Overview of the Supportive Housing Program: Program Components

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The SHP program provides funding under the following approaches to supportive housing and/or supportive services. Applicants may propose projects under the following five components:

Transitional Housing

Transitional housing is one type of supportive housing used to facilitate the movement of homeless individuals and families to permanent housing. Basically, it is housing in which homeless persons live for up to 24 months and receive supportive services that enable them to live more independently. The supportive services may be provided by the organization managing the housing or coordinated by them and provided by other public or private agencies. Transitional housing can be provided in one structure or several structures, at one site or in multiple structures at scattered sites.

A homeless family or individual may remain in transitional housing for a period longer than 24 months if permanent housing for the individual or family has not been located or if the individual or family requires additional time to prepare for independent living. (However, HUD may discontinue assistance for a transitional housing project if more than half of the individuals or families remain in that project longer than 24 months.)

SHP support in TH projects

SHP funds can be used in the following ways to provide new transitional housing or expand already existing transitional housing:

	acquisition
	rehabilitation
	new construction
	leasing
	supportive services
	operations
	administration

Limitation of stay in TH

Homeless individuals and families may reside in transitional housing for up to 24 months. However, if permanent housing for the individual or family has not been located or if the individual or family requires additional time to prepare for independent living, they remain for a period longer than 24 months. Assistance may be discontinued for a transitional housing project if more than half of the homeless persons remain in the project longer than 24 months.

Access to supportive services in TH

Transitional housing participants receive supportive services that enable them to live more independently. Project sponsors must describe the accessibility of these services in their project application. Though the services need not be in the same structure, they should be in close proximity to facilitate accessing the services. When services are needed that are not in close proximity, the sponsor should help the persons access the services, such as by providing transportation.

Movement from transitional to permanent housing

Housing placement assistance must be part of any transitional housing program. Transitional housing residents may need assistance with all the tasks and stress involved in locating, obtaining, moving into, and maintaining the housing. Discrimination in the housing market may make the situation more difficult. Without third-party intervention, some graduates may resort to renting substandard or inappropriate housing or relapse into homelessness.

A comprehensive approach to locating housing includes preparing and training clients in searching for, securing, and maintaining their own housing, developing relationships with local producers and managers of housing to which graduates could move, and helping clients establish a savings plan so they can afford to move in.

In many instances, assistance also entails direct contact and negotiation of rental terms in tandem with graduates and money to help pay move-in costs. However, keep in mind that the most successful graduates of transitional housing are those who have taken the lead in deciding where they will live permanently.

Permanent Housing

Permanent housing for homeless persons with disabilities is another type of supportive housing. Basically, it is long-term community-based housing and supportive services for homeless persons with disabilities. The intent of this type of supportive housing is to enable this special needs population to live as independently as possible in a permanent setting. The supportive services may be provided by the organization managing the housing or coordinated by the applicant and provided by other public or private service agencies.

In instances where an applicant proposes a permanent housing structure for more than 16 persons, the applicant must describe in the application how local market conditions necessitate the development of a larger project, provide a comparison of the proposed permanent housing structure with other buildings in the vicinity, and explain how the increased number of homeless persons with disabilities will be successfully integrated into the neighborhood.

SHP support in PHPWD projects

SHP funds can be used in the following ways to provide new permanent housing or expand already existing permanent housing:

	acquisition
	rehabilitation
	new construction
	leasing
	supportive services
	operations
	administration

16-person limit

The housing structure for the Permanent Housing component allows for 16 or fewer persons in a single structure. If there are more than 16 people, then an explanation is required as to how local market conditions necessitate this size, and how neighborhood integration can be achieved for the residents.

Types of PHPWD structures

Structures may include most housing types. For example, they can be apartments, single-family houses, duplexes, group homes, or single-room occupancy rooms.

