With a steadily growing population, Houston has recognized the need for various forms of supportive housing. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing assistance and supportive services designed to help vulnerable individuals live stable and productive lives.
Public initiatives for Supportive Housing
The City of Houston and Harris County have established several programs and initiatives designed to increase the stock of supportive housing. The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCDD) offers affordable homes and services for low-income, homeless, and disabled Houstonians.
The "Way Home" program, a collaborative model of the city, county, and non-profit partners, aims at preventing and reducing homelessness. This program primarily provides permanent supportive housing (PSH), rapid re-housing assistance, and prevention services.
State run housing options
Texas provides supportive housing through state-funded projects, notably the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) which provides a variety of residential services. This includes affordable rental housing through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, the Housing Trust Fund's Amy Young Barrier Removal program to remove architectural barriers in homes for individuals with disabilities, and the Direct Loan HOME program.
Federal Subsidies for Supportive Housing
Houston’s Public Housing Authority (HCHA) administers the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. Previously known as Section 8, the program offers rental assistance to families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities to secure affordable accommodation in the private market.
Project-Based Vouchers (PBVs) are assigned to specific units in HCHA-approved properties. Tenants in these units spend about 30% of their income on housing, while the remainder is paid by the HCHA.
Non-Profit Organizations
Several non-profit organizations extend help to those requiring supportive housing in Houston. Star of Hope, for instance, delivers comprehensive programs like transitional housing for single women and families. The Salvation Army, on the other hand, focuses on providing emergency shelter and transitional housing along with a host of supportive services.
The Coalition for the Homeless is another significant contributor, coordinating the local implementation of 'The Way Home'. It streamlines the resources of nearly 100 local non-profits, government agencies, and businesses to end homelessness in Houston.
Houston's New Hope Housing focuses on single adults, especially those on a limited income, by providing supportive, affordable, and permanent housing. This is achieved via a holistic housing model, which includes case management, education, life skills training, well-being initiatives, and employment access.
Housing for Veterans
Various initiatives are focused solely on providing supportive housing for veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers the HUD-VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) program, which combines HCV rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services.
While the affordable housing crisis remains a major challenge in Houston, the collaborative efforts of state, federal, and non-profit organizations are making a positive impact. HW's continued commitment to creating and preserving affordable, supportive housing for low-income individuals and families demonstrates a significant step towards achieving housing stability and improved quality of life for Houston's homeless and low-income residents. With continued efforts, it is hoped that everyone in Houston will have a place to call home.
