

adult life Joe has suffered from serious

adult life Joe has suffered from serious substance misuse mainly the misuse of

substance misuse mainly the misuse of

substance misuse mainly the misuse of alcohol for the last few years Joe has

alcohol for the last few years Joe has

alcohol for the last few years Joe has also been homeless Joe certainly has

also been homeless Joe certainly has

also been homeless Joe certainly has issues related to his and costs related

issues related to his and costs related

issues related to his and costs related to his homelessness and substance misuse

to his homelessness and substance misuse

to his homelessness and substance misuse but what we found in our research is

but what we found in our research is

but what we found in our research is there are staggering costs to the

there are staggering costs to the

there are staggering costs to the community as well in talking with Joe he

community as well in talking with Joe he

community as well in talking with Joe he shared with me that in order to access

shared with me that in order to access

shared with me that in order to access alcohol he would steal hand sanitizer

alcohol he would steal hand sanitizer

alcohol he would steal hand sanitizer from drugstores bathrooms and

from drugstores bathrooms and

from drugstores bathrooms and porta-potties due to its highly chemical

porta-potties due to its highly chemical

porta-potties due to its highly chemical nature Joe had become violently ill when

nature Joe had become violently ill when

nature Joe had become violently ill when consuming it often requiring medical

consuming it often requiring medical

consuming it often requiring medical attention Joe let me look into a six

attention Joe let me look into a six

attention Joe let me look into a six month period of his life really dug into

month period of his life really dug into

month period of his life really dug into it to see what his interactions were

it to see what his interactions were

it to see what his interactions were with the community 11 times the

with the community 11 times the

with the community 11 times the paramedics were dispatched to assist Joe

paramedics were dispatched to assist Joe

paramedics were dispatched to assist Joe we found at least 13 occasions he went

we found at least 13 occasions he went

we found at least 13 occasions he went to a local emergency room for help

to a local emergency room for help

to a local emergency room for help because Joe steals the hand sanitizer

because Joe steals the hand sanitizer

because Joe steals the hand sanitizer tresspasses and is often publicly

tresspasses and is often publicly

tresspasses and is often publicly intoxicated he had on multiple occasions

intoxicated he had on multiple occasions

intoxicated he had on multiple occasions come into contact with the criminal

come into contact with the criminal

come into contact with the criminal justice system

justice system

justice system again in that same six months Joe was

again in that same six months Joe was

again in that same six months Joe was arrested 14 times and had 22 charges

arrested 14 times and had 22 charges

arrested 14 times and had 22 charges brought against him in addition he spent

brought against him in addition he spent

brought against him in addition he spent 95 days in the Ada County Jail the total