Persons with disabilities in SHP

In the SHP statute, the PHPWD component is for assisting a homeless person with a disability who has at least one of the following characteristics:
Considered disabled under Section 223 of the Social Security Act;
Determined to have a physical, mental, or emotional impairment of long-continued
duration, impeding the ability to live independently, and of a nature that could be
improved by more suitable housing;
Having a developmental disability;
Having AIDs or conditions arising from its etiological effects.

Safe Havens

A safe haven is a form of supportive housing in which a structure or a clearly identifiable portion of a structure: (1) serves hard-to-reach homeless persons with severe mental illnesses who are on the streets and have been unable or unwilling to participate in supportive services; (2) provides 24-hour residence for an unspecified duration; (3) provides private or semi-private accommodations; (4) may provide for the common use of kitchen facilities, dining rooms, and bathrooms; and (5) in which overnight occupancy is limited to no more than 25 persons. A safe haven may also provide supportive services on a drop-in basis to eligible persons who are not residents.

For many persons with mental illnesses who have been living on the streets, the transition to permanent housing is best made in stages, starting with a small, highly supportive environment where an individual can feel at ease, out of danger, and subject to no immediate service demands. Safe havens do not require participation in services and referrals as a condition of occupancy. Rather, it is hoped that after a period of stabilization in a safe haven, residents will be more willing to participate in services and referrals, and will eventually be ready to move to more traditional forms of housing. Safe havens can serve as an entry point to the service system and provide access to basic services such as food, clothing, bathing facilities, telephones, storage space and a mailing address.

A Safe Haven is a form of supportive housing that serves hard-to-reach homeless persons with severe mental illness who are on the street and have been unable or unwilling to participate in housing or supportive services. Safe Havens serve as a refuge for people who are homeless and have a serious mental illness.

Of the Nation's homeless population, approximately 40 percent have indicators of mental health problems. Escaping homelessness for the person with a severe mental illness is much more difficult because the symptoms may disrupt the very judgment, motivation, and social skills that are essential for community living.

Safe Havens serve as a portal of entry providing basic needs (such as food, showers, clothing), as well as a safe and decent residential alternative for homeless people with severe mental illness who need time to adjust to life off the streets and to develop a willingness and trust to accept services in order to transition to permanent housing.

Due to the special needs of the participants of the Safe Haven projects there are some specific characteristics that contribute to the success of a Safe Haven facility, such as intensive and skilled outreach to this hard-to-reach population; engagement at a pace comfortable for the participant; intake/assessment, understanding that it is this consumer's inability to get through the intake process at traditional shelters that make them candidates for Safe Havens; supportive service delivery at the participant's pace.

Safe Haven Design

Because a Safe Haven is a form of supportive housing it must comply with all of the SHP requirements. In addition specific requirements of a Safe Haven are:

	Serves hard-to-reach homeless person with severe mental illnesses who are on the streets and have been unable or unwilling to participate in supportive services
	Allows 24-hour residence for an unspecified duration
	Has private or semi-private accommodations
	Limits overnight occupancy to no more that 25 persons
	May include a drop-in center as part of outreach activities
	Is a low demand facility where participants have access to needed services, but are not required to utilize them

SHP Support in Safe Havens

Any one or a combination of the following activities can be used to provide a new Safe Haven or expand an already existing Safe Haven:

	acquisition
	rehabilitation
	new construction
	leasing
	supportive services
	operations
	administration

Safe Havens and the Continuum of Care

The success of any Safe Haven project rests upon the strength of the linkages it has with all other components of the Continuum of Care. Through these linkages with the community (particularly the State and local Mental Health Agency) the Safe Haven project can better deal with some of the issues that can arise when developing a Safe Haven. Issues such as NIMBYism; appropriate housing design, and the unique staffing issues for this type of project are just some of the issues that can be overcome by a strong partnership with the local community.

The basic services and supports in a Safe Haven drop-in center can be an integral link to the outreach component of the Continuum of Care. Additionally, the Safe Haven can prove to be a vital resource for local hospitals, in-patient facilities and emergency shelters to refer persons with severe mental illness who continue to live on the street.

