Supportive Housing: A Community-Based Approach Presented by COMMUNITY HOUSING PARTNERSHIP San Francisco, California

Supportive Housing: A Community-Based Approach Agency Overview Community Housing Partnership Model Community Development Projects Supportive Housing Operations

Community Housing Partnership Agency Overview Formed in 1990 to address an alternative to the homeless crisis in San Francisco CHP formed by two community based groups –Council of Community Housing Organizations –Coalition on Homelessness Purpose –To integrate permanent, affordable housing with support services, economic opportunities and community organizing, offering a range of resources to help people move beyond homelessness

Community Housing Partnership Agency Overview 16 th Year of Operations Seven Operating Properties –429 Units (313 Single; 116 Family) Six Properties in Development –Single Adults; Seniors; Families (435 units) 90 Staff (Over 50% Formerly Homeless) Annual Budget of $6.2 million Three major program areas: –Housing; Tenant Services; Community Development

CHP Model: Core Values CHP is tenant-driven –We always include tenants in every aspects of the organization CHP sites are communities, not programs –Our housing is permanent and services are voluntary –Facilities are not “clean and sober” CHP is professional and accountable

CHP Model: Core Values CHP is an advocate –We focus on client advocacy AND systemic change CHP maximizes economic benefits –We hire from the community & strive to create new job opportunities CHP is a partnership between tenants, staff, Board and allied agencies

CHP Model: Fully Integrated

COMMUNITY HOUSING PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Employment & Training

Economic Development

Community Organizing

COMMUNITY HOUSING PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPERATIONS

Housing Development Housing is developed by CHP staff, sometimes in partnership with other nonprofit developers Cost is approximately $300,000 per unit Developments take approximately 3-5 years to complete Funding: –40% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (4% credits) –33% City of San Francisco –25% State of California (MHP) –2% Federal Home Loan Bank (AHP)

Characteristics of CHP Housing Buildings should include families and singles Units should have bathrooms and cooking areas Common space is designed to meet multiple needs Services are available at all sites Tenants pay no more than 30% of their income to rent

Senator Residence

Characteristics of CHP Tenants Over 1,000 households on the waiting list, 1-2 year waiting period 98% of the tenants screened are offered housing Demographics –23% are seniors –3% are monolingual –12% are veterans –49% have substance abuse issues –58% have a physical or mental disability –100% have experienced homelessness

Property Management Customer Service –Staff are trained in customer service and de-escalation –Rules are clear and followed consistently –Tenants have a voice in building operations Property Management & Tenant Services work as a team –Weekly site meetings –Quarterly all-staff meetings –Integrated goals Security and safety are critical –24hr front desk coverage –Cameras and alarm systems –Tenant involvement

Tenant Services

Site-based Staff

Cost Property Operations: –$8,000 PUPY –9 FTEs/site Tenant Services –$3,500 PUPY –25 tenants/staff

Funding Sources Property Operations: –Rent Subsidies (primarily HUD): 70% –Tenant Rents: 25% –Other Revenue: 5% Tenant Services –City of San Francisco: 75% –HUD (McKinney): 20% –Grants: 5%

Outcomes Service Utilization Rate: 92% –Outcomes vary based on individual goals Tenant Rent Collection Rate: 97% Housing Retention Rate: 99.2%

Supportive Housing Operations: Lessons Learned Quality of housing design and operations is critical Property Management & Tenant Services must work as a team Regular, structure communication is critical Community-based and professional are not mutually exclusive Homelessness is not a pathology: community building is more important than “treatment”

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