Collaborative Housing & Homes with Hope

Address

Scattered-site housing in various locations throughout the city

Description

The Collaborative Housing Initiative (CHI) provides permanent supportive housing (PSH) to 46 homeless individuals and families where at least one member of the household has a disability. A disability can be a physical impairment, a developmental disability, a severe and persistent mental illness, HIV/AIDS diagnosis, or a physical, mental, or emotional impairment caused by alcohol or drug use. PSH is permanent housing in which housing assistance, such as longterm leasing or rental assistance, and supportive services are provided to assist a person with a disability in achieving housing stability. CHI enrolls participants who have barriers such as low income, past or present substance use problems, a criminal record, or a history of victimization. This program also takes a “Housing First” approach, which acknowledges that people are more likely to have positive health outcomes and reach greater stability if they are housed. 

Facility

CHI units are varying size residences throughout the city. Depending on the size of the family, these residences can be one-bedroom apartments all the way to a five-bedroom home. Currently, there are 46 total units providing a minimum of 63 beds, but we often provide 80 to 100 beds when serving larger families. 

History

CHI began in the fall 2009. Originally, CHI involved several subrecipients, but as we have grown, and as subrecipients priorities changed, we have been directly responsible for the entire project since 2017. Prior to 2009, additional government funding became available from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that aligned with our mission and those we specifically serve. At the time, we had many clients who were homeless and in need of housing. We wanted to address this unmet need in the community, and knew there wouldn’t be a shortage of clients that would use this opportunity to achieve greater stability and self-sufficiency. This was roughly a year after the Collaborative Housing for the Chronically Homeless (CH2) started.
 

In order to receive the initial grant, we applied for funds from the HUD’S Continuum of Care Program (CoC), which is designed to promote a communitywide commitment to end homelessness. The CoC Program provides funding to nonprofit providers, states, and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals or families. We send this competitive application to the Coalition for the Homeless every year, as they take all applications and submit them to HUD.

Support

We provide case management to each family, establishing an individualized case plan, connecting them to needed resources, and helping clients set goals that will allow their household to achieve self-sufficiency. Case managers help them in the following areas—housing, physical and mental health, drug and alcohol use, financial stability or debt reduction, legal issues, education, employment, parenting, daily life skills, and socialization or support networks. This can include transportation assistance to program participants to attend benefit appointments, employee training, or jobs. We also provide administrative support and a housing specialist to coordinate with landlords. 

Address

Various locations of scattered-site housing throughout the city

Description

Homes with Hope (HWH) is a permanent housing program providing services to nine homeless families with children where at least one member of the household has a disability. A disability can be a physical impairment, a developmental disability, a severe and persistent mental illness, HIV/AIDS diagnosis, or a physical, mental, or emotional impairment caused by alcohol or drug use. Families can choose a qualified residence in the neighborhood of their choice, so they live in scattered-site housing throughout the city.

HWH enrolls participants who have barriers such as low income, past or present substance use challenges, a criminal record, and a history of victimization. This program takes a “Housing First” approach, which acknowledges that people are more likely to have positive health outcomes and reach greater stability if they are housed.

Facility

HWH units are varying size residences throughout the city not owned by SVDP. Depending on the size of the family, these residences can be two-bedroom apartments all the way to a five-bedroom home. Currently, there are a total of nine units providing a minimum of 35 beds, but we often provide 40 to 45 beds when serving larger families.

History

A United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant funds Homes with Hope, which was created in the 1990s at Volunteers of America. After several years, the grant transferred to Louisville Metro, and then to St. Vincent de Paul Louisville in April 2009.

In order to receive the initial grant, we applied for HUD’s Continuum of Care Program (CoC), which is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to end homelessness. The CoC Program provides funding to nonprofit providers, states, and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals or families. We send this competitive application to the Coalition for the Homeless every year, as they take all applications and submit them to HUD.

Support

We provide case management to each family, establishing an individualized service plan, connecting them to needed resources, and helping clients set goals that will allow their household to achieve self-sufficiency. Case managers help them in the following areas—housing, physical and mental health, drug and alcohol use, financial stability or debt reduction, legal issues, education, employment, parenting, daily life skills, and socialization or support networks. This can include transportation assistance to program participants to attend benefit appointments, employee training, or jobs. SVDP also provides administrative support and a housing specialist to coordinate with landlords.