Supportive housing combines permanent, affordable housing with services that help people live more stable, productive lives. Supportive housing is developed by combining housing that is affordable to persons with very low or no incomes with flexible supportive services that are designed to meet the special needs of an individual or family. When targeted effectively, supportive housing can be cost-effective for communities. Creating supportive housing involves partnerships and collaboration. Supportive housing is developed for people who but for housing could not access services and but for services could not maintain housing. Supportive housing is typically reserved for people who are experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness and have a disability or chronic health condition.
While used interchangeably, “permanent supportive housing” and “supportive housing” refer to the same model of using housing first and harm reduction approaches to provide non-time limited, deeply affordable housing with voluntary, wraparound supportive services.