95 days in the Ada County Jail the total

95 days in the Ada County Jail the total community spending on Joe’s actions was

community spending on Joe’s actions was

community spending on Joe’s actions was over fifty thousand dollars and that’s

over fifty thousand dollars and that’s

over fifty thousand dollars and that’s just in six months time what if you had

just in six months time what if you had

just in six months time what if you had a hundred Joe’s in your community a

a hundred Joe’s in your community a

a hundred Joe’s in your community a hundred people experiencing chronic

hundred people experiencing chronic

hundred people experiencing chronic homelessness well that’s exactly what

homelessness well that’s exactly what

homelessness well that’s exactly what ADA County Idaho was facing my task was

ADA County Idaho was facing my task was

ADA County Idaho was facing my task was to look at the cost the community was

to look at the cost the community was

to look at the cost the community was incurring due to those hundred people

incurring due to those hundred people

incurring due to those hundred people I was shocked completely shocked to find

I was shocked completely shocked to find

I was shocked completely shocked to find out that on an annual basis ADA County

out that on an annual basis ADA County

out that on an annual basis ADA County was spending over five million dollars

was spending over five million dollars

was spending over five million dollars to address issues related to chronic

to address issues related to chronic

to address issues related to chronic homelessness in speaking with people

homelessness in speaking with people

homelessness in speaking with people across the community during my research

across the community during my research

across the community during my research I also realized that there are cost that

I also realized that there are cost that

I also realized that there are cost that I’ve had a really hard time quantifying

I’ve had a really hard time quantifying

I’ve had a really hard time quantifying for instance one of the costs to a

for instance one of the costs to a

for instance one of the costs to a private sector business proximate to a

private sector business proximate to a

private sector business proximate to a homelessness encampment or to

homelessness encampment or to

homelessness encampment or to panhandling activities what social cost

panhandling activities what social cost

panhandling activities what social cost is the community face when a homeless

is the community face when a homeless

is the community face when a homeless person dies due to exposure or other

person dies due to exposure or other

person dies due to exposure or other incidences so I was pretty confident

incidences so I was pretty confident

incidences so I was pretty confident that the annual spending on chronic

that the annual spending on chronic

that the annual spending on chronic homelessness was at least 5.3 million

homelessness was at least 5.3 million

homelessness was at least 5.3 million dollars but it’s really much greater

dollars but it’s really much greater

dollars but it’s really much greater than that we know it’s much greater than

than that we know it’s much greater than

than that we know it’s much greater than that in my work I was able to meet with

that in my work I was able to meet with

that in my work I was able to meet with people across all sectors in Ada County

people across all sectors in Ada County

people across all sectors in Ada County and I came to discover they really had

and I came to discover they really had

and I came to discover they really had one long-term outcome they desired to

one long-term outcome they desired to

one long-term outcome they desired to end homelessness but when I spoke with

end homelessness but when I spoke with

end homelessness but when I spoke with them that’s not the narrative they used

them that’s not the narrative they used

them that’s not the narrative they used they talked about outputs like days in

they talked about outputs like days in

they talked about outputs like days in the jail

the jail

the jail or nights in the emergency shelter

or nights in the emergency shelter

or nights in the emergency shelter instead of focusing on the long-term

instead of focusing on the long-term

instead of focusing on the long-term desired outcome of ending homelessness

desired outcome of ending homelessness

desired outcome of ending homelessness the community wasn’t coming together to

the community wasn’t coming together to

the community wasn’t coming together to address a common goal rather they’re

address a common goal rather they’re

address a common goal rather they’re acting in a mindset of scarcity

acting in a mindset of scarcity

acting in a mindset of scarcity regarding the limited resources

regarding the limited resources

regarding the limited resources available and they were using those

available and they were using those

available and they were using those resources to treat the symptoms of

resources to treat the symptoms of

resources to treat the symptoms of homelessness rather than the root causes

homelessness rather than the root causes

homelessness rather than the root causes behind it the result

behind it the result

behind it the result chronic homelessness was on the rise in

chronic homelessness was on the rise in

chronic homelessness was on the rise in Ada County rather than a decline this is

Ada County rather than a decline this is

Ada County rather than a decline this is just one example we can see the same

just one example we can see the same

just one example we can see the same story played out across the country on

story played out across the country on

story played out across the country on an annual basis the u.s. spends upwards

an annual basis the u.s. spends upwards

an annual basis the u.s. spends upwards of eight hundred billion dollars on

of eight hundred billion dollars on

of eight hundred billion dollars on social programs yet we haven’t seen much

social programs yet we haven’t seen much

social programs yet we haven’t seen much improvement in many social issues since

improvement in many social issues since

improvement in many social issues since the 1970s K through 12 reading and math

the 1970s K through 12 reading and math

the 1970s K through 12 reading and math achievement rates have remained stagnant

achievement rates have remained stagnant

achievement rates have remained stagnant despite a 90% increase in public

despite a 90% increase in public

despite a 90% increase in public spending per student the poverty level

spending per student the poverty level

spending per student the poverty level has remained at 15%

has remained at 15%

has remained at 15% and we spend billions of dollars a year

and we spend billions of dollars a year

and we spend billions of dollars a year on chronic disease management yet sixty

on chronic disease management yet sixty

on chronic disease management yet sixty percent of people in the u.s. or obese

percent of people in the u.s. or obese

percent of people in the u.s. or obese or overweight what is going on here what

or overweight what is going on here what

or overweight what is going on here what are we doing how can we be spending

are we doing how can we be spending

are we doing how can we be spending eight hundred billion dollars a year and

eight hundred billion dollars a year and

eight hundred billion dollars a year and not be seeing significant improvements

not be seeing significant improvements

not be seeing significant improvements we are clearly not balancing fiscal

we are clearly not balancing fiscal

we are clearly not balancing fiscal responsibility with social well-being

responsibility with social well-being

responsibility with social well-being and at this rate both are suffering

and at this rate both are suffering

and at this rate both are suffering we’ve probably all heard the old

we’ve probably all heard the old

we’ve probably all heard the old additive an ounce of prevention is worth

additive an ounce of prevention is worth

additive an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure well it’s time for us to

