Permanent Housing: What is It, and Why is It Important?

By: Hana Graybill

When you think of a homeless shelter, what do you think of? Basic, shared rooms for people to spend the night? A large communal kitchen where volunteers serve meals? Lots of people sharing the same space?

These images do hold true for some places, especially those that offer emergency shelter. However, they do not reflect an important service that many organizations provide: permanent housing.

What is Permanent Housing?

The concept of permanent housing stems from Housing First. As the National Alliance to End Homelessness explains, “Housing First is a homeless assistance approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, thus ending their homelessness and serving as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life.” Housing First is built on the idea that basic necessities, such as a place to live and food to eat, must be attained before tackling things like finding a job or learning how to budget properly.

With this approach in mind, many homeless shelters offer permanent housing in addition to emergency and short-term shelter. Permanent housing merges affordable housing assistance with support services to aid individuals suffering from chronic homelessness.

Who Benefits from Permanent Housing?

Although not all people experiencing homelessness suffer from disabilities, mental illnesses, or substance abuse, these factors do contribute to chronic homelessness in many individuals. The support services offered as part of permanent housing address these difficulties, providing stable access to counseling, therapy, and treatment.

Yet, people without these obstacles can fall into the cycle of chronic homelessness. The growing gap between climbing housing costs and stagnant or falling incomes is more than enough to lead to repeated homelessness for lots of people. Without enough money to pay steep rent, homelessness often follows.

What Does Permanent Housing Look Like?

Regardless of the circumstances that resulted in chronic homelessness, permanent housing provides safe, stable living accommodations for those who need it. Usually, individuals living in permanent housing must only meet basic requirements to remain eligible, such as refraining from substance use or regularly taking required medication. If rent is required, it is a manageable amount, and support services ensure that residents have access to steady jobs.

Permanent housing looks a little different at every organization. Sometimes these accommodations consist of shared or private rooms within a larger house, in which residents can convene in shared common areas. It can also take the form of shared apartments where a few residents each have their own room but share the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. In more unique instances, some residents may have their own apartment within a permanent housing building.

What is an Example of a Permanent Housing Program?

Bethesda Project, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter, housing, and support services to adults experiencing chronic homelessness in Philadelphia, operates eight different permanent housing locations throughout the city. Five of these locations are intended for men and women with mental illnesses or other disabilities, and they permanently house up to 135 individuals. These residents have access to varying levels of support services based on their needs. The other three locations are available to men and women capable of a high degree of self-sufficiency, permanently housing up to 15 residents who can access support services if needed.

A key focus to Bethesda Project’s mission is family. In addition to meeting the basic requirements of permanent housing, the organization strives to cultivate strong relationships and a support system for residents at each of its permanent housing locations. Bethesda Project works to ensure that individuals become part of a community working together to help residents achieve their goals. Together, they celebrate successes and conquer challenges.

This sense of community is another important element of permanent housing. After experiencing chronic homelessness, individuals can feel abandoned, disconnected, and unloved. Moving into a permanent housing location that fosters meaningful relationships and provides a sense of belonging can help to restore an individual’s self-esteem.

In Summary…

Permanent housing offers affordable housing assistance and support services to people experiencing chronic homelessness, addressing personal obstacles like mental illness as well as societal obstacles like increasing housing prices. The permanent housing approach is critical to eradicating chronic homelessness. So, the next time you’re thinking about a homeless shelter, don’t forget about permanent housing. Picture a tightknit group of individuals with a stable, supportive place to call their own!

If you or someone you know is in need for permanent housing, learn more about Bethesda Project’s locations and resources available in Philadelphia.

7 Steps to Make a Thoughtful In-Kind Donation to a Homeless Shelter

How Can You Make an Effective Impact?

By: Hana Graybill

Whether you are hosting a company-wide donation drive or collecting a few items with your family members, in-kind donations are incredibly beneficial to homeless shelters. Many shelters rely on donations from businesses, organizations, and community members to help them accommodate their residents and keep their facilities running.

But some donations are much more appreciated than others. Shelter needs vary by location, population, and season. For example, a shelter that serves mostly women is not going to have much use for men’s boxer briefs. Likewise, a shelter that serves mostly men probably does not want feminine products. And few shelters are going to need winter hats in the middle of the summer!

Shelter storage space is often limited, and some items are always in higher demand than others. Therefore, shelter staff might be less excited about your donation than you had hoped. In fact, although they appreciate your time and effort, they might even have to turn your donation away, encouraging you to bring it back at another time or give it to a different organization.

So, before you make your next donation, follow these steps to ensure that your contribution is as beneficial as possible.

