Permanent supportive housing

An evidence-based model that combines affordable housing and flexible supportive services for people experiencing homelessness, including those with criminal justice histories and behavioral health needs. Criminal justice agencies can partner with housing agencies and providers to develop supportive housing programs that target individuals who are leaving prisons and jails.

For more information on this intervention, see this resource:

• Permanent Supportive Housing Cost Study Map, National Alliance to End Homelessness

Local Examples

Franklin County, OH Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Office of Justice Policy & Programs

• Franklin County formed an agreement with the Corporation for Supportive Housing to provide supportive housing and connections to wraparound services for people reentering the community from jail.
• The initiative aims to support people with high numbers of jail stays and jail days, including those who experience homelessness and have accessed hospital services a high number of times.

Los Angeles County, CA Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS)

• The Just in Reach (JIR) Project connects people in the Los Angeles County Jail who are experiencing homelessness and repeat jail stays to permanent supportive housing, treatment, and services.
• The initiative uses a "Pay for Success" financing model, and is a collaboration between Los Angeles County DHS, Corporation for Supportive Housing, and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. It was implemented in partnership with Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office and the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office.

For more information on this example, see this resource:

• "Just in Reach" Supportive Housing, Corporation for Supportive Housing

Harris County, TX Houston Coalition for the Homeless

• This county uses a “Housing First” approach to provide permanent supportive housing with wraparound supportive services to address the mental, physical, and behavioral health needs of people experiencing homelessness.

For more information on “Housing First” and this example, see this resource:

• Housing and Community Development Department, City of Houston.

Johnson County, IA Johnson County, IA, and Shelter House

• Since January 2015, the county has partnered with Shelter House, a nonprofit homeless services provider, to offer the Low Barrier Winter Emergency Shelter for adults who experience chronic homelessness.
• Johnson County’s Frequent User Systems Engagement (FUSE)-Housing First project provides permanent supportive housing to people who frequently cycle through a variety of emergency interventions.

For more information on this example, see these resources:

• Stepping Up Case Study: Addressing Housing Needs of People with Mental Illnesses Involved in the Justice System
• FUSE-Housing First, Johnson County Local Homeless Coordinating Board

Cuyahoga County, OH Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court

• The Common Pleas Court runs a permanent supportive housing program that diverts people within the Mental Health Court who have serious mental illness from incarceration and frequent cycling through the system.
• The county tracks people who self-report housing instability and homelessness daily at jail booking.
• Using the identification of housing instability at booking, the Common Pleas Court has an in-reach diversion specialist who can connect people with housing, conduct family diversion and mediation, and make referrals to other housing resources, along with a warm hand-off to shelter, if needed. Staff continue to problem-solve with people upon release to identify appropriate housing resources.
• The county has a homelessness leadership meeting that focuses on people in the justice system to address frequent utilization of multiple systems.

Douglas County, KS Treatment and Recovery Campus

• Part of the Douglas County Treatment and Recovery Campus, units known as “The Cottages” provide permanent supportive housing for people with serious and persistent serious mental illness.
• The Cottages consist of 10 separate units located within three buildings.
• Tenants pay 30 percent of their income as rent, and the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority provides the remaining rent through a Department of Housing and Urban Development voucher.
• Multiple county agencies provide services to tenants. Participating county agencies include Developing Caring Communities Committed to Action, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, Heartland Community Health Center, Heartland Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Center, and Lawrence Memorial Hospital Health.

For more information on this example, see this resource:

• The Cottages