a pound of cure well it’s time for us to

a pound of cure well it’s time for us to just stop quoting this metaphor and

just stop quoting this metaphor and

just stop quoting this metaphor and actually move forward with it by

actually move forward with it by

actually move forward with it by balancing the private public and

balancing the private public and

balancing the private public and nonprofit sector interest we can

nonprofit sector interest we can

nonprofit sector interest we can fundamentally shift the delivery of

fundamentally shift the delivery of

fundamentally shift the delivery of social service programs in the US and be

social service programs in the US and be

social service programs in the US and be more effective and save resources while

more effective and save resources while

more effective and save resources while doing so there’s a new and innovative

doing so there’s a new and innovative

doing so there’s a new and innovative multi 6er initiative that does just that

multi 6er initiative that does just that

multi 6er initiative that does just that it’s called pay for success first a

it’s called pay for success first a

it’s called pay for success first a community comes together and they

community comes together and they

community comes together and they identify an issue and they also look

identify an issue and they also look

identify an issue and they also look towards a long-term outcome they desired

towards a long-term outcome they desired

towards a long-term outcome they desired let’s use the Ada County example I

let’s use the Ada County example I

let’s use the Ada County example I talked about here

talked about here

talked about here the long-term goal they wanted was to

the long-term goal they wanted was to

the long-term goal they wanted was to end homelessness and the issue was was

end homelessness and the issue was was

end homelessness and the issue was was chronic homelessness next the community

chronic homelessness next the community

chronic homelessness next the community works with the facilitator to determine

works with the facilitator to determine

works with the facilitator to determine a program that will address that issue

a program that will address that issue

a program that will address that issue in 2015 Mayor Dave theater convened a

in 2015 Mayor Dave theater convened a

in 2015 Mayor Dave theater convened a housing and homelessness roundtable

housing and homelessness roundtable

housing and homelessness roundtable group and with the help of asila Terre

group and with the help of asila Terre

group and with the help of asila Terre that group selected housing first as a

that group selected housing first as a

that group selected housing first as a program that had been proven effective

program that had been proven effective

program that had been proven effective to reduce issues related to chronic

to reduce issues related to chronic

to reduce issues related to chronic homelessness and other communities like

homelessness and other communities like

homelessness and other communities like Salt Lake County Utah

Salt Lake County Utah

Salt Lake County Utah next the community looks to if someone

next the community looks to if someone

next the community looks to if someone to do a feasibility assessment to look

to do a feasibility assessment to look

to do a feasibility assessment to look to see if the program and pay for

to see if the program and pay for

to see if the program and pay for success will work for them

success will work for them

success will work for them and this is where my research came in I

and this is where my research came in I

and this is where my research came in I need to look at the current cost the

need to look at the current cost the

need to look at the current cost the community was spending on chronic

community was spending on chronic

community was spending on chronic homelessness that 5.3 million dollars

homelessness that 5.3 million dollars

homelessness that 5.3 million dollars and compare it to the costs that the

and compare it to the costs that the

and compare it to the costs that the housing first program would have and I

housing first program would have and I

housing first program would have and I found housing first on an annual

found housing first on an annual

found housing first on an annual operating basis would cost the community

operating basis would cost the community

operating basis would cost the community about 1.6 million dollars but I also

about 1.6 million dollars but I also

about 1.6 million dollars but I also need to look at the the any savings the

need to look at the the any savings the

need to look at the the any savings the community would have due to the program

community would have due to the program

community would have due to the program if we put a hundred chronically homeless

if we put a hundred chronically homeless

if we put a hundred chronically homeless individuals into a housing first program

