Housing with Support

The information and resources here are intended to support your efforts to implement effective housing with support programs in your work to prevent and end homelessness.

Below you will find information and tools organized under the headings of Rapid Re-Housing, Critical Time Intervention, Housing First, Supportive Housing, and Overall Housing with Support Resources (that cross the different program types). Remember, you can also search on the Homeless Hub and the Homelessness Learning Hub for further housing with support related information.

Keep checking back here as we will be regularly updating materials and adding further resources.

Rapid Re-Housing

This section includes resources related to Rapid Re-Housing Programs (typically intended for people with mid-acuity who have experienced transitional or episodic homelessness who do not require longer-term intensive supports to remain housed) from the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH).

5 Module Webinar Series on Rapid Re-housing (2012)

Critical Time Intervention (CTI)

Critical Time Intervention is a time-limited, focused, evidence-based case management practice that mobilizes support for vulnerable individuals during periods of transition and is complementary to Rapid Re-housing.

Housing First (Scattered-Site)

This section includes key resources for Housing First Programs (providing longer-term intensive housing-based support in housing of people’s choice throughout the community) with an implementation focus.

Housing First Overview

Housing First Toolkits and Guides

  • Canadian Housing First Toolkit – a great website for communities looking to implement Housing First Programs. Includes sections on overview, plan, implement, evaluate and sustain and has a whole “resources” section with sample policies, procedures, job descriptions etc.
  • Housing First Webinar Series (2022) – partnership between the National Low Income Housing Corporation, National Alliance to End Homelessness and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. 
  • HUD’s Housing First Implementation Resources (2018) – a website with resources organized in the following four sections: 1) Housing First Implementation, 2) Working with Project Participants in a Housing First Approach, 3) Housing First in Specific Project Types, and 4) Trauma Informed Care.
  • Housing First Europe Guide (FEANTSA, 2016) – An on-line guide available in multiple languages with 12 videos and quizzes to support learning. The six chapters include: 1) What is Housing First, 2) Core Principles of Housing First, 3) Delivering Support in Housing First, 4) Delivering Housing in Housing First, 5) Evaluating Housing First, 6) Housing First and the Wider Strategy. See this 1 min teaser video introducing the Guide.
  • Permanent Supportive Housing Kit (SAMSHA, 2010) – this on-line toolkit from the US Substance Abuse and and Mental Health Services Administration includes sections on: getting started, building your program, training frontline staff, tools for tenants, evaluating your program, the evidence, using multimedia and a brochure.
  • Toolkit for Intensive Case Management In Canada (2018) – a 43-page resource book available for download from the Community Workspace on Homelessness that includes sections on assessing, managing, staffing, housing, and discharge and includes examples from Canadian communities.
  • Case Studies (COH, 2013) – from communities in Canada and around the world

Housing First Checklists and Self-Assessment Tools

Housing First (and Family First) for Youth

Housing First for Indigenous Peoples

See the Indigenous Resources page

Supportive Housing (Fixed Site)

This section includes resources related to fixed-site supportive housing programs (providing longer-term intensive housing-based support typically connected to a particular building/units).

Shared Housing

Shared Housing is a strategy that maximizes housing resources in a community to get people housed quickly and reduce system strain. Sharing housing is often used as a response to a lack of affordable housing, as it reduces the rent burden for all parties involved – tenants, landlords, and the homelessness system itself.

Frameworks, Standards, Toolkits and Guides – apply to all types of supportive housing listed above

This section includes resources that could apply to one or more of the housing with support programs above (Rapid Re-Housing, Housing First, and Supportive Housing).

Moving On Strategies

One way to accelerate housing move-ins is to employ “Moving on Strategies”. Create housing and/or support spaces by helping people move on from an existing supportive housing program to something that better meets their needs and circumstances (e.g., to greater independence, different support, or increased support).

Program Areas

Emergency Shelter | Diversion | Outreach | Housing Help and Landlords | Housing with Support | Prevention | Partnering with Other Systems | Peers and Lived Experience | Indigenous Resources

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