Blueprint for November
Homelessness is solvable
By Jessica Hoefer
3 min read
Homelessness first became a national issue in the 1870s. Back then the pejorative term referred to “tramps” traversing the country in search of work. Being homeless was thought to be a moral crisis. In the 19th and 20th centuries, jobs, not housing, were considered the solution to a transient lifestyle.
Fast forward 100-plus years to the early 1980s, which marks the modern era of homelessness. Today’s solution is the creation or availability of affordable housing. Yet, there are still so many people who are ill-housed or homeless in America. It is becoming clear that the answer isn’t simply affordable housing, it’s the combination of affordable housing with supportive services – permanent supportive housing.
Permanent housing pairs housing assistance (e.g., long-term leasing or rental assistance) with supportive services, like community-based healthcare, treatment and employment services. And according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “Permanent supportive housing is a proven solution to homelessness for the most vulnerable chronically homeless people.”
The 1980s also saw rents in metro areas across the U.S. increase while wages stagnated. And by 1990, the recession of the late 80s had led to severe cuts in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s budget and subsidized housing for poor Americans. This is when Fair Market Rents (FMR) were first used to reflect the average cost of affordable housing, as it is defined by HUD standards. Reinforcing that FMRs are crucial in providing those in need with safe, suitable and sanitary homes.
As we anticipate a possible recession, the newly released FMRs for 2023 are, on average, ten percent higher than in 2022. The increase is expected to make it easier for many voucher holders to rent homes that meet their needs.
This month, we look at how permanent supportive housing provides a long-term solution to homelessness by creating “Communities of Opportunity” designed to meet the demands of residents and service providers. And how FMRs are playing their role in controlling costs.
Housing USA begins by exploring HUD’s deviation, from its usual sample data, in determining FMRs by using private sector data. Though temporary in the wake of COVID, it is suggested the change in methodology may prove a better determination for future FMRs.
In Permanent Supportive Housing, we see how two companies are successfully partnering with social service agencies, funding services and housing, and designing communities to meet the needs of their residents, all while getting people off the streets.
Some additional examples of “Communities of Opportunity” and permanent supportive housing are further explored in Case Study: Four Properties Preserve Affordable Housing and Case Study: Pointe on La Brea in Los Angeles.
Homelessness is solvable. So, let’s solve it.
Regards,
Jessica Hoefer
Editor-in-Chief
