Katie VanArnam, LCSWDirector of Housing Access Programs

Virginia Supportive Housing

Permanent (vs. time limited) Individuals or families have leases Permanent Supportive Housing provides

appropriate services to assist with maintaining permanent housing

Completed Projects: Total Units 250

Studio Apartments 206 Units

New Clay House 1992

47 Units

South Richmond 1996

39 Units

Gosnold Apartments 2007

60 Units

Cloverleaf Apartments

2008 60

Units

Adults with Disabilities(Section 811) 36

individualsBliley Manor

1998 8 Adults

Veterans Apartments 2008

4 Units

James River Apartments 2008

6 Units

Independence House 2005

6 Units

Families16 Families

Minor Street 2000

4 Units

Third Avenue2002

4 Units

Chestnut Hills2004

4 Units

Cary Street2004

2 Buildings 4 Units

HomeBuy5(Home Ownership Program)

1991 21 Homes

Adults with HIV/AIDS8 Individuals

Stratford House 1998

8 Adults

Added to VSH in 2006 Provide permanent housing options utilizing

existing rental housing in the community Three components:

◦ Shelter Plus Care (S+C)◦ A Place to Start (APTS)◦ Housing Resource Center (HRC)

HUD funded program Provides rental subsidies to individuals and

families ◦ Homeless prior to program entry◦ Adult member (“client”) must have disability

Must be awarded to “government entity” Awarded as part of Continuum of Care process Requires matching services

Housing First model ◦ Services are voluntary◦ Housing is used as an intervention, not a reward◦ People are not “held hostage” in their homelessness or SMI◦ See resource page for additional information on housing first

Started as collaboration between Chesterfield CSB and VSH

Provides permanent housing and intensive mental health services to 50 individuals who have history of chronic homelessness in addition to a severe mental illness

Newest Housing Access Program Links those with housing barriers to permanent

housing Is staffed by housing specialists Up until now, has been marginally successful

because of lack of rental subsidies (HPRP) FindHousingVa.org

Have a hard time in emergency shelter Have an even harder time in many transitional

shelter programs Symptoms may make it difficult to follow through

*Taken from Homeward's Ten Year Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness

Housing Crisis or

Homelessness

Prevention

Interim Housingwith access toimmediate benefits

Rapid Re-Housingwith Housing Assessment &Referral/Placement, FamilyStabilization

PermanentHousing

with Services as Needed:

• Case management• Mental health services• Substance abuse services• Healthcare services• Employment/Training• Childcare

Increased focus on matching need with service Less time spent in shelter Increased focus on Rapid Re-housing and

Prevention May be able to qualify for “homeless programs”

without ever having to enter the shelter system System wide focus on housing barrier

assessment

Their money Assurance that their property will be taken care

of

Landlords can not screen your applicants any differently than anyone else

If you have questions regarding fair housing law, ASK!!!!

Activities of Daily Living (cooking, cleaning, budgeting, leisure time activities, etc.)

Mental Health issues and concerns Substance use and impact on daily life

Bad (or no) credit Criminal record Rental history (or lack of) Role of Shelter (emergency and transitional) in

addressing these barriers . . .

Housing specialist case manager The housing specialist’s “clients” are landlords Work in conjunction with clinical/case

management staff, but clear roles and boundaries separating the two

Although it helps if a housing specialist has some experience with the homeless population, their primary role is to work with landlords

Katie VanArnam, LCSW(804) 525-1940kvanarnam@virginiasupportivehousing.org

Virginiasupportivehousing.org

Shelter Plus Care - http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/programs/splusc/index.cfm

Housing First – www.naeh.org www.pathwaystohousing.org

Supportive Housing – www.naeh.org, www.csh.org Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act -

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC55000000013000020000000, www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/fho_index.cfm