Author: Jesse Dean

Atlanta, GA (October 11, 2024) – Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), a national nonprofit intermediary and Community Development Financial Institution, and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) have announced the selected participants in the state’s inaugural Supportive Housing Institute. Five teams and two groups of individual entities representing housing developers and service providers were selected after a competitive application process.

This year marks the inaugural Georgia Supportive Housing Institute, a signature CSH program designed to kick start affordable and supportive housing development throughout the state. The rigorous Institute curriculum covers a number of topics for developing multi-family properties including design concepts, securing funding, ongoing operations, and service delivery. Georgia joins several other states that have leveraged the Institute to advance affordable and supportive housing in their communities. The Georgia Supportive Housing Institute is fully funded by the HOME American Rescue Plan Program.

“Executing our common vision to increase cross-sector collaboration and access to housing and services across Georgia, we are excited to partner with DCA to enhance the capacity and knowledge needed for successful supportive housing development”, said Deirdre Bolden, CSH Southeast Director. “The intention shown by the first Georgia Institute teams to learn and develop quality supportive housing represents a commitment to serving our neighbors and is a transformative step to address the needs of our underserved residents across the state.”

“The launch of the Supportive Housing Institute marks a significant milestone in DCA and CSH’s efforts to address the affordable housing crisis in Georgia,” said Philip Gilman, DCA Deputy Commissioner of Housing Assistance and Development. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to ensuring that every Georgian has the opportunity to thrive in safe, affordable housing.”

According to the 2023 National Low Income Housing Coalition Out of Reach report, residents that are currently working at a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour would have to work 140 hours each week to afford a modest 1-bedroom rental home at Fair Market Rent. The report asserts that Georgia has 543,837 rental households that are at 50 percent of the Area Median Income.

Supportive housing combines quality affordable housing with community-based support services that help people with additional needs to live with stability, autonomy, and dignity. Teams will also be able to apply for CSH’s Community Investment loan products designed to guide developers through the pre-development process.

In addition, each lead organization participating in the Institute can apply for funding through DCA’s Housing Tax Credit Program and subject to discretion by DCA, an anticipated Supportive Housing Notice of Funding Opportunity, where Institute participation provides points in the scoring.

And for the first time in a CSH Institute – representatives from developers, service providers and property managers – applied and have been allowed to participate.  Forming conceptual teams from these unconnected entities, representatives can glean information from the institute and make useful connections.

Below is a list of organizations and individual entities participating in this year’s Institute:

 

Team 1 (Decatur, GA)

Team Lead & Developer	The Paces Foundation, Inc./Paces Preservation Partners, LLC
Development Consultant	The Kelsey
Property Manager	Envolve Communities
Service Provider	Claratel Behavioral Health
Community Collaborator	Better Living Together

 

Team 2 (Atlanta, GA)

Team Lead & Developer	Gorman & Company, LLC
Property Manager	Gorman & Company, LLC
Service Provider	HOPE Atlanta
Community Partner/ CoC Representative	Partners for HOME

 

Team 3 (Athens, GA)

Team Lead	Athens Homeless Coalition
Developer & Property Manager	Woda Cooper Companies, Inc.
Real Estate Consultant	Athens Downtown Development Authority
Housing Consultant	Athens Housing Authority
Service Provider	Advantage Behavioral Health
Community Collaborator	Exclusive Mindz

 

Team 4 (Cornelia, GA)

Team Lead & Service Provider	Georgia Mountain Women’s Center, Inc. / Circle of Hope
Developer	Tapestry Development Group
Property Manager	PHASE Housing Management
Community Collaborator	Circle of Hope

 

Team 5 (Warner Robins, GA / Gwinnett County, GA)

Developer	Zimmerman Properties Southeast
Property Manager	Wilhoit Properties
Service Provider	Veterans Empowerment Organization

 

Individual entities participating and learning as conceptual teams include representatives from the following organizations:

Community Friendship, Inc.

Covenant House Georgia, Inc. (CHGA)

LDG Development, LLC

National Church Residences

Porch and Square

The Boyce L. Ansley School

Volunteers of America Southeast

Zion Hill Community Development Corporation

 

 

 

About CSH

CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) advances affordable and accessible housing aligned with services by advocating for effective policies and funding, equitably investing in communities, and strengthening the supportive housing field. Since our founding in 1991, CSH has been the only national nonprofit intermediary focused solely on increasing the availability of supportive housing. Over the course of our work, we have created more than 467,600 units of affordable and supportive housing and distributed over $1.5 billion in loans and grants. Our workforce is central to accomplishing this work. We employ approximately 180 people across 30 states and U.S. Territories. As an intermediary, we do not directly develop or operate housing but center our approach on collaboration with a wide range of people, partners, and sectors. For more information, visit www.csh.org.

 

About the Department of Community Affairs

 

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) partners with communities to build strong and vibrant neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas through community and economic development, local government assistance, and safe and affordable housing. Using state and federal resources, DCA helps communities spur private job creation, implement planning, develop downtowns, generate affordable housing solutions, and promote volunteerism. DCA also helps qualified Georgians with low and moderate incomes buy homes, rental housing and prevent foreclosure and homelessness. For more information, visit www.dca.ga.gov.

Austin, TX | October 9, 2024 – Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) and Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) launched the fourth Texas Supportive Housing Institute today, aiming to develop approximately 530 affordable and supportive housing units across the state.  

TSAHC and CSH selected six teams to participate in the Institute representing the following communities: Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, Denton, Marshall and San Antonio. The Texas Supportive Housing Institute is based on a national CSH initiative designed to accelerate Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) development. PSH is affordable housing combined with wraparound supportive services and is a proven, compassionate, and cost-effective solution for people experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness.

David Long, TSAHC President, said, “We’re excited to launch this latest Institute and build upon the work we’re doing to move vulnerable Texans from the streets and into safe, stable housing. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without a high-caliber training partner in CSH and the generous contributions from our funding partners who trust us to provide the highest quality training.”  

TSAHC announced the teams last month which consist of developers, property managers, service providers, and other critical project partners. The proposed supportive housing communities promise to transform the lives of people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, including families, victims of domestic violence, youth transitioning out of foster care, single parents, Veterans, seniors, and other vulnerable populations.

“Each home created through the Institute transforms lives and builds safer, resilient neighborhoods. When communities invest in supportive housing, they save resources diverted from costly emergency systems and intuitional care,” said Brooke Page, Southwest Director at CSH. “TSAHC has been an invaluable partner in accelerating supportive housing development in Texas, and we are inspired by teams across the state dedicated to making a positive impact and building vibrant communities.”

Team members will receive intensive training over four months on navigating the process of developing PSH. CSH provides individualized technical assistance and support to plan each project and to develop fundraising plans. Also, teams are eligible to apply to CSH for low-cost loans to assist in the pre-development process. The training is provided free of charge thanks primarily to a generous contribution from Wells Fargo.

“Wells Fargo is committed to investing in programs and opening pathways that expand affordable housing opportunities for Texas’ most vulnerable populations,” said Christopher Rios, Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability at Wells Fargo. “We applaud TSAHC, CSH and the participants of the 2024 Texas Supportive Housing Institute for their collaboration and combined efforts to strengthen Texas communities and ensure all Texans have a safe place to call home.”

In addition to support from Wells Fargo, funding for the Institute is being provided by JPMorgan Chase & Co., Dominium, Texas Community Bank, Regions Bank, Insperity, Frost Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, Capital Impact Partners, and Vecino Group, with additional support provided by Bank of America.

TSAHC and CSH combined forces in 2020 to launch the Texas Supportive Housing Institute to drive PSH development. To date, 16 development teams representing Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco have successfully completed the Institute, providing more than 1,000 new PSH units across the state.

About TSAHC

The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) is a statewide non-profit organization that works to facilitate, preserve, and expand affordable housing opportunities for Texans, with the vision that every Texan will have a place to call home. For more information, please visit www.tsahc.org.

About CSH

CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) advances affordable and accessible housing aligned with services by advocating for effective policies and funding, equitably investing in communities, and strengthening the supportive housing field. Since our founding in 1991, CSH has been the only national nonprofit intermediary focused solely on increasing the availability of supportive housing. Over the course of our work, we have created more than 467,600 units of affordable and supportive housing and distributed over $1.5 billion in loans and grants. Our workforce is central to accomplishing this work. We employ approximately 170 people across 30 states and U.S. Territories. As an intermediary, we do not directly develop or operate housing but center our approach on collaboration with a wide range of people, partners, and sectors. For more information, visit www.csh.org.    

Austin, TX | October 9, 2024 – Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) and Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) launched the fourth Texas Supportive Housing Institute today, aiming to develop approximately 530 affordable and supportive housing units across the state.  

TSAHC and CSH selected six teams to participate in the Institute representing the following communities: Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, Denton, Marshall and San Antonio. The Texas Supportive Housing Institute is based on a national CSH initiative designed to accelerate Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) development. PSH is affordable housing combined with wraparound supportive services and is a proven, compassionate, and cost-effective solution for people experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness.

David Long, TSAHC President, said, “We’re excited to launch this latest Institute and build upon the work we’re doing to move vulnerable Texans from the streets and into safe, stable housing. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without a high-caliber training partner in CSH and the generous contributions from our funding partners who trust us to provide the highest quality training.”  

TSAHC announced the teams last month which consist of developers, property managers, service providers, and other critical project partners. The proposed supportive housing communities promise to transform the lives of people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, including families, victims of domestic violence, youth transitioning out of foster care, single parents, Veterans, seniors, and other vulnerable populations.

“Each home created through the Institute transforms lives and builds safer, resilient neighborhoods. When communities invest in supportive housing, they save resources diverted from costly emergency systems and intuitional care,” said Brooke Page, Southwest Director at CSH. “TSAHC has been an invaluable partner in accelerating supportive housing development in Texas, and we are inspired by teams across the state dedicated to making a positive impact and building vibrant communities.”

Team members will receive intensive training over four months on navigating the process of developing PSH. CSH provides individualized technical assistance and support to plan each project and to develop fundraising plans. Also, teams are eligible to apply to CSH for low-cost loans to assist in the pre-development process. The training is provided free of charge thanks primarily to a generous contribution from Wells Fargo.

“Wells Fargo is committed to investing in programs and opening pathways that expand affordable housing opportunities for Texas’ most vulnerable populations,” said Christopher Rios, Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability at Wells Fargo. “We applaud TSAHC, CSH and the participants of the 2024 Texas Supportive Housing Institute for their collaboration and combined efforts to strengthen Texas communities and ensure all Texans have a safe place to call home.”

In addition to support from Wells Fargo, funding for the Institute is being provided by JPMorgan Chase & Co., Dominium, Texas Community Bank, Regions Bank, Insperity, Frost Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, Capital Impact Partners, and Vecino Group, with additional support provided by Bank of America.

TSAHC and CSH combined forces in 2020 to launch the Texas Supportive Housing Institute to drive PSH development. To date, 16 development teams representing Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco have successfully completed the Institute, providing more than 1,000 new PSH units across the state.

About TSAHC

The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) is a statewide non-profit organization that works to facilitate, preserve, and expand affordable housing opportunities for Texans, with the vision that every Texan will have a place to call home. For more information, please visit www.tsahc.org.

About CSH

CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) advances affordable and accessible housing aligned with services by advocating for effective policies and funding, equitably investing in communities, and strengthening the supportive housing field. Since our founding in 1991, CSH has been the only national nonprofit intermediary focused solely on increasing the availability of supportive housing. Over the course of our work, we have created more than 467,600 units of affordable and supportive housing and distributed over $1.5 billion in loans and grants. Our workforce is central to accomplishing this work. We employ approximately 170 people across 30 states and U.S. Territories. As an intermediary, we do not directly develop or operate housing but center our approach on collaboration with a wide range of people, partners, and sectors. For more information, visit www.csh.org.    

CSH, a national nonprofit intermediary and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) advancing supportive housing, announced it was awarded $50 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). This significant funding will bolster CSH’s efforts to invest in quality healthcare and support services essential for helping supportive housing tenants thrive.

The $50 million NMTC allocation is the tenth such award from the Treasury Department, bringing CSH’s total NMTC allocation awards to $485 million. This funding underscores CSH’s exceptional track record in identifying innovative projects for community-based and healthcare services serving people with extremely low incomes living in supportive and affordable housing properties.

“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to channel New Markets Tax Credit allocations into projects and communities that bridge the gap between housing and essential services,” said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO of CSH. “CSH is particularly excited to invest in groundbreaking facilities that revolutionize healthcare and community-based services, ensuring access to quality, person-centered care for those who have been underserved.”

The NMTC funding will allow CSH to directly finance various initiatives, injecting capital into projects that promote economic growth and enhance access to essential services for people living in supportive and affordable housing.

Administered by the CDFI Fund, the NMTC program is vital in driving economic development and revitalization in communities that historically have not received adequate capital investment.

CSH’s $50 million NMTC allocation is part of the $5 billion announced by the Treasury Department, distributed among 104 awardees. Established by Congress in 2000, the CDFI Fund NMTC program has completed 20 rounds of allocations, giving out 1,667 awards worth $81 billion in tax credit authority.

“With our focus on driving equity in communities, we are delighted to pair our NMTC offerings alongside our RACE Initiative to support service providers led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color,” said Ross Clarke, Director of the New Markets Tax Credit program at CSH. “We are proud to offer innovative financing solutions to bring about transformative change in communities.”

The first-ever comprehensive Housing Action Plan comes after CSH collaborative advocacy and will guide efforts to increase housing availability, affordability, and quality. 

New York, NY | September 19, 2024 – In a landmark move to address homelessness and housing instability across Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro has announced the creation of the state’s first-ever comprehensive Housing Action Plan. This decision comes in response to advocacy efforts led by Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and Regional Housing Legal Services (RHLS) and supported by nearly 130 housing and homeless organizations across Pennsylvania.

The executive order signed last week directs his administration to develop a plan that addresses rising homelessness and widespread shortages of affordable housing. Brian McShane, CSH Assistant Director for Pennsylvania, applauded the governor’s order.

“The formation of the Pennsylvania Housing Action Plan is a critical step forward to addressing the complex issue of homelessness in our state,” said McShane. “We are grateful for Governor Shapiro’s leadership and commitment to providing the necessary coordination and resources that can make Pennsylvania a place where everyone has a safe and stable home.”

“We applaud the leadership shown by Governor Shapiro in Executive Order 2024-03 which elevates the critical issue of housing affordability and provides a clear and actionable road map for developing exactly the sort of collaborative solutions we know will have positive impacts in our communities,” said Jack Stucker, Supervising Attorney at RHLS. “At RHLS, we have worked over the last 50 years expanding access to affordable housing for Pennsylvanians. Over that time, we have seen many approaches to addressing the housing needs in our communities. Although many initiatives have been successful, we still find ourselves in the midst of an affordability crisis that prevents thousands of Pennsylvanians from affording safe and secure housing in their community of choice. One through-thread of success we have seen is collaboration.”

The governor tasked the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) with leading the plan’s development, which will include guidance on providing support to those experiencing homelessness across Pennsylvania. The order also directs the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop recommendations on policies and best practices for addressing homelessness and supporting individuals in need. DHS plans to convene an interagency group to address the need for more coordination among state agencies in collaboration with local and federal governments and community organizations.

“Pennsylvania must be a place where marginalized individuals and families receive the support they need to live independently and thrive in their communities,” said Governor Shapiro in an official statement. “By creating this interagency council, we are taking a significant step towards ensuring that no one is left behind.”

Deborah De Santis, President and CEO at CSH, highlighted this initiative’s significance compared to efforts in other states. “While some states are enacting laws to criminalize homelessness, Pennsylvania is taking a compassionate and proactive approach,” said De Santis. “By establishing this action plan, Pennsylvania is addressing immediate needs and creating a sustainable framework that other states can look to as a model for ending homelessness.”

The governor’s order comes several months after CSH and the Philadelphia-based RHLS submitted a report and called for the governor to establish an interagency council tasked with advancing affordable housing, supportive housing, and essential support services for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Over the past two years, CSH and RHLS conducted extensive listening sessions with 120 organizations across 50 counties. CSH and RHLS published their findings in May, which highlighted the urgent need for state-level change to enhance resources and scale housing solutions.

With better coordination of state resources and funding through the Interagency Council, Pennsylvania aims to become the first state to effectively end homelessness.

“From what we can tell, the state Housing Action Plan and the interagency collaboration it will foster is one of four critical policy priorities identified by community members we interviewed, who have now come together to form the Pennsylvania Supportive Housing Coalition, to address homelessness and create more housing,” said McShane. “Governor Shapiro’s commitment to this initiative demonstrates a strong dedication to making Pennsylvania a leader in the fight against homelessness.”

For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jesse Dean, Director, Strategic Communications, jesse.dean@csh.org, 347-931-0132

New York, NY | September 12, 2024 – CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing), a leading national nonprofit intermediary and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), announced a $40 million unrestricted grant from renowned philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The generous gift will markedly support CSH’s mission to build equitable, inclusive, and thriving communities through affordable housing and essential support services.

“We are deeply grateful to Ms. Scott for her unparalleled generosity and for recognizing the transformative power of supportive housing,” said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO at CSH. “This donation arrives at a pivotal moment as communities across the country grapple with escalating homelessness and housing insecurity due to a severe shortage of affordable housing, racial disparities, and persistently inadequate funding for essential health and community services.

Ms. Scott’s generous contribution will empower CSH to bridge these gaps and help communities address the urgent needs of people who face unnecessary barriers to housing. As outlined in its 2023-2027 strategic plan, CSH has established ambitious goals to increase and preserve affordable and supportive housing units substantially; transform the delivery of services to ensure services are person-centered, trauma-informed, and coordinated across systems; boost economic security for people living and working in supportive housing; and guide communities in addressing systemic inequities among Black and Indigenous people who are significantly overrepresented in institutional settings.

According to Ms. Scott’s Yield Giving website, she has donated more than $17.3 billion to nonprofits and charities. Central to her giving is her preference to “yield” control of her support through unrestricted gifts that allow nonprofits unparalleled flexibility to use the funds where they can make the most impact.

“Ms. Scott’s unbounded generosity and trust in our mission are profoundly moving. Her approach to giving, which emphasizes unrestricted support, allows us to focus on our core mission: advancing affordable housing and integrated services to help individuals and communities thrive. We are eternally thankful for her support,” said De Santis.”

About Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)

CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) is a national nonprofit intermediary and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that advances affordable and accessible housing aligned with services. We accomplish our work by advocating for effective policies and funding, equitably investing in communities, and strengthening the supportive housing field. Over the course of our work, we have created more than 467,600 units of affordable and supportive housing and distributed over $1.5 billion in loans and grants. We employ approximately 170 people across 30 states and U.S. Territories. As an intermediary, we do not directly develop or operate housing but center our approach on collaboration with a wide range of people, partners, and sectors. For more information, visit www.csh.org.   

 

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Institute celebrates its fifth year, and more than 700 new supportive housing units developed or planned.

For Immediate Release 
Media Contacts: Jesse Dean, CSH, jesse.dean@csh.org | Delia Hernández, OHCS, HCS.mediarequests@hcs.oregon.gov 

New York, NY| September 11, 2024 – Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) today announced seven innovative affordable housing projects that emerged from the fifth Oregon Supportive Housing Institute (SHI). The new projects contribute to the more than 700 new permanent supportive housing (PSH) units that have been developed or planned as a result of five years of the Oregon Supportive Housing Institute.

“Permanent Supportive Housing is a proven strategy to increase housing stability and improve health of people who have experienced chronic homelessness,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “Housing and health are the foundations of everyday life that we all depend on, and OHCS has a responsibility to help make that possible for all people, regardless of what they have been through. The Supportive Housing Institute is five years into supporting the readiness of community leaders to deliver results that improve people’s lives and strengthen communities. We are prioritizing people in our efforts to strengthen Oregon.”

OHCS and CSH collaborate to operate the Oregon Supportive Housing Institute designed to accelerate affordable and supportive housing development locally. Teams in Oregon consisting of developers, property managers, service providers, people with lived experience, and other critical project partners, apply to participate and receive intensive training over five months on navigating the process of developing permanent supportive housing. CSH provides individualized technical assistance and support to plan each project.

“CSH joins OHCS in congratulating our newest cohort of Institute graduates. We are inspired by their commitment to advancing supportive housing as an evidence-based approach to helping people who face complex barriers to housing in Oregon find stability and thrive. This is not easy work, and we are proud of all our Institute alums over the past five years for leading with creativity and innovation that has lasting impacts across our communities,” said Rae Trotta, Senior Program Manager at CSH.

The planned projects are:

•  Bridges to Change, Portland – permanent supportive housing for people experiencing long-term homelessness and who are impacted by substance use disorders or mental health disorders, with a focus on individuals identifying as LGBTQ+.
• Home First, Manzanita – permanent supportive housing for families experiencing long-term homelessness.
• Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, Portland – permanent supportive housing and supportive housing for families experiencing homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
• New Narrative, Beaverton – permanent supportive housing for people experiencing long-term homelessness, disabilities and mental illness.
• Our Just Future, Portland – permanent supportive housing for people experiencing long-term homelessness, who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color and/or LGBTQ+, unsheltered veterans, families, and immigrants.
• Path Home, Portland – permanent supportive housing for families with children experiencing homelessness with a special focus on families identifying as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
• Housing Authority of Washington County, Forest Grove – permanent supportive housing for people experiencing long-term homelessness.

“CSH gratefully thanks and acknowledges Oregon Housing and Community Services for their ongoing partnership and support of the Oregon Supportive Housing Institute. Their partnership has been integral to the Institute’s success and for making quality housing and services possible for hundreds of families and individuals in Oregon,” said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO at CSH.

To date, the Oregon Supportive Housing Institute has successfully graduated 43 teams who have opened 339 new PSH units with an additional 360 units currently in development. 

About Oregon Supportive Housing Institute
The Oregon Supportive Housing Institute (SHI) is a signature initiative of Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) in collaboration with and support from Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS). Since its start in the state, 43 teams have participated in the Oregon SHI that has resulted in 339 new PSH units, with more than 360 PSH units in development. The Oregon SHI has had diverse statewide representation from every region in Oregon, including projects from Central Oregon (Bend and Warm Springs), Coastal Regions (Astoria, Coos Bay/North Bend, Manzanita, Toledo), Corvallis, Eastern Oregon (Ontario and Lakeview), Eugene, Portland and greater Portland Metro (Gladstone, Happy Valley, Newberg, Tualatin/Tigard), Salem, and Southern Oregon (Medford/Grants Pass, Roseburg). 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) 
OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs. 

About Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)
Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) is the national champion for supportive housing, demonstrating its potential to improve the lives of very vulnerable individuals and families by helping communities create more than 385,000 real homes for people who desperately need them. CSH engages broader systems to fully invest in solutions that drive equity, help people thrive, and harness data to generate concrete and sustainable results. Visit us at www.csh.org.

 

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For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jesse Dean, jesse.dean@csh.org or 347-931-0132

September 4, 2024 | New York, NY – CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) proudly announces that the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has accredited the CSH Supportive Housing Training Center. This prestigious accreditation allows enrollees to obtain Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for all live webinars upon satisfactory completion of training courses.

“Achieving IACET accreditation reaffirms our unwavering commitment to delivering the highest training standards in the supportive housing field. We are dedicated to equipping the field with the quality training they need to make a lasting impact in our communities,” said Lisa Sepahi, Training Center Director at CSH. “The accreditation acknowledges that our training programs meet the highest international standards, ensuring exceptional quality and value for the supportive housing field.”

IACET is an internationally recognized accrediting body that develops standards for continuing education and training. CSH’s Supportive Housing Training Center completed a rigorous review and application process to receive the accreditation. The accreditation ensures that CSH’s training policies have been vetted and benchmarked against the ANSI/IACET Standard of Continuing Education and Training.

The CSH Supportive Housing Training Center is the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of training programs solely focused on helping professionals gain knowledge and skills to develop and operate high-quality supportive housing. It offers more than 200 live and on-demand courses covering a wide range of topics relevant to professionals at all levels, including those with lived experience in affordable housing, supportive housing, community and health services, homelessness, child welfare, aging, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and justice sectors. Also, the CSH Supportive Housing Training Center oversees the CSH Quality Supportive Housing Standards initiative and the biennial national Supportive Housing Summit.

“Those serving individuals who benefit from supportive housing are essential front-line workers. CSH aims to equip them with the practical and resilience-building skills they need to thrive in their challenging roles. We are thrilled to have achieved the IACET distinction, demonstrating CSH’s commitment to supporting this vital workforce,” said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO and CSH.

About CSH

CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) advances affordable and accessible housing aligned with services by advocating for effective policies and funding, equitably investing in communities, and strengthening the supportive housing field. Since our founding in 1991, CSH has been the only national nonprofit intermediary focused solely on increasing the availability of supportive housing. Over the course of our work, we have created more than 467,600 units of affordable and supportive housing and distributed over $1.5 billion in loans and grants. Our workforce is central to accomplishing this work. We employ approximately 170 people across 30 states and U.S. Territories. As an intermediary, we do not directly develop or operate housing but center our approach on collaboration with a wide range of people, partners, and sectors. For more information, visit www.csh.org. 

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Massachusetts state policymakers, with their visionary leadership, are setting a national benchmark with thoughtful policies and transformative investments in supportive and affordable housing. Last week, the Massachusetts state legislature passed the Affordable Homes Act with strong bipartisan support, authorizing $5.16 billion for housing over the next five years. The act introduces numerous policies that will significantly advance efforts to expand supportive housing alongside affordable housing initiatives needed across the nation’s 16th most populous state. 

One of the Affordable Homes Act’s most significant aspects is the creation of a Supportive Housing Pool Fund. This landmark fund serves as a new resource aimed at enhancing and broadening the creation of housing and services for those at risk of homelessness. The Supportive Housing Pool Fund is set to benefit all communities, particularly focusing on individuals with behavioral health issues, substance use disorders, survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence, as well as those who are at risk of entering or transitioning out of the foster care system. 

CSH is a member of the state-based Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition comprising over 80 cross-sector partners, which has advocated for the Supportive Housing Pool Fund and additional policies included in the legislation. 

“The Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act is a win for the state residents and especially for individuals and communities who will be transformed through supportive housing,” said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO at CSH. “This legislation serves as a model for other states in its scope of investment for accelerating affordable and supportive housing development and adequately funding the services that are the critical part of helping people achieve stability.” 

This achievement follows a historic $20 million allocation that the Michigan state legislature passed in June that will fund supportive housing services.

CSH will continue to work with the MA Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition and state leaders to implement the Supportive Housing Pool Fund. The Coalition is led by United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, and Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness. 

For Immediate Release | Media Contact: Jesse Dean, jesse.dean@csh.org, 347-931-0132 

The shortsighted executive order will cause further harm and trauma to thousands while resulting in no sustainable improvement in homelessness. 

July 25, 2024 | Los Angeles, CA – Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) joins California-based homelessness and housing organizations condemning Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order calling for state officials to begin demolishing homeless encampments that will lead to forcefully removing people and their belongings, as well as ticketing or arresting people experiencing homelessness. As written, the order would create unnecessary confusion making it harder for state and local agencies to implement effective solutions. 

The Governor’s order follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s ideology-driven ruling on Johnson v. Grants Pass last month that reversed constitutional protections for people experiencing homelessness and emboldened jurisdictions seeking to criminalize homelessness.  

The Governor’s order represents a dangerous and rapid shift in this country moving away from proven, affordable housing and supportive services solutions and back to regressive, punitive-driven, costly, and discriminatory approaches that were tried before but failed. 

“What works is ongoing funding for housing with evidence-based services. What doesn’t work is giving people 48 hours to move out which is traumatizing, stigmatizing and creates more barriers to rehousing by creating instability” said Sharon Rapport California State Policy Director at CSH. “This order won’t reduce homelessness or deter encampments, but it will leave vulnerable people even farther away from home and health than they are today.” 

CSH and organizational partners call on the Governor and state officials to acknowledge that the order will disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous and People of Color, perpetuating racism and systemic inequalities such as poverty, discrimination in housing, employment, and education. 

The Statewide Homeless Assessment reported stark racial disparities among unsheltered homelessness in California: The proportion of Black individuals in the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count was 5.3 times higher than their proportion in the state’s total population. Indigenous people experiencing homelessness were represented at a rate 5.0 times higher, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders experiencing homelessness were represented at 2.8 times higher than their shares of the population. 

Further, the executive order blatantly ignores compelling, independent research, including a recent analysis of Los Angeles practices and a RAND report, proving that a punitive approach to homelessness like clearing encampments is ineffective and temporary, and disproportionally harms people of color, people with mental illness, older adults, and people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. These practices lead to erecting barriers to housing or shelters, causing service providers to lose contact with their clients, people losing their identification and other documentation needed to move into housing, and driving people further into poverty. 

“Jurisdictions that aggressively close encampments without ensuring that the people living in them have access to affordable housing and necessary services will fail,” said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO at CSH. “Instead, we can choose to invest in effective solutions that create sustainable, healthy and safe communities, reduce taxpayer burdens, and ensure dignity and housing for all.”

CSH and partners urge the Governor and his administration to reverse the executive order and focus on a better way forward based on data-driven, equitable, and fiscally responsible solutions, including the necessary investments identified in the California Homeless Housing Needs Assessment. These include: 

• Working in coordination with—rather than competition with—local governments to ensure people receive evidence-based approaches to assisting people in encampments to move into permanent housing, 

• Accelerating new affordable housing development and repair and preserve existing supportive and public housing, 

• Mobilizing public health teams,  

• Engaging people living in encampments and connecting individuals to housing and supportive services, and  

• Leveraging insights from those with lived experiences of homelessness. Such approaches uphold individual dignity, improve community outcomes, and enhance public safety. 

“CSH and partners acknowledge the Newsom Administration’s unprecedented investment in housing and homelessness programs. We look forward to working with the Administration to achieve ongoing funding at the level of funding identified in the California Homeless Housing Need Assessment of 2.7% of the state’s budget,” added Rapport. 

This statement is endorsed by Housing California, People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), Housing Now!, Western Region Advocacy Project, Compass Family Services, Laura Chatham, Santa Cruz County Mental Health Advisory Board Member, District 1 Representing the Unhoused Community of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Cares, Community Forward, Safe Place for Youth, and Equal Rights for Every Neighbor Coalition. 

