New office, committee will respond to need for permanent supportive housing
Permanent supportive housing (PSH) is one of the fastest-growing initiatives in the Department of Commerce. The Legislature and governor recognize PSH as an evidence-based practice to end the cycle of chronic homelessness. As a result, in the 2022 legislative session, the Office of Apple Health and Homes (ESHB 1866) and a PSH advisory committee (SHB 1724) were created in Commerce.
We are standing up the office and committee in a newly created unit in our Housing Division. The Apple Health and Homes and Permanent Supportive Housing unit (or AHAH/PSH) will provide technical assistance and help create and maintain affordable housing for people living with behavioral health conditions, other disabling conditions and with extremely low incomes.
Seven guiding principles
Our unique AHAH/PSH unit is dedicated to meeting the complex needs of individuals by using seven principles from the evidence-based practice model:
- Choice of housing
- Separation of housing and services
- Decent, safe and affordable
- Integrated into the community near shopping, schools, churches, and transportation
- Rights of tenancy under current state and local laws
- Access to housing
- Flexible, voluntary services
For more information, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website.
Partnering for success
The AHAH/PSH unit brings the three legs of the PSH "housing stool" together (bricks/mortar, housing vouchers/subsidies and supportive housing services). The unit will work in close partnership with the Health Care Authority (HCA) and Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to meet the needs of eligible participants.
In addition, AHAH/PSH will serve a portion of individuals enrolled in HCA’s Foundational Community Supports (FCS) program, who have complex health needs and risk factors. FCS is a targeted Medicaid benefit that provides community support services to help individuals obtain and maintain housing and employment. Learn more about the FCS on its website.
The AHAH/PSH team has many ways to operationalize the PSH housing stool’s three legs. First, we will work closely with HCA to identify a subset of people eligible for and enrolled in the FCS program and who have immediate housing needs. The AHAH/PSH unit issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a pilot program to manage rent assistance subsidies and vouchers totaling $6 million for individuals enrolled in FCS. These funds will be used to provide rent assistance at a location identified through the person’s housing assessment. While this RFP is for a pilot to help launch this program, we anticipate the same level of funding will be available in subsequent years, pending legislative appropriation. You can review the Request for Proposals (RFP) on Commerce’s website.
Technical assistance and grants
In addition, the AHAH/PSH team will generate technical assistance and capacity grants to assist entities, developers, housing providers, and service organizations in connecting services and capital and leveraging housing assistance. Our staff will work with Enterprise Community Partners, a national technical assistance organization, to meet the training and technical assistance goals, particularly in assisting organizations that are considered By and For and serve people from marginalized communities.
Stakeholder meeting planned for issuing capital funds
The AHAH legislation (HB 1866) created a new Apple Health and Homes account within the Washington State Treasury, as well as a Rapid Capital Housing Program. The AHAH/PSH unit will work closely with Commerce’s Multifamily Housing Unit to issue $60 million in capital funds.
Acquiring and constructing more affordable PSH to meet the needs of vulnerable complex individuals is a high priority for Commerce and its Housing Division. The legislation for the AHAH capital funds requires that we consider the geography of where projects are located, whether they are leveraged with other funds, and expeditiously funding projects (whether they are new construction or acquisition), while ensuring that marginalized communities and the most vulnerable are served. The listening session will help guide us with these considerations as we develop the guidelines.
To gather input on strategies to maintain this balance from stakeholders and interested parties, we will hold a public listening session from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17. Please register online for the meeting, which will be on Zoom.
Questions?
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Apple Health and Homes/Permanent Supportive Housing Managing Director Melodie Pazolt.
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