Safe Havens Resource Information

For more information and guidance on developing a Safe Haven, request a copy of the guide In from the Cold: Creating Safe Havens for Homeless People on the Street, or click here on our web site.

Supportive Services Only

In the supportive services only (SSO) component, projects address the service needs of homeless persons. Projects are classified as this component only if the project sponsor is not also providing housing to the same persons receiving the services. Eligible activities for SSO projects are acquisition, rehabilitation, leasing, and, of course, supportive services. (Applicants cannot request funds for new construction or operations.) SSO projects may have a structure or structures at a central site or multiple structures at scattered sites where services are delivered. Projects may also be operated independent of structures, e.g., street outreach or mobile vans for health care.

Supportive Services Only (SSO) projects address the service needs of homeless persons. Projects are classified as this component only if the project sponsor is not also providing housing to the same persons receiving the services.

SSO project characteristics

SSO projects may be in a structure or structures at a central site, or they may be in multiple structures at scattered sites where services are delivered. Projects may also be operated independent of a structure, e.g., street outreach or mobile vans for health care. Regardless of the design, SSO project applications must contain a full description of how homeless persons will be assisted to obtain and remain in permanent housing and how homeless persons will be assisted in increasing their incomes and in living independently. All SHP components are focused on helping participants achieve permanent housing.

SHP support in SSO projects

SHP funds can be used in the following ways to provide new supportive services only projects or expand already existing supportive services only projects:

	Acquisition
	Rehabilitation
	Leasing
	Supportive Services
	Administrative Costs

Note that SHP cannot be used for new construction or operating costs. The prohibition is statutory.

Supportive service costs vs. operating costs in SSO projects

Confusion sometimes occurs over what is an operating cost in an SSO project. Two basic criteria to help clarify the issue are: (1) The direct costs of providing the services to participants are eligible; (2) The cost identified in the examples below is eligible only to the extent that it is part of the project.

Grant funds may be used to pay for the actual costs of new or increased supportive services to homeless persons, including salaries paid to providers of supportive services and any other costs directly associated with providing such services.

Examples of eligible supportive services costs are:

	The cost of computers and desks used in a job readiness training program are usually eligible supportive services costs.
	The salaries of staff directly contacting homeless persons in an outreach program, are eligible supportive services costs.
	The purchase of vehicles for transporting homeless persons to other services and job training sites is an eligible SSO cost. The cost of fuel, insurance, and repairs are also eligible.

Examples of ineligible supportive services costs are:

	Training for supportive services staff is not eligible because the SHP funds are meant for the direct benefit of homeless persons.
	Fundraising activities and conference fees are not eligible activities.

Contact the field office in your jurisdiction for guidance on your particular project.

Innovative Supportive Housing

The innovative supportive housing component of SHP enables the applicant to design a program that is outside the scope of the other components. Projects under this component must be innovative as determined by HUD or they will be rejected. In particular, a proposed innovative project must demonstrate that it represents a distinctively different approach when viewed within its geographic area, is a sensible model for others, and can be replicated elsewhere. An applicant should not propose a project under this component unless a compelling case is made that these criteria can be met.

Note that SHP funding may not be used for emergency shelters or permanent housing for non-disabled persons. In addition, SHP funding may not be used to support an existing project except to: fund the expanded portion of the project that will increase services or the number of persons served; bring facilities up to a level that meets State and local government health and safety standards; replace nonrenewable funding from private, Federal, or other sources not under the control of the State or local government; or, renew grants eligible for continued funding under the renewal provisions of the SHP program.

Note that almost every eligible project fits in one of the component categories above. Very few projects have received SHP funding under the innovative category. An applicant should not propose a project under this component unless a compelling case is made that these criteria can be met. The activities in an innovative project must also meet eligible program guidelines as established in the regulations at 24 CFR Part 583.

SHP support in ISH projects

SHP funds can be used in the following ways to provide new innovative supportive housing or expand already existing innovative supportive housing:

	acquisition
	rehabilitation
	new construction
	leasing
	supportive services
	operating costs
	administration

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