individuals into a housing first program

individuals into a housing first program we know they’d have less time in the

we know they’d have less time in the

we know they’d have less time in the criminal justice emergency medical and

criminal justice emergency medical and

criminal justice emergency medical and emergency shelter systems in the

emergency shelter systems in the

emergency shelter systems in the community if they implemented the

community if they implemented the

community if they implemented the program I found the community would save

program I found the community would save

program I found the community would save upwards of 2.7 million dollars a year

upwards of 2.7 million dollars a year

upwards of 2.7 million dollars a year just by implementing the program next

just by implementing the program next

just by implementing the program next the communities to fund that program and

the communities to fund that program and

the communities to fund that program and so they look for contributions and

so they look for contributions and

so they look for contributions and investments to do so in Ada County they

investments to do so in Ada County they

investments to do so in Ada County they decided to steal their housing first

decided to steal their housing first

decided to steal their housing first program to serve 40 chronically homeless

program to serve 40 chronically homeless

program to serve 40 chronically homeless individuals and at that level they were

individuals and at that level they were

individuals and at that level they were able to raise all the funding from

able to raise all the funding from

able to raise all the funding from contributions if they wanted to scale

contributions if they wanted to scale

contributions if they wanted to scale that program up to serve all chronically

that program up to serve all chronically

that program up to serve all chronically homeless individuals they would likely

homeless individuals they would likely

homeless individuals they would likely look to private and philanthropic

look to private and philanthropic

look to private and philanthropic investors to do so finally the program

investors to do so finally the program

investors to do so finally the program is implemented in 2017 experienced

is implemented in 2017 experienced

is implemented in 2017 experienced nonprofits will launch housing first in

nonprofits will launch housing first in

nonprofits will launch housing first in Ada County an evaluator will track the

Ada County an evaluator will track the

Ada County an evaluator will track the progress of the program and note the

progress of the program and note the

progress of the program and note the outcomes as well as any cost saved if

outcomes as well as any cost saved if

outcomes as well as any cost saved if the program is deemed successful the

the program is deemed successful the

the program is deemed successful the community will likely look to those

community will likely look to those

community will likely look to those investors for capital to fund the

investors for capital to fund the

investors for capital to fund the program if the scaled up program is also

program if the scaled up program is also

program if the scaled up program is also successful those investors will actually

successful those investors will actually

successful those investors will actually get paid back their interest the

get paid back their interest the

get paid back their interest the interest and their cap

interest and their cap

interest and their cap if the program is not successful the

if the program is not successful the

if the program is not successful the investors won’t be paid back 12 pay for

investors won’t be paid back 12 pay for

investors won’t be paid back 12 pay for success projects that are launched

success projects that are launched

success projects that are launched across the country in nine different

across the country in nine different

across the country in nine different states they bring a community together

states they bring a community together

states they bring a community together around a common problem and they address

around a common problem and they address

around a common problem and they address the root causes to social issues like

the root causes to social issues like

the root causes to social issues like chronic homelessness recidivism school

chronic homelessness recidivism school

chronic homelessness recidivism school readiness and teenage pregnancy pay for

readiness and teenage pregnancy pay for

readiness and teenage pregnancy pay for success mandates the balancing of

success mandates the balancing of

success mandates the balancing of multiple sectors in a way where we all

multiple sectors in a way where we all

multiple sectors in a way where we all come together to address a common goal

come together to address a common goal

come together to address a common goal this balance can shift the paradigm of

this balance can shift the paradigm of

this balance can shift the paradigm of reactive social spending in a way in

reactive social spending in a way in

reactive social spending in a way in which we can serve our communities much

which we can serve our communities much

which we can serve our communities much better in the long run and be more

better in the long run and be more

better in the long run and be more proactive and effective while doing so

proactive and effective while doing so

proactive and effective while doing so by focusing on a common goal we too can

by focusing on a common goal we too can

by focusing on a common goal we too can balance we can balance fiscal

balance we can balance fiscal

balance we can balance fiscal responsibility with social well-being

responsibility with social well-being

responsibility with social well-being increase our children’s literacy reduce

increase our children’s literacy reduce

increase our children’s literacy reduce our nation’s obesity decrease the number

our nation’s obesity decrease the number

our nation’s obesity decrease the number of people in the criminal criminal

of people in the criminal criminal

of people in the criminal criminal justice system and yes and homelessness

justice system and yes and homelessness

justice system and yes and homelessness now these are outcomes we can all get

now these are outcomes we can all get

now these are outcomes we can all get behind thank you

”

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