Permanent Supportive Housing is a combination of housing and support services that assist a person with a mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis to become better able to get, keep and maintain housing. People who have a severe mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis are at risk of homelessness, substance abuse, or other problems that increase when there is no stable housing option available that a person is comfortable with. The goal of the Evidence Based Practice of Permanent Supportive Housing is to increase treatment success and effectiveness, to reduce inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations, and further community inclusion.

There are a number of supported housing options funded by local communities that offer assistance to people with low income, people with disabilities (or different abilities), the elderly or people who have a serious mental illness or psychiatric diagnosis. Many local housing options may help with a place to live, but in that helping, may increase the need for services and/or may create a dependence upon services.

Supportive housing means housing that is affordable which may mean:

-A building set aside as affordable (government funds are often used for building or building rehabilitation)

-A building run by a housing agency

-Vouchers that are available to pay a portion of the rent (often called Section 8)

Permanent Supportive Housing helps you stay in that housing or helps you find housing that is a better fit for you, so you can be a part of the community. It also helps you with the support you need to stay in that housing.

In the SAMHSA Supportive Housing Toolkit there is a booklet called “Tools for Tenants” that has a questionnaire that will help you decide what is important for you to have in your home or as a part of your home. Questions asked help you prioritize what would be OK with you and what wouldn't be OK with you in your living situation. One of the questions asked is, “Would you share an apartment, if you had your own room?” The booklet is available as a free download.

In the booklet there is also a section that helps you look at what your support needs are or might be. If you need additional support to maintain your house or apartment, it can be addressed in your person-centered planning process. Your entire Permanent Supportive Housing can be addressed in your person-centered planning process. You can tell the people who support you (your allies) how important it is that you get affordable housing, and then integrate that into your person-centered planning process.

 The Evidence-Based Practice of Supportive Housing looks at what you need to maintain your home or apartment. This includes:

-Whether you need additional living skills to stay in your own home

-Eating well

-Mental health services

-Physical health services

-Substance abuse services

When you download the booklet, “Tools for Tenants” (an easy 28 page read), it may help you decide if you would like to add the Evidence-Based Practice Permanent Supportive Housing as something to incorporate into your Individual Plan of Service (Plan or IPOS).