Supportive housing is permanent housing with social services for the formerly homeless, people with mental and/or medical disabilities, the elderly, and low-income individuals. Supportive housing combines affordable accommodations with services like mental health and substance abuse counseling, job training and placement, community activities, and help with life skills like cooking and money management.

Why was it developed? Supportive housing was created by non-profits around the country as a more holistic response to homelessness. According to the 2002 Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness, at least 55% of homeless single adults in the United States have problems such as mental illness, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS — problems which contribute to their homelessness. By offering a variety of support services designed to address these issues, supportive housing has paved the way for an effective approach to solving homelessness.

What does it look like? It looks like every other type of housing because it is like other housing. Tenants have their own apartments, hold their own leases and are responsible for upholding the terms of those leases. In West Hollywood, California, supportive housing can be rehabilitated bungalows; in Ohio, it can be six two-unit houses; in New York City, it can be an old hotel restored to house hundreds of people. What’s important – both for neighbors and tenants – is that supportive housing is integrated both socially and physically into the surrounding community, and maintains quality property management.

Does it really offer an effective solution to homelessness? Two long-term government studies have shown that more than 83% of the homeless individuals placed in supportive housing have remained in permanent housing and have reintegrated into mainstream society.

To develop Moore Place, the Urban Ministry Center and David Furman Center City Works will be partnering with Common Ground Institute which has developed more than 2200 units of permanent supportive housing to bring best practices to our region.  To learn more about supportive housing, click here

Photo:  Both the residents and the tomatoes are thriving in our pilot housing program, Homeless to Homes.