The Oregon Supportive Housing Institute recently showcased a new batch of projects aiming to provide tenant-centered and high-quality permanent supportive housing (PSH). According to a report from Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), these initiatives are the fruits of a five-year endeavor intended to support community leaders in tackling chronic homelessness and related health issues.
Andrea Bell, the OHