Human Services
Supportive Housing Program
 |
Members of the Department of Human Services Supportive Housing Team. |
What is Supportive Housing?
Supportive housing is a successful, cost-effective combination of affordable housing with services that helps people live more stable, productive lives.
- Supportive housing works well for people who face the most complex challenges — individuals and families who are not only homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, but who also have very low incomes and serious, persistent issues that may include substance use, mental illness or other disabilities, and HIV/AIDS.
Arlington’s supportive housing program emphasizes a Housing First approach. Housing First is a practical and cost effective solution that emphasizes placing individuals in apartments as rapidly as possible. Housing First is being implemented in communities across the country with great success including Denver, New York City, and D.C.
- Housing First works on the premise that once an individual has secure, permanent housing, the individual is able to work with a case manager on other issues and pursue the services he/she might need.
- Costs to the community have declined in cities that have implemented Housing First, particularly for shelter care costs and medical treatment at emergency rooms.
Supportive Housing and Homelessness
No one wants to be homeless.
Supportive housing offers a way out of a situation that no one wants to be in: having no stable place to live. In supportive housing, people can live with stability, autonomy and dignity.
Supportive housing helps people live more stable and productive lives.
Supportive housing is proven to help people who are persistently homeless find stability in a home of their own. Supportive housing's combination of permanent, affordable housing and available services works well for people who face the most complex challenges-people who are not only homeless, but who also have very low incomes and serious, persistent issues that may include substance use, mental illness, and HIV/AIDS.
People who live in supportive housing sign leases and pay rent, just like their neighbors.
Supportive housing and shelters aren't the same thing, but they complement each other. Shelters work well for what they're designed for — emergencies and short-term situations, not as long-term housing.
Supportive housing is cost-effective.
It costs less money to house someone in stable, supportive housing as it does to keep that person homeless and stuck in the revolving door of high-cost crisis care and emergency housing.
CONTACT US
Landlords and Developers: Learn how supportive housing can benefit you!
Cindy Stevens
703-228-1187
Case Managers: Learn about programs and eligibility!
Sara W. Thompson
703-228-1316
