Key Issues in Converting Transitional Housing to Permanent Supportive Housing Janel Winter Corporation for Supportive Housing July 2010 www.csh.org
Dec 22, 2014
Key Issues in Converting Transitional Housing to Permanent Supportive
Housing
Janel Winter Corporation for Supportive Housing
July 2010www.csh.org
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Overview
Key Considerations Before Making the Decision
Property Management and the Tenant-Landlord Relationship in Permanent Supportive Housing
Services in Permanent Supportive Housing
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Key Considerations
Shift in Philosophy
Property Management in PSH
Service Delivery in PSH
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Permanent Supportive Housing Philosophy
Lease-based housing Housing not contingent upon services Tenants are living in their own homes
– Considerations for building community, location of service delivery, offices, etc.
Main goal = housing stability and living as independently as possible
Key Considerations Before Making the
Decision to Convert
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Key Considerations
Key Considerations Before Making the Decision to Convert Agency Mission & Capacity Population Served Housing Models Financing and Sustainability Property Management and the Tenant-Landlord
Relationship Service Philosophy and Delivery
Property Management and the
Tenant-Landlord Relationship
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Property Management
In PSH, tenants hold leases Governed by tenant law Tenants have legal rights – can
be difficult to evict for anything other than non-payment of rent
Must follow legal eviction process
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Property Management
Who will provide property management?
Own project or lease units and provide property management
Own project but contract with property management company
Tenants lease units directly from private property owner (single site or scattered-site in the community) who provides property management – you provide services
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Property Management
Important to separate social service and property management functions
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Property Management
“Double bottom line” Key practices related to:
Development and enforcement of house rulesCollaborative approaches to tenant selection
and screening, move-in orientation and crisis management
Resident councilsCreation of job opportunities for tenantsRecord-keepingEvictions and problem-solving
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Property Management
Property Management and Service Provision RelationshipMission-driven property managementEstablish clear roles and responsibilitiesRecognize overlap and built-in tension
between roles
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Property Management
Mission-driven property managementCommitted to success of community
and each tenantHouse rules/leases focus on
preserving physical integrity of building and ensuring peaceful enjoyment of building for all tenants
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Property Management
Establish clear roles and responsibilitiesWhat are the roles of service staff?
Of property management? Ongoing forum for discussion & re-
negotiation of roles
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Property Management
Recognize overlap and built-in tension between rolesHow will conflicts between roles be
handled?How can all roles be coordinated to
work for success of tenants?
Service Delivery in Permanent
Supportive Housing
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Service Delivery in Permanent Supportive Housing
In Permanent Supportive Housing, Services Are:FLEXIBLE: Designed to be responsive
to tenants’ needsINDEPENDENT: Focus of services is
on maintaining housing stabilityVOLUNTARY: Participation is not a
condition of tenancy
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Service Delivery in Permanent Supportive Housing
Flexible ServicesServices are tenant-focused and designed to
meet a variety of tenant needsServices are always accessible
Some tenants may choose to use services intensively at first and then decrease
Some tenants may choose to use services episodically
Some tenants may choose to use services intensively for as long as they live in housing
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Service Delivery in Permanent Supportive Housing
Independent ServicesComprehensive Continuum of Services
provided to ensure tenants’ housing stabilityIntensive case managementMedicalMental healthSubstance abuseEmploymentEducationCrisis interventionFinancial literacyOther services that impact housing stability
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Service Delivery in Permanent Supportive Housing
Independent ServicesAll services do NOT have to be
provided directly by sponsorService coordination – connect
tenants with services already available in community
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Service Delivery in Permanent Supportive Housing
Voluntary ServicesHousing is not contingent on
acceptance of servicesIf tenants refuse services, their lease
is not terminated“Natural consequences”
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Service Delivery in Permanent Supportive Housing
Voluntary ServicesHousing providers must offer
services tenants want and needHousing providers must creatively
engage with tenants to encourage them to choose services
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Service Delivery in Permanent Supportive Housing
Voluntary ServicesKey to long-term housing retention for
vulnerable populationsIn housing with voluntary services and
active engagement strategies, tenants engage in services at very high rates
In housing with voluntary services and active engagement strategies, tenants retain housing at higher rates than in housing with mandated services
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Service Delivery in Permanent Supportive Housing
Voluntary ServicesVoluntary services does NOT mean
few/no servicesServices are KEY to increasing
housing retention and ending homelessness
Further Resources
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Service Delivery in Permanent Supportive Housing
HUD Supportive Housing Program: www.hud.gov http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/shp/index.cf
m
CSH Resources: www.csh.orgDeveloping & Operating Permanent
Supportive Housing Toolkit http://www.csh.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageI
d=3685&nodeID=81
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Janel Winter
Associate Director, New Jersey
CSH
650 South Broad Street, 3rd floor
Trenton, NJ 08611
609.392.7820