Supportive Housing & Housing First
Chronically homeless adults often have multiple needs such as physical or mental illness or drug dependency that may not be adequately addressed even as they repeatedly use the costly health and social services that communities struggle to provide. Housing that connects residents to comprehensive support services on-site – supportive housing – has helped to reduce chronic homelessness in several U.S. cities.
More than $1.2 million was directed toward Housing First, a coalition that is bringing supportive housing models to Cuyahoga County. Housing First is recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development as a best-practice for reducing chronic homelessness.
Housing First is both an initiative and a philosophy that all people, regardless of their situation, should have housing.The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland views affordable housing as vital to supporting families, building stable neighborhoods and reducing poverty. And it has invested more than $9 million to enhance the availability of affordable housing for low-income adults and families.
One of
Cleveland's newest buildings in the Housing First Initiative, South Pointe Commons, celebrated its Grand Opening on October 7th, 2009 with special tours led by formerly homeless residents (left).
Developed by the Cleveland Housing Network and
EDEN, Inc.
the residence combines 82 supportive housing units with 2000 square feet of retail space on the first floor.
The Plain Dealer described the building as being "an example of one of the biggest trends happening in the nonprofit sector, collaboration."
In late 2001, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, in partnership with Enterprise Community Partners
and Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services,
brought together 17 housing and service providers, foundations and advocating in the Housing First Inititative.
The Initiative was created to address the challenge of housing the chronically homeless, to learn about the permanent supportive housing model, and to develop a strategy for bringing this model to Cuyahoga County. The shared goal is to develop 1,000 units of permanent supportive housing in Cuyahoga County. The count is now 511.
The Housing First model of permanent supportive housing is recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development as a best-practice for reducing chronic homelessness. It provides “housing first” – affordable permanent housing where services are available but not mandatory.
The Housing First approach provides housing stability as a first step so that residents are better able to address their other needs. This model quickly places people into stable housing and then links them with services. In contrast, service-enriched housing, even some transitional housing typically requires services or treatment as a condition for shelter.
In November 2001, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, in partnership with the Enterprise Foundation and the Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services, convened 17 housing and service providers, foundations, and advocates in the Housing First Initiative.
The Initiative was created to address the challenge of housing the chronically homeless, to learn about the permanent supportive housing model, and to develop a strategy for bringing this model to Cuyahoga County.
A Commitment to Affordable Housing
Since 1998, the Sisters of Charity Foundation has supported organizations with programs to create a wide range of housing opportunities for low-income individuals and families, combined with advocacy efforts to improve the continuum of care for the homeless.
Three strategic objectives encompass the Foundation’s Supportive Housing Initiative. Through these objectives the Foundation will work towards one goal: improving our community’s capacity to increase the availability of quality, permanent housing with supportive services to help those in need and reduce poverty in Cuyahoga County.
Supportive Housing Initiative – 3 Strategic Objectives
• Permanent supportive housing for long-term homeless single adults
• Supporting at-risk families and youth to remain housed
• Advocacy to effect positive policy reform addressing the full homeless continuum of care
The Foundation is supporting the YWCA's Independence Place which will help support young women aging out of foster care with secure and safe housing.
The Foundation works with the National Center on Family Homelessness to track the outcomes of this Initiative.