Supportive housing models

There are several initiatives happening currently across the state to serve households who can be supported in the community with emergency/ supportive services when they have the resources and are engaged.

This responds to the growing need for homeless families to transition from homeless shelters into permanent, safe, and affordable housing.

Many homeless households have been unable to access subsidized housing because of poor credit histories that have arisen because of precipitating events such as illness, sudden loss of employment, or a change in family structure.

Statewide effort

A small group of agencies who serve people who are homeless and/or housing providers have met to discuss how to help people who can be supported in the community with emergency/ supportive services when they have the resources and are engaged. This group is working with a facilitator to survey housing managers/ landlords/ PHAs and ask them about their applicant screening process and why they set the bar where they do. This would determine the basis and process for rejecting tenants.

At the same time the statewide Continuum of Care is being asked to provide information on who they believe are the hardest to house and why. From there the group will determine the next steps to take to best understand how to serve this population.

Project documents

Initial description of this work
(16 KB; PDF)

Manager survey results
(36 KB; PDF)

Recommendations of the workshop
(216 KB; PDF)

Chittenden County effort

This Hard to house initiative was developed by Housing Vermont, Lake Champlain Housing, the Burlington Community Land Trust and the Committee on Temporary Shelter. This pilot project will serve 10 homeless families during the next 12 months by providing them with access to safe, affordable housing and by enabling them to achieve housing stability through case management services. This will include a financial risk pool to help mitigate the risk managers face when accepting tenants who would otherwise not meet housing criteria.

Project documents

Description of the Chittenden County project
(36 KB; PDF)

St. Albans effort

A homeless shelter in St. Albans has launched a supportive housing model to provide short term (up to 3 months) transitional housing to families in need of acquiring independent living skills and good landlord references in order to secure and maintain housing. The target population for this program is families with no or very limited housing options because of one or more of these barriers:

Substance abuse;
Mental health, or chronic health issues;
Multiple skill deficits; or
Poor credit or rental histories

Project documents

Program handbook
(72 KB; PDF)

Program agreement with participants
(16 KB; PDF)

Windham County effort

The Pathways to Housing Program is an evolution of the HUD-funded Town of Brattleboro Shelter Plus Care Program to encompass a larger group of those in need of supportive housing models in Windham County with funding from sources other than HUD.

The Program is envisioned to have up to 20 participants living in private rental housing with intensive case management and support services provided by area agencies. Program length of stay would be no more than two years.

Upon completion of the Program, a participant will be able to obtain and retain housing in the community without the Pathways housing support and services.