Paying for Housing: Innovative Housing Subsidy Sources and Design

1
Paying for Housing Innovative Housing Subsidy
Sources and Design

• Sharon McDonald
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• November 29, 2007

2
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

3
Housing Assistance The Federal Landscape

• Affordability issues/prevalence
• Section 8
• Housing Trust Fund
• Public Housing
• Low Income Housing Tax Credit
• Rapid Rehousing Grant

4
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

5
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

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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

7
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

8
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

9
Valuable Resources

• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• www.cbpp.org
• Center for Community Change www.communitychange.o
  rg
• 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