Welcome to CSH's new blog, The Pipeline. This is where you'll find all things CSH -- from industry news and events, to local groundbreakings, to our thoughts on the latest supportive housing research.
Baltimore County Charrette
In Fall of 2010, CSH worked with Baltimore County to help create their 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. Unknown at the time, eventually, this request would inspire a transformation in public policy planning that CSH now employs in communities across the country. At the request of local planner, Sue Bull, CSH agreed to staff and support a week-long charrette to quickly move the process along and help government and non-profit agencies, faith-based...
Twenty Successes — Returning Home: Helping Those Who Have Nowhere to Go
Individuals exiting the criminal justice system with histories of homelessness or chronic health conditions are likely to either cycle back into the system, or end up homeless due to a lack of a comprehensive support system. CSH realized this unfortunate trend and set out to examine how supportive housing could address the issues these individuals faced. We quickly realized that several systems would need to be engaged to address the underlying housing...
Twenty Successes — Bringing HOPE to Indiana Through Partnership
In 2007, CSH recognized the need for supportive housing in Indiana and wanted to get involved — but we knew we couldn’t do it alone. So, we turned to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) to collaborate with us to address this gap. Together, we created a statewide supportive housing initiative and CSH soon opened an office in Indiana. And our partnership has grown from there. Discussions with local and national groups...
Twenty Successes — Building the Field by Helping Others Build Capacity
In 2004 CSH partnered with the Illinois Housing Development Authority to create a grant program to help nonprofits expand their organizational capabilities. Renaissance Social Services, Inc. (RSSI), a housing services provider in Chicago, applied and is a prime example of the impact a capacity building grant can have on an organization. They were a small organization looking to grow and increase the number of supportive housing units for Illinois’...
Twenty Successes — Staying the Course: Advocacy for McKinney-Vento
Over the last 10 years, homeless advocates and policymakers in Washington debated many ways to revitalize McKinney-Vento, the early leader in homelessness programming. Throughout that discussion, CSH stuck to several principles: codify the most effective elements of the Continuum of Care approach; impose rigorous, but realistic performance measures on grantees; target grants to maximize other public and private resources; and concentrate some portion...
Twenty Successes — Collaboration is Key: CSH Begins Work in NYC
In 1991, CSH established its first program in New York City based on a permanent housing model that combined housing and onsite services for those who need it most. From the start, we knew we had to bring city agencies, developers and service providers to the table to create supportive housing that meets the needs of New York’s homeless population. That’s why we worked to build upon the first “NY/NY” Agreement — a groundbreaking collaboration...
CSH and SHA Host 13th Annual New Jersey Supportive Housing Conference
On Friday, December 2, 2011 CSH and the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey (SHA) hosted the 13th Annual New Jersey Supportive Housing Conference at the Pines Manor in Edison, NJ. Approximately 325 attended the day-long conference representing all areas of the supportive housing field from case managers to no-profit administrators, state and local governments and developers. Attendees were offered workshops in a broad range of supportive...
Lincoln West Apartments Ribbon Cutting in Goshen, Indiana
On December 6th, La Casa Inc. and Oaklawn held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Lincoln West Apartments in Goshen, Indiana to celebrate their new supportive housing development. This new building will house 14 people who are currently experiencing homelessness and living with a severe and persistent mental illness. Local affiliate WNDU covered the story, and encouraged local neighbors to help the new residents fully experience what it is like to be...
Ribbon Cutting at OpenDoors in Rhode Island
On October 24, Mayor Angel Taveras joined OpenDoors and Rhode Island Housing to cut the ribbon on safe, healthy and affordable rental homes for Rhode Islanders who are returning to the community after incarceration. CSH provided OpenDoors with an acquisition loan and technical assistance to purchase a 15,000 square foot, former Sealtest factory. The renovated building now includes 19 new rental homes -- five one-bedrooms and 14 studios -- as well...
CSH Works on Registry Week in Austin, TX
As part of the national 100,000 Homes Campaign, Austin held its 100 Homes Campaign Registry Week November 7–9, 2011. Over the course of three mornings, more than 80 volunteers took to the city’s streets, homeless shelters, hospitals and parks to find homeless individuals and gather information from them using a Vulnerability Index survey. The top 100 most vulnerable individuals have been identified, and the community is working to house them,...
