6.9 transitioning out of transitional housing (winter)

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

janel.winter@csh.org