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.
