Services in Affordable Housing Projects MFA Conference Jenn Lopez, Sept 2018

Principle: Housing plus services Housing is a basic human need, and all people have a right to safe, decent, affordable and permanent housing. Housing and services should be integrated to enhance the social and economic well-being of residents and to build healthy communities. Residents, owners, property managers and service providers should work as a team in integrated housing and services initiatives.

Additional Principles Programs should be based on assessment of residents' and community strengths and needs, supported by ongoing monitoring and evaluation. Programs should strengthen and expand resident participation to improve the community's capacity to create change. Residents' participation in programs should be voluntary, with an emphasis on outreach to the most vulnerable. Community development activities should be extended to the neighboring area and residents.

SERVICE APPROACH Targeted based on populations served Flexible in responding to comprehensive resident needs Voluntary with participation not being a condition of residency Independent focus on housing stability or tenant based goals Wrap-around services

TENANT CENTERED SERVICES Offer meaningful and practical choices Input from tenants used to design services options Services designed to meet likely needs of tenancy Culturally relevant and appropriate services Services “start where tenants are at”

TYPES OF SERVICES Social and Community Activities Counseling Health and mental health services Independent living skills Money management / rep payee Community-building activities Vocational counseling and job placement

TEAMWORK: DEVELOPING YOUR MENU OF SERVICES Questions to consider: What are you current funding sources and how do they fit with your project? Anticipated challenges? What new sources are you planning to target for services in your building? What partnerships with providers can be developed to minimize costs of services? Support staff / case manager ratio and appropriate rate of pay?

SERVICES BUDGET BASICS Do your services plan and let that inform your services budget. Service budgets are separate from housing development budgets. Make sure your expenses and revenues match; try to show multi-year funding commitments or multi- year MOU’s.

Program Outcomes-- examples of what to measure How many tenants remained housed after 6 months or a year. How many tenants increased income through access to additional service programs. How many residents participated in community activities, resident council…etc. How many residents have better health outcomes or have decreased negative health behaviors (ie. residents report taking medications on a regular basis)

Creative Services Examples Care Coordinators working out of public housing communities to increase enrollment in Medicaid Native American artists run an after-school program at Urban Indian Housing Communities for NA youth. Employment training programs co-located with affordable housing developments. Food pantries and commercial kitchens onsite provide resources to neighborhoods and to local residents in a community. Resident managed café on site for job training and community building.

Project Moxie, LLC Jenn Lopez jennglaulopez@gmail.com Questions? Project Moxie, LLC Jenn Lopez jennglaulopez@gmail.com