“Housing California is disheartened by this executive order. Homelessness cannot be solved by encampment sweeps and criminalizing individuals who are struggling to make ends meet. Policies that criminalize homelessness also disproportionately impact people of color – particularly those who are Black, American Indian, and Pacific Islander – and they threaten to widen racial disparities in our state. At a time when Californians put solving homelessness at the top of their priorities, we should not enact policies that exacerbate the crisis. Instead, we should provide on-going investments in solutions that work: growing our supply of deeply affordable and supportive housing, expanding supportive services, and increasing the availability of rental assistance. Housing California is committed to working towards a future where every Californian has a safe, affordable home.” — Christopher Martin, Policy Director at Housing California  

“Governor Newsom signed legislation authorizing funding for shelters to improve conditions in their facilities and knows very few accessed available state funding to improve conditions in their facilities. Today, he is ordering unhoused individuals living in encampments into those very same spaces even though we feel he is aware the conditions are far from suitable, especially for people with complex health needs.”  —  Paul Boden, Executive Director, Western Region Advocacy Project 

“Arresting people and displacing folks from their shelter, however temporary, is not only cruel it has been shown to not be effective. Governor Gavin Newsom, we know what works to end homelessness– affordable homes. Let’s focus on the solutions that work and fully fund the state’s own goal of 1 Million Affordable Homes by 2030. To do that, we need ongoing funding at-scale. Spending money on sweeps means less affordable homes in the short term for Californians and more homelessness in the long run.” — Rev. Rae Huang, Senior Organizer from Housing Now! 

“California should not exploit the Supreme Court’s decision to double down on failed policies that harass and displace people who have no place to call home. Governor Newsom’s executive order does nothing to address California’s housing affordability crisis, which benefits corporate developers while hurting low-income and unhoused families the most. We urge county and city leaders to reject this cruel and discriminatory directive and instead heed their constituents’ call for humane and lasting solutions — housing-first interventions and robust voluntary services.”  — Equal Rights for Every Neighbor Coalition 

About CSH  

Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) advances affordable and accessible housing aligned with services by advocating for effective policies and funding, equitably investing in communities, and strengthening the supportive housing field. Since our founding in 1991, CSH has been the only national nonprofit intermediary focused solely on increasing the availability of supportive housing. Over the course of our work, we have created more than 467,600 units of affordable and supportive housing and distributed over $1.5 billion in loans and grants. Our workforce is central to accomplishing this work. We employ approximately 170 people across 30 states and U.S. Territories. As an intermediary, we do not directly develop or operate housing but center our approach on collaboration with a wide range of people, partners, and sectors. For more information, visit www.csh.org.     

 

CSH endorses and stands with U.S. Senators and Representatives calling for President Biden’s Administration to accelerate data-driven solutions that effectively address homelessness. A letter to the President signed by 36 congressional members requests urgent action to tackle rising homelessness with proven solutions like affordable housing and supportive services.

The letter acknowledges the recent Supreme Court decision on Johnson v. Grants Pass that overturned constitutional protection for people experiencing homelessness with no other options for safe shelter. The decision gives communities a free pass to refuse to provide safe shelter options in favor of ticketing, arresting, and jailing people experiencing homelessness. The congressional members also acknowledge the acute racial disparities among people experiencing homelessness and who are disproportionately Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC).

The Members of Congress asked the Administration to act on “proactive, evidence-based policies across the country that can reduce initiatives to criminalize homelessness”:

1. Public Health Priority: Declare unsheltered homelessness a public health priority. Strengthen the relationship between homeless services providers and public health agencies. Provide additional resources for harm reduction efforts and evidence-based approaches to address substance use disorder and mental illness. Deploy the U.S. Public Health Service to assist communities with outreach to homeless people.
2. Civil Rights and Liberties: Defend the civil rights and liberties of people experiencing homelessness and those who serve them. Direct federal agencies and law enforcement to provide necessary resources without displacing individuals facing complex barriers to housing. Develop consistent guidance for engagement using a harm reduction approach that connects unhoused people to services and housing.
3. Federal Resources for Stable Housing: Allow states and communities to use federal resources effectively. Provide waivers for flexibility in administering the Housing Choice Voucher program. Convert underused federal buildings to housing and shelter. Resolve conflicts to facilitate the transfer of surplus federal properties for sheltering and housing people experiencing homelessness.