Improving Permanent Supportive Housing Utilization in Chicago

Challenge: 

• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is a highly effective, evidence-based program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address homelessness that pairs long-term housing with wraparound services.  
• In many jurisdictions, including Chicago, it can take months to identify, engage, verify eligibility, and ultimately move a client into a Permanent Supportive Housing unit. This extended timeline can lead to an underutilization of Permanent Supportive Housing, leaving vulnerable individuals unhoused longer and providers with vacant units, despite surging demand. 

Innovation:

• The GPL diagnosed barriers to full PSH utilization in Chicago and identified areas where the processes to move residents into units could be sped up and improved.  
• The GPL convened PSH providers and local leaders to share and spread best practices in PSH management.  
• The GPL designed and tested the Proactive Engagement Pilot (PEP) to address barriers to successful referrals to PSH. The pilot included changes to the referral process such as: 
  • Pairing a client with a housing navigator before receiving a referral to housing. 
  • Collecting client documentation as early as possible to determine eligibility and facilitate a smooth move-in process. 
  • Distributing project information sheets to clients that include information about specific PSH units, including location, size, eligibility, and photos to better inform matching decisions. 
  • Conferencing with PSH providers to move client referrals through complex application and approval processes as quickly as possible.