Defining the Supportive Housing

Project Concept

The Concept Phase of the supportive housing development process is critical period for developing the vision for the supportive housing project, making key choices about plans for development and operations, determining organizational capacity, and identifying key members of the project development team. Responding to the questions below will help you to identify: key components of your planned supportive housing project; the expertise your organization brings to the table; and expertise you will need to add to your development team through partnerships.

PART 1: DEFINING THE TARGET POPULATION(S)

  1. Who is your target population?Who are you proposing to serve? The target population for your project will influence decisions regarding the design of the building, the services programming to be offered, the community support process, the selection of partners, and capital, operating, and services financing options. (Check all that apply.)

Homeless PersonsFrail Elderly

Long-term / Chronically Homeless PersonsFrequent Users of Emergency Systems of Care

Persons At-risk of HomelessnessSurvivors of Trauma

Persons with DisabilitiesSurvivors of Domestic Violence

Persons with Mental IllnessesVeterans

Persons with Chemical Dependency IssuesRural Populations

Persons with HIV/AIDSTribal Communities

Persons with Co-occurring Disorders Other: ______

Families with Children Other: ______

Youth/Young Adults Other: ______

Re-Entry Populations Other: ______

  1. What is the need for supportive housing for your target population(s)? How does your project meet this need? What data supports this need?

PART 2: PLANNED GOALS AND OUTCOMES

  1. What are the planned goals and outcomes for the project and tenants?(Sample goals / outcomes for supportive housing projects include, but are not limited to: help tenants meet the obligations of tenancy; increase residential stability; maximize tenants’ self-determination; increase tenants’ daily living skills; increase tenants’ income; increase access to employment opportunities; begin and/or maintain recovery from substance abuse; reduce harm experienced due to substance abuse; begin or maintain recovery from mental illness; prevent foster care placement of children; reunite families; improve parenting skills; promote appropriate use of community-based services; decrease use of crisis/emergency services; decrease criminal justice system involvement.)

PART 3: DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND TYPE

  1. Timeline to have units ready foroccupancy:

1 year1 – 2 years 2 - 4 years

  1. Development strategy:

New ConstructionAcquisition / RehabilitationMaster-Leasing (Non-Development)

  1. Housingtype:

Apartment UnitsTownhomesSingle Family Homes

  1. Site type:

Single-Site Scattered-SiteClustered

PART 4: PROJECT SIZE, DESIGN,AND LOCATION DECISIONS

  1. What is the planned size for your project?

Totalnumber of units:

Numberof units that will be supportive housing:

Number of units that will be non-supportive affordable housing:

Number of units that will be market-ratehousing:

  1. What is the planned unit mix for your project?

Number of SRO units:

Number of studiounits:

Number of 1-bedroom units:

Number of 2-bedroom units:

Number of 3-bedroom units:

Number of other units:

Total number of units:

  1. What arethe planned unit amenities for your project?

Private kitchensShared kitchens

Private bathroomsShared bathrooms

Furnished unitsUnfurnished units

Other: ______Other: ______

Other: ______Other: ______

  1. Who will be responsible for payment of utilities?TenantsOwner
  1. Will any units be shared?YesNo

If Yes:

Will tenants have separate leases?YesNo

Will tenants have separate bedrooms? YesNo

Will tenants have separate bathrooms? YesNo

Will tenants determine the composition of their household? Yes No

  1. What are the planned common spaces for your project?

Community rooms - # _____Services staff offices - # _____

Laundry rooms - # _____Property management offices - # _____

TV rooms - # _____Front desk

Childcare facilitiesMailboxes

Health care / Exam rooms - # _____Other: ______- # _____

Other: ______- # _____Other: ______- # _____

  1. What necessary neighborhood amenities are in close proximity to your project?

Public transportationPost office

Affordable shopping (esp. supermarket)Bank / Financial institution

Public libraryPark/Open space

Day carePublic schools

Other: ______Other: ______

  1. In what geographic area(s) are you planning to locate the housing? Why? How does this relate to your mission/vision? How does this relate to the need?

