What is Permanent Supportive Housing?
Permanent housing at L.I.F.T is a crucial next step for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness. This model, also known as Supportive Housing, is designed for those who have faced significant challenges, including disabilities and prolonged periods of homelessness. By combining affordable housing with comprehensive, best-practice support services, residents receive the guidance and resources necessary for long-term stability. Research shows that this approach is highly effective in preventing future episodes of homelessness, with the majority of participants never returning to homelessness. Communities that implement this model see significant success in fostering lasting independence for their residents.
Is Permanent Supportive Housing just another word for “homeless shelter”?
No, Permanent Supportive Housing is not a homeless shelter. In fact, a shelter is not housing. A shelter is designed to provide a transitional or temporary place to sleep or live. Permanent Supportive Housing is designed to help people permanently avoid homelessness. Generally, a shelter automatically sets a limitation on the time that someone can live there and may limit the hours when a person can be onsite. If housing cannot be found during this time, the person is likely to return to his/her homeless condition. Many shelters, such as the armories, are only open during the nighttime hours and the homeless must exit the premises during the daytime hours. As a result, many communities that provide a shelter may see homeless individuals wandering through the neighborhood during the day. This is not the experience of communities served by Jamboree’s permanent supportive housing communities.