Supportive Housing:
What are the key principles of supportive housing?

In practice, supportive housing programs have been designed to serve a wide range of individuals. Variations in program philosophy, size, location, tenant mix, staffing, and level of support are among the many elements that make each housing site different from the next. A tenancy could, for instance, include working people, the unemployed and underemployed, people living with mental illness or AIDS, physically ill individuals, the formerly homeless, and substance users in recovery or still using, among others. Affordability and the flexibility to adapt services to the needs of the tenants are the greatest strengths of effective supportive housing projects. Although there are many differences among supportive housing programs, the following core principles have informed and guided the model’s development.

Permanence and Affordability: A primary purpose of supportive housing has been to increase the availability of permanent housing to low-income people, particularly those who have been homeless or have disabilities or special needs. Typically, tenants pay rent in an amount that does not exceed 30 percent of their income. Many sponsors rely upon rent subsidy programs such as Section 8 and Shelter Plus Care to make projects affordable and financially viable.

Safety and Comfort: Tenants should be safe and feel comfortable in their homes. Meeting or exceeding building codes and providing extra security and comforts when resources allow are efforts that all tenants appreciate. It is important that safety concerns expressed by tenants are promptly addressed, and both the staff and tenants should feel that they have some collective control over their environment. In housing where people feel part of a larger community, they are also more likely to look out for their neighbors and work together.

Support Services Are Accessible and Flexible, and Target Housing Stability: The tenants’ needs and goals should be clearly reflected in the design of the supportive services program. Service programs also require adjustment as the needs and interests of individual tenants and the larger housing community evolve and change. Support services should help ensure stability, maximize each tenant’s ability to be self-sufficient, and be appealing and easily accessible.

Projects vary in how they provide or arrange for services, but they uniformly stress housing stability as a basic and primary goal. In promoting housing stability, service providers focus on helping tenants meet their lease obligations, including paying rent, maintaining a safe and healthy living environment, allowing others the peaceful enjoyment of their homes, and complying with basic house rules. Depending on the interests of the tenants and the type of resources available, services can be shaped to have the widest possible appeal and may range from small support groups to classes in cooking, the arts, high school equivalency, and vocational counseling. Linkages with health and mental health services, legal services, immigration services, and local entitlement benefits offices are usually essential. Although tenants sometimes need to be actively encouraged to use program resources, it is up to the service provider to make the program relevant, available, and inviting to tenants.

Empowerment and Independence: Supportive housing is intended for people who can live independently as well as for those who require some support. Service programs should be designed to empower and foster independence among tenants. Examples of empowerment efforts are:

Involving tenants in the management of a supportive housing project
Providing employment opportunities
Encouraging tenant councils and advisory groups

Empowerment also translates into tenants having control over lifestyle choices, even though they may conflict with the housing sponsor’s preferences. Alcohol use and gambling, for example, are issues that can be challenging. Similarly, some tenants will prefer to have limited, if any, interaction with the supportive services staff or other tenants. In the final analysis, tenants are in their homes and service providers are there to be supportive. Independence is expressed in many ways. Developing meaningful structures that empower tenants helps to ensure long-term success.

(Source: Developing the "Support" in Supportive Housing)

About Funders Together Chronic Homelessness General Questions About Homelessness Health and Mental Illness Housing Advocacy Role of Funders Supportive Housing Family Homelessness Free Monthly E-Newsletter Sign Up for Monthly E-News and Other Announcements	Home : Question & Answers : Supportive Housing Supportive Housing: What are the key principles of supportive housing? In practice, supportive housing programs have been designed to serve a wide range of individuals. Variations in program philosophy, size, location, tenant mix, staffing, and level of support are among the many elements that make each housing site different from the next. A tenancy could, for instance, include working people, the unemployed and underemployed, people living with mental illness or AIDS, physically ill individuals, the formerly homeless, and substance users in recovery or still using, among others. Affordability and the flexibility to adapt services to the needs of the tenants are the greatest strengths of effective supportive housing projects. Although there are many differences among supportive housing programs, the following core principles have informed and guided the model’s development. Permanence and Affordability: A primary purpose of supportive housing has been to increase the availability of permanent housing to low-income people, particularly those who have been homeless or have disabilities or special needs. Typically, tenants pay rent in an amount that does not exceed 30 percent of their income. Many sponsors rely upon rent subsidy programs such as Section 8 and Shelter Plus Care to make projects affordable and financially viable. Safety and Comfort: Tenants should be safe and feel comfortable in their homes. Meeting or exceeding building codes and providing extra security and comforts when resources allow are efforts that all tenants appreciate. It is important that safety concerns expressed by tenants are promptly addressed, and both the staff and tenants should feel that they have some collective control over their environment. In housing where people feel part of a larger community, they are also more likely to look out for their neighbors and work together. Support Services Are Accessible and Flexible, and Target Housing Stability: The tenants’ needs and goals should be clearly reflected in the design of the supportive services program. Service programs also require adjustment as the needs and interests of individual tenants and the larger housing community evolve and change. Support services should help ensure stability, maximize each tenant’s ability to be self-sufficient, and be appealing and easily accessible. Projects vary in how they provide or arrange for services, but they uniformly stress housing stability as a basic and primary goal. In promoting housing stability, service providers focus on helping tenants meet their lease obligations, including paying rent, maintaining a safe and healthy living environment, allowing others the peaceful enjoyment of their homes, and complying with basic house rules. Depending on the interests of the tenants and the type of resources available, services can be shaped to have the widest possible appeal and may range from small support groups to classes in cooking, the arts, high school equivalency, and vocational counseling. Linkages with health and mental health services, legal services, immigration services, and local entitlement benefits offices are usually essential. Although tenants sometimes need to be actively encouraged to use program resources, it is up to the service provider to make the program relevant, available, and inviting to tenants. Empowerment and Independence: Supportive housing is intended for people who can live independently as well as for those who require some support. Service programs should be designed to empower and foster independence among tenants. Examples of empowerment efforts are: Involving tenants in the management of a supportive housing project Providing employment opportunities Encouraging tenant councils and advisory groups Empowerment also translates into tenants having control over lifestyle choices, even though they may conflict with the housing sponsor’s preferences. Alcohol use and gambling, for example, are issues that can be challenging. Similarly, some tenants will prefer to have limited, if any, interaction with the supportive services staff or other tenants. In the final analysis, tenants are in their homes and service providers are there to be supportive. Independence is expressed in many ways. Developing meaningful structures that empower tenants helps to ensure long-term success. (Source: Developing the "Support" in Supportive Housing) Other questions & answers related to this topic: What is supportive housing? Does supportive housing have the "look and feel" of other types of housing? How does supportive housing work to end homelessness? What impact does supportive housing have on health, employment, mental illness, and substance abuse in communities where it is has been implemented? What is the cost of supportive housing? What are some examples of communities where permanent supportive housing has been used effectively? What types of services are typically provided in supportive housing programs?	SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS Find what you were looking for in Q&A? If not, click here to submit your question directly to us. READ MORE ON... Affordable Housing Chronic Homelessness Health and Mental Illness Supportive Housing

Supportive Housing:What are the key principles of supportive housing?

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Supportive Housing:
What are the key principles of supportive housing?