Permanent Supportive Housing

Partner Services by Hightower BH

Program:

Supportive housing is an innovative and proven solution to some of communities' toughest problems. It combines affordable housing with services that help people who face the most complex challenges to live with stability, autonomy and dignity.

Urban Equity Inc. Supportive Housing program aims to improve housing stability, employment, mental and physical health, and school attendance; and reduces active substance use. We aim to create more stable and productive lives for our participants.

We help build strong, healthy communities by improving the safety of neighborhoods, beautifying city blocks with new or rehabilitated properties, and increasing or stabilizing property values over time.

Services we will provide:

Residents of Urban Equity's supportive housing program are linked to intensive in-house case management and voluntary, life-improving services like health care, workforce development and child welfare.

Qualifications: Structured as a tenancy, where residents pay rent and have the same rights and responsibilities of anyone renting housing. Residency in supportive housing is not contingent on tenants meeting certain behavioral requirements for access to housing.

Moving On Or Moving Up: Once stable, tenants often wish to leave supportive housing in order to have more privacy, reside in a different neighborhood, move closer to family or work/school, or rent a bigger unit. In response to tenant desires and the need to build more supportive housing capacity, we are working with local funders and our local public housing authorities to develop Moving On or Moving Up initiatives that provide tenants who are able and want to move out of supportive housing with a rental subsidy and assistance transitioning to a new apartment.

Transitional Housing vs Permanent Supportive Housing:

While transitional housing is supportive in terms of an individual’s housing journey, it is temporary. The goal of transitional housing is to provide a place to stay while moving toward a more permanent housing situation (this, on average, is about two to three years). Once individuals have developed more independent living skills and stability, they will move toward a more permanent living situation. Think of transitional housing as the bridge between a crisis shelter and permanent housing.

Transitional housing is a space for adults or youth to live while searching for a more permanent home. Transitional housing may include support for addictions, mental health, or other issues. These accommodations are meant to bridge the gap from homelessness to permanent housing by offering supervision, life skills, support services and/or education and training.

In comparison, supportive housing refers to a more permanent, stable living situation. Supportive housing is a type of affordable permanent housing that also makes use of support services for people with different special needs. For example, service providers can make sure people with disabilities or chronic illness manage their diet and medicine properly. Supportive housing does not have a limit on how long a person stays within the supportive housing setting. This type of housing aims to help people live more stable, productive lives. Supportive housing can help people with disabilities access better health care, assist seniors to continue living in the community, and help families in crisis stay together.

Supportive housing is designed for people with developmental disabilities, people with mental illnesses, youth at risk and individuals with low-income housing needs. Each housing option reflects the needs and individuality of its members.