By Jennifer Paradis
Homelessness
Jennifer Paradis
In a world seemingly full of problems, it’s critical to spend equal if not more time sharing solutions. There are many solutions that directly influence, impact and altogether eliminate homelessness in our community. Collectively understanding the value of these solutions is critical to realizing their true potential. However, not all interventions are created equal, and one vastly exceeds the rest.
Supportive housing is an intervention that marries rental subsidies with wraparound, voluntary support services to address the vulnerabilities of each tenant uniquely. Units are subsidized to affordable housing standards, where tenants contribute 30 percent of their income to their rent. Dependent upon each tenant’s need, case management support offers long-term connections to health care resources, workforce development, education, child and family development and more.
In order to qualify for supportive housing, the head of household must be verified as chronically homeless. People who are chronically homeless have experienced homelessness for at least a year – or repeatedly – while struggling with a disabling condition such as a serious mental illness, substance use disorder or physical disability. Although only 10 percent to 15 percent of our total homeless population fall into this category, individuals experiencing chronic homelessness are more likely to cycle through our homeless response system and other parallel systems more frequently. This relatively small subpopulation tends to be the most visible and most vulnerable.
Supportive housing can be site-based, meaning tenants live in the same apartment building with case management offices also on-site. The alternative is scattered site, where tenants shop in the traditional housing market and case management services visit the unit as needed and as desired by the tenant.
Regardless of the model, supportive housing is known to have only positive effects for the surrounding community. There is no linkage between supportive housing sites and decreased property values or increased crime, and housed tenants serve as contributors to local businesses and community culture.
Supportive housing is also considered an exemplar because of its deep roots in “housing first” philosophy. Housing first is an adaptable, evidence-based service model focused on getting families into housing as quickly as possible and offering voluntary support services. The approach assumes that everyone is “housing ready” and that no preconditions (such as treatment first) are required.
But housing first does not mean housing only. It is necessary to have case management services available to assist in maintaining stability.
Evidence proves that a housing first approach reduces high-cost service usage, including fewer nights spent in shelter, fewer arrests and incarcerations events and fewer health and emergency department visits. It instead relies on less costly supportive services and assistance, such as case management linked to supportive housing.
Beth-El Center has successfully operated a supportive housing program for the past 12 years. Nestled within our vibrant downtown, our supportive housing has a 100 percent success rate, with no households returning to homelessness in our program history.
The impact of this success is tremendous. Our tenants, most of whom are elderly and/or disabled, are granted the opportunity to manage their chronic health conditions and return to fruitful activities such as employment, education and/or volunteerism, gaining years on their lives. Further, this is a success story that has saved our community millions. Although the intent of this intervention is to increase housing stability, evidence shows that it reduces the burden on taxpayers by 50 percent, making this a tool that works in everyone’s favor.
Sadly, as homelessness increases in our state, guaranteed investments such as those in supportive housing have not increased to meet the need. Often, those who qualify will never be matched to supportive housing due to chronic system underfunding.
With education comes a commitment to advocating for the resources our community needs and deserves. When presented with an opportunity to endorse supportive housing, please do so. We will all be better for it.
Jennifer Paradis is the executive director of the Beth-El Center in Milford.