PART 5: INITIAL SERVICES PLANNING

  1. Based on who you are proposing to serve, what is your approach to service provision? Will services be voluntary or mandatory? Will participation in services be encouraged? If so, how?
  1. What community resources/services and transportation options will be readily accessible to tenants?
  1. What service needs do you anticipate for your target population(s)? (Check all that apply.)

Case Management / Service Coordination Employment Services

Health Care ServicesEducational Services

Mental Health ServicesDomestic Violence Services

Substance Abuse ServicesOther: ______

HIV/AIDS ServicesOther: ______

Independent Living Skills Services Other: ______

Support Groups Other: ______

  1. Whichservices do you plan to providedirectly, either on-site or off-site?

Case Management / Service Coordination Employment Services

Health Care ServicesEducational Services

Mental Health ServicesDomestic Violence Services

Substance Abuse ServicesOther: ______

HIV/AIDS ServicesOther: ______

Independent Living Skills Services Other: ______

Support Groups Other: ______

  1. Whichservices do you plan on developing partnerships to provide,either on-site or off-site?

Case Management / Service Coordination Employment Services

Health Care ServicesEducational Services

Mental Health ServicesDomestic Violence Services

Substance Abuse ServicesOther: ______

HIV/AIDS ServicesOther: ______

Independent Living Skills Services Other: ______

Support Groups Other: ______

  1. Whichservices do you plan on assisting tenants to access in the community?

Case Management / Service Coordination Employment Services

Health Care ServicesEducational Services

Mental Health ServicesDomestic Violence Services

Substance Abuse ServicesOther: ______

HIV/AIDS ServicesOther: ______

Independent Living Skills Services Other: ______

Support Groups Other: ______

  1. How will you meet the services staffing needs? Will additional staff need to be hired?
  1. How will the services respond to changes in the population over time, particularly for tenants with substance abuse issues, mental illness and/or HIV/AIDS? (such as issues related to relapse, decompensation, deteriorating health, etc)

PART 6: ORGANIZATIONAL ROLE AND PARTNERSHIPS

  1. What role(s) will your organization(s)play for thisproject?

Property Owner:

Developer:

Service Provider:

Property Manager:

Asset Manager:

  1. For which role(s)does your organization already have expertise?

Property Owner:

Developer:

Service Provider:

Property Manager:

Asset Manager:

  1. For which role(s)does your organization already have partners identified?

Property Owner:

Developer:

Service Provider:

Property Manager:

Asset Manager:

  1. How will any partnerships be structured?

Property Owner: Co-OwnersLease MOU

Developer: Contract MOU Other:

Service Provider: Contract MOU Other:

Property Manager: Contract MOU Other:

Asset Manager: Contract MOU Other:

  1. Will the partners encourage the establishment of a tenant council?

Yes No Not Sure

PART 7: INITIAL FINANCING PLANS

1. What financing sources do you plan on accessing for your project?

Funding Type / Planned Sources
Pre-Development Financing / (e.g. intermediaries, local government sources)
Capital Financing / (e.g. Local and/or State Trust Fund,Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, tax exempt bonds, HUD’s Supportive Housing Program, etc...)
Operating Financing / (e.g. rent subsidies such as HUD’s Shelter Plus Care or Project-Based Section 8, local sources, etc…)
Services Financing / (e.g. mental health funding, substance abuse funding, HUD’s Supportive Housing Program, etc…)

PART 7: INITIAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT ASSESSMENT

  1. What approval processes will beneeded for your project?(e.g., neighborhood groups, elected officials, City Council, Zoning Board, Design Review Board, Planning Commission, Continuum of Care)
  1. What communitysupport do you anticipate foryour project?(e.g., neighborhood groups, elected officials, City Council, Zoning Board, Design Review Board, Planning Commission, Continuum of Care)
  1. What communityopposition do you anticipate against your project? (e.g., neighborhood groups, elected officials, City Council, Zoning Board, Design Review Board, Planning Commission, Continuum of Care)

Corporation for Supportive Housing:

Defining the Supportive Housing Project ConceptOctober 20071