Paying for Housing: Innovative Housing

Subsidy Sources and Design

Sharon McDonaldNational Alliance to End HomelessnessNovember 29, 2007

Housing Subsidies: Importance in Preventing & Ending Homelessness

• Lack of affordable housing is the primary driver of the increase in family homelessness

• Receipt of rental subsidies is the greatest protective element against homelessness – it is also the greatest predictor that a family will not re-experience homelessness

Housing Assistance: The Federal Landscape

• Affordability issues/prevalence

• Section 8

• Housing Trust Fund

• Public Housing

• Low Income Housing Tax Credit

• Rapid Rehousing Grant

Family Homelessness: Dynamics & Implications

• Shelter use patterns – Short-term stays– Episodically homeless– Long term stays

• Communities Experimenting with Change– Rapid Rehousing Models– Prevention Initiatives– Expanding permanent housing assistance– Targeting Resources

Subsidy Design

• Upfront/Short-term rental assistance– Rapid Exit Program, Hennepin– Family Support Collaborative, Columbus– SafeHome, Philadelphia

• Flexible rental assistance– Community Care Grant, Washington, DC– Shelter to Housing Pilot, Massachusetts

Subsidy Design (cont.)

• Longer-term, time-limited assistance– Transition in place models

• Salt Lake City, Seattle, Chicago

• Permanent rental assistance – Traditional Section 8 Housing Choice

Vouchers, Public Housing & Shelter Plus Care – State and locally funded subsidies designed

to mirror federal tenant based rental assistance

Subsidies: Public and Private Funds

• Generating new resources– Fundraising – Legislation – Trust Funds

• Converting/shifting use of existing public resources– Housing programs

• Continuum of Care, Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, CDBG/HOME

– Community & Family support programs• TANF/child welfare

Generating Resources: Developing the Relationships & Building the Case

• Importance of data – – understanding dynamics and cost implications

of investment choices– demonstrate effectiveness

• Public sector engagement

• External key decision-makers and change agents

Valuable Resources

• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – www.cbpp.org

• Center for Community Change: www.communitychange.org – Housing Trust Fund Progress Report 2007– Technical assistance to communities with a priority for

non-profit, community based organizations• Corporation for Supportive Housing

www.csh.org• National Low Income Housing Coalition• www.nlihc.org