|
Toolkit for Developing and Operating Supportive Housing
Designing the Supportive Services Plan
Mapping the Provision of Supportive Services To Residents
By definition, supportive housing features supportive services designed to help residents be successful in housing. Beyond that, however, there is a great deal of variation in the how, what, where, why and how of services provision from project to project. Factors that drive decisions about service planning include target population, the size of the project, housing model, proximity to other services utilized by tenants, organizational infrastructure and capacity, funder requirements, and budget. Other important factors that inform the design of supportive services concern organizational mission and the provider’s primary motivation for providing housing to formerly homeless persons.
A key goal of the supportive services planning process is to determine what services will be provided and by what entity. Ideally, the housing provider will be able to offer, either directly or through partnerships, dedicated staff to serve the residents of the housing while leveraging community resources where appropriate and available. Some providers are prepared to offer services by expanding on their own services infrastructure, while others will reach out to partner agencies in the community equipped to provide services to residents on a contracted basis, either on or off-site.
The goal of this section of the Toolkit is to provide an overview of the planning process culminating in a comprehensive supportive services plan. It will provide a basic understanding of supportive services provision in the context of supportive housing, and address key points of decision for providers such as types of services to be provided and staffing patterns. It will also address how to work with a consultant in the supportive services planning process.
It is intended that providers undertake the self-assessment and supportive services planning process far in advance of occupancy, and preferably prior to construction (if applicable), so that design decisions are made with supportive services in mind. Guidance regarding the timeline for services planning is also part of this section.
Tools for Designing the Supportive Services Plan:
Supportive Services Planning Tools: This two-part tool contains a comprehensive outline of critical issues to be addressed in service planning and a step-by-step timeline with key service planning milestones leading to occupancy.
Supportive Services Planning Worksheet: This checklist enumerates the many types of services that may be needed by residents of supportive housing and prompts the provider to specify how the services will be provided (i.e. by what entity and on-site in housing or off-site in the community).
Standards for Services Programs in Supportive Housing: This tool can serve as a checklist of items for assessing the quality and comprehensiveness of the provider’s supportive services plan.
Planning for Services for Different Populations and Levels of Need: This tool provides an overview of target populations and how service needs will likely vary according to the mix of residents.
Service Planning in Affordable Housing vs. Supportive Housing: This side-by-side comparison examines versus the differences in approach when providing services in an affordable housing development supportive housing setting.
Sample Services Staff Roles in Supportive Housing: This informational piece describes several common supportive services staff roles, including how each assists residents.
Sample Services Plan for a Supportive Housing Development: This sample plan addresses all the common elements of supportive services plans. In this particular example, several providers work with different target populations living in the project. A budget template provides a sample staffing pattern and common non-personnel line items.
Considerations for Developing and Managing the Supportive Services Budget (and Sample Budget): This informational piece provides useful insight into the considerations that inform the supportive services budget as well as accounting for supportive services funding once the project is implemented. This document also includes a sample budget that breaks out expenses by types of costs as well as funding sources.
Types of Sources of Supportive Services Funding: This informational piece describes the main ways in which public resources are available for supportive services within housing (both to local communities and individual projects), with an explanation of the difference between formula grants and competitively awarded funds.
Sample Consulting Agreement for Supportive Services Planning: This sample agreement provides examples of the types of assistance that can be provided by a consultant during the services planning process.
Sample MOU Between Non-Profit Housing Developer, Social Service Agency and Property Management Agency: This three-party agreement provides a detailed description of the roles and responsibilities of each agency.
Glossary of Terms Related to the Provision of Supportive Services: This glossary includes a range of “terms of art” used frequently in supportive housing settings, covering a range of areas from health conditions and drug treatment terminology to income support and housing model types.
Return to Supportive Services Page
Go to Table of Contents
|
