Population: Frequent Users

Supportive housing combines affordable housing with supportive services to help people who face the most complex challenges live with stability, autonomy, and dignity. CSH created these standards to guide a wide range of groups—including tenant leaders, housing developers, landlords, service providers, funders, property managers, government officials, and health care organizations—to work together to build and operate high-quality supportive housing.

The Quality Standards apply to all types of projects, whether site-based or scattered-site, and in rural, suburban, or urban areas. How the standards are put into practice may vary due to the diversity of supportive housing models.

Yesterday, the New York City Council passed Intro 1100-A, a new law that expands access to City-funded supportive housing for individuals transitioning out of incarceration. CSH led advocacy efforts for the bill, working closely with local partners. Council Member Carlina Rivera sponsored the legislation and built support among her colleagues.

At a press conference outside City Hall, Lauren Velez, Director of CSH’s Metro NY Team, explained why passing the new law is so important:

“Too often, our neighbors leaving Rikers get trapped in a cycle of homelessness and incarceration without ever receiving the services and support they need to stabilize their lives. Intro 1100 changes that,” Velez said. She added, “When people cycle through homelessness and incarceration, it’s costly for New York taxpayers and makes our communities less safe.”

Velez was joined by Council Member Rivera, Comptroller Brad Lander, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and representatives from the Supportive Housing Network of New York, Fortune Society, Freedom Agenda, Urban Pathways, and Coalition for the Homeless.

Read City Limits op-ed written by Lauren Velez and Council Member Carlina Rivera.

What the Law Changes

Before this legislation, a person experiencing homelessness and who was incarcerated for 90 days or longer would have the jail time considered a “break” in homelessness, and none of their time in jail could be counted toward eligibility for supportive housing.

Intro 1100 ensures that anyone who enters jail as a person who is homeless will continue to accrue time toward eligibility. CSH has long maintained that any kind of institution, particularly a jail, should never be considered a home in any circumstance.

Why It Matters

The need for reform is urgent. In 2023:
– One-third of people admitted to NYC jails were unhoused before incarceration.
– More than 40% of people released from state prisons to NYC entered shelters immediately.

Supportive housing is a proven solution for people who cycle between homelessness and incarceration—especially those living with mental illness or substance use disorders. In contrast, punitive approaches like forced treatment or incarceration often fail to connect people to long-term housing and services.

Acknowledgments

CSH thanks Council Member Rivera, Comptroller Lander, Public Advocate Williams, and the “Jail is Not a Home” committee members who helped make this legislation possible:

– Lily Shapiro, Fortune Society (co-chair)
– Tierra Labrada, Supportive Housing Network of NY (co-chair)
– Kandra Clark, Urban Pathways
– Gary Jenkins, Urban Pathways
– Alison Wilkey, Coalition for the Homeless
– Sarita Daftary, Freedom Agenda
– Dr. Victoria Phillips, Community Advocate
– JJ Parish, Urban Justice
– Reggie Chatman, Fortune Society

The New York City Frequent Users System Engagement program (FUSE) was part of the CSH’s Returning Home Initiative, a multi-year effort of public, inter-agency collaboration and investment that provided supportive housing for people cycling between incarceration and homelessness. NYC FUSE targeted persons with recurring homelessness and incarceration, most of whom challenged also by health, mental health, and/or substance use issues.

Columbia University researchers evaluated FUSE by comparing program participants with a closely matched comparison group of “frequent users.” This evaluation found that supportive housing significantly reduced participants’ (re)admissions to and time spent in jail and homeless shelters and their use of crisis healthcare services. These reductions resulted in significantly lower costs for publicly supported services, offsetting housing and other program costs. Results have inspired jurisdictions throughout the US to launch similar efforts.

Now, 10 years later, the FUSE Long Term Study presents a unique opportunity to examine stable housing as a critical component of successful community reentry, not simply in the short term but over people’s lives.

A Resource for Housing and Homeless Programs Considering Options for Billing for Medicaid Eligible Services

This review of Medicaid models is designed to assist supportive housing providers and homeless service organizations consider strategies to enhance their services (and services funding) through partnerships or through securing new resources. Included are comprehensive overviews of three options: Becoming a Medicaid Billable Agency; Collaborating to Increase Services and Capacity; and Contracting with an Administrative Services Organization.

This material is based upon work supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) under Social Innovation Fund Grant No.16PSHNY002. Opinions or points of view expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of, or a position that is endorsed by, CNCS.

The Frequent User Services Enhancement (FUSE) initiative is a supportive housing program developed by CSH with support from various government agencies that provided housing and support services to individuals who were frequently cycling in and out of jails, homeless shelters, and hospital emergency rooms in 2008. A two-year follow up evaluation by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Policy found that FUSE participants spent significantly fewer days in jails and shelters and engaged in less cycling between public systems. These service use reductions resulted in significant cost savings to the government and tax payers. Download our two-page snapshot for the report highlights.