1. Review the shelter’s wish list.

Most shelters have wish lists available on their websites. These lists are the perfect starting point for planning a donation. They outline the things that the shelter accepts as in-kind gifts. Often, these lists will provide specific product information, such as brands and sizes. Try to follow this guidance! It is included for a reason; no one knows the residents’ needs better than the shelter staff members who compile these lists.

Bethesda Project, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter, housing, and supportive services to adults experiencing chronic homelessness in Philadelphia, has a wish list available on our website. It includes things like sweatpants in sizes L and XL, $5 gift cards to be used as Bingo prizes, and new bath towels, among many other items.

2. Look for notes about high-need items.

Certain products tend to be more needed than others. This demand changes based on an array of variables, such as weather, current residents’ needs, and even upcoming holidays. Other factors can influence what is most needed, too. For instance, as we saw at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, most organizations were in need of PPE and cleaning products. Homeless shelters were no exception, and with many facilities operating communal areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, these supplies were extremely important.

Currently, Bethesda Project’s high-need items range from new or gently used men’s boots and sneakers to jigsaw puzzles to keep residents occupied in their rooms during continued isolation. All nine high-need items can be found in the “High Need Items” section of our wish list.

3. Take notice of unaccepted items.

Some people assume that shelters will accept any items, regardless of their condition. However, this is certainly not the case! Many shelters request that donated items are new or gently used to limit the spread of germs. Plus, residents will feel so much more welcome and supported if they receive a new pair of pants instead of an old pair with rips in the knees.

Shelters also may not accept items based on low demand or facility guidelines. For instance, Bethesda Project does not accept most women’s clothing because of our smaller female population. We also do not accept used furniture or kitchen appliances to ensure that all this equipment is safe and uniform. Visit Bethesda Project’s website to learn which other items are not accepted.

4. Schedule a phone call with the shelter staff member that oversees donations.

Even if you have reviewed all of a shelter’s donation guidelines, you may not be seeing the most up-to-date information. The shelter may have just received a large donation of a certain item, or staff may be preparing for an upcoming event for which they need a different product. Talking with the staff member who oversees donations is the best way to get current donation information.

This conversation is also a great way for you to learn more about the shelter and its needs. It can clarify exactly how your donation will be helping residents, and it can spark donation ideas you may not have thought of without suggestions from staff. Go into the phone call with questions about wish lists, high-need items, and unaccepted items. The more you know about donation guidelines, the more impactful your donation will be!

At Bethesda Project, the Community Life staff members oversee all in-kind donations. Email them to set up a time discuss donations at communitylife@bethesdaproject.org.

5. Consider hosting a fundraiser.

Sometimes, monetary donations are more beneficial to shelters than product or supplies donations. Monetary donations allow shelter staff to purchase the exact products that their residents need. These kinds of donations can also support programs and services that the shelter offers, such as special events or community outreach.

Instead of collecting items to donate, consider hosting a fundraiser and donating the proceeds. Fundraisers can be held at local business or restaurants, or via social media by asking followers to fill up a donation Bingo board. Plus, fundraisers create more awareness for the shelter you are supporting!

Bethesda Project accepts monetary donations online. Visit their Giving page to learn more about donating money.

6. Donate items directly from Amazon.

Another way to ensure that you are providing a shelter with the specific items it needs is by donating via their Amazon Wish List. Staff members can add products from Amazon to this list, allowing them to distinguish the exact items they are requesting. Then, you can add some (or all!) of the products right to your cart and ship them directly to the shelter. This process ensures that you are donating needed items, which arrive right on the shelter’s doorstep.

Some of the products on Bethesda Project’s Amazon Wish List overlap with our general wish list, such as storage bins and cleaning bleach. But some items, like gardening tools and adult coloring books, are unique to the Amazon version. Add one of these items to your next Amazon purchase!

7. Coordinate a time to drop off your donation.

When you have eventually collected all the items you are donating to the shelter, do not just bag them up and leave them at the front door. It may be hours before a staff member notices that they are there, or the staff may not have the capacity to handle a donation that day. Reach out to the shelter ahead of time to coordinate a time to drop off your donation. That way, the shelter staff is prepared to accept your donation, and you know that your items have made it into the proper hands.

Bethesda Project requires that all donations be scheduled in advance. Email communitylife@bethesdaproject.org to coordinate a drop-off time.

Homeless shelters could not operate as well as they do without the assistance of in-kind donations. These gifts allow staff to better welcome and support residents, helping them feel safe and aiding in their overall journey to overcome homelessness. By following these seven steps, you can support shelters like Bethesda Project in a thoughtful, meaningful way and improve the lives of individuals suffering from homelessness.