Permanent supportive housing is a proven solution to homelessness for the most vulnerable chronically homeless people. It pairs housing with case management and supportive services.
What Is Permanent Supportive Housing?
The National Alliance to End Homelessness defines permanent supportive housing as an intervention that combines affordable housing assistance with voluntary support services to address the needs of chronically homeless people. The services are designed to build independent living and tenancy skills and connect people with community-based health care, treatment and employment services.
How Permanent Supportive Housing Can End Chronic Homelessness?
Investments in permanent supportive housing have helped decrease the number of chronically homeless individuals by 26 percent since 2007. In addition to ending homelessness for people who are chronically homeless, research has demonstrated that permanent supportive housing can also increase housing stability and improve health.
A cost-effective solution, permanent supportive housing has been shown to lower public costs associated with the use of crisis services such as shelters, hospitals, jails and prisons.
Our Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Program started in July 2015 in response to the rising need of Central Florida’s homeless population. This program is based on the Housing First Model, a new approach on providing housing as quickly as possible to those experiencing chronic homelessness. The clients that we serve through this program are chronically homeless Individuals who have been living with a disability. We use a patient care delivery model that coordinates medical services to ensure the necessary care is provided when and where it’s needed. Clients are provided with affordable, community-based housing and services needed to help them achieve and maintain stability in their lives.