OHFA Annual Plan - Ohio Housing Finance Agency

Credible DataChanging systems to serve people in permanent, supportive housing versus emergencysettings requires the collection and dissemination of credible data to show that supportivehousing achieves better results, solves problems more consistently and costs no morethan current practices.Example: A prime example is Stark County’s use of a single individual within theircommunity to show the cost of doing nothing (Appendix B & C). This community trackedthe cost of serving one high user within their system through emergency rooms, jail,shelters and other emergency services. This example was able to focus on the costeffectivenessof permanent, supportive housing as well as the better outcomes of housingstability and employment.Columbus and Franklin County’s “Rebuilding Lives Updated Strategy, 2008” using credibledata and research documented the reduction in shelter use and the increase in tenantincome due to permanent supportive housing. In addition, seventy percent of PSHtenants successfully retained housing for five years. 12Networks of AlliesSuccess in permanent, supportive housing also requires the creation of networks thatreach across dimensions of money, cause, power, vision and issue. This includes coalitionsof housing and service agencies, courts, mental health systems and other mainstreamsystems.Example: This has been established in many Continuum of Care groups across Ohio andis being established statewide in Ohio through the Governor’s Interagency Council onHomelessness and Affordable Housing. Reaching across the table to make systems workfor people is much easier when various state agencies and providers are meeting andtalking regularly.Permanent Supportive Housing Emerging PracticesAs permanent, supportive housing production increases, many development andmanagement practices have emerged as successful across various supportive housingprojects and communities. These include:Focusing on Tenant EducationOver time, most service agencies have focused first on the recovery needs of personswith disabilities. Housing success, however, is usually much more closely related totenant education. Maintaining housing is first about paying your rent, caring for yourapartment and getting along with your neighbors and not every new tenant understandsthe importance and “how to” of these important tenant roles. For this reason, CommunityHousing Network in Columbus provides training on the requirements of the lease on theday of occupancy as well as 24 hours later to insure that all of the responsibilities andrepercussions are understood. They are also quick to hold case conferences if someonebreaks any of these rules to try to maintain tenancy through tenant education anddevelopment of eviction prevention plans.Separate Housing and Service RolesProviding permanent, supportive housing means the delivery of a myriad of services inaddition to housing. Many times, the roles of landlord and service provider contradictas it is the responsibility of the landlord to insure that the lease terms are met, whilethe service provider is focusing on the best outcome for the tenant. National ChurchResidences understands this dynamic and the fact that it creates conflict between the12Community Shelter Board, Rebuilding Live : New Strategies for a New Era (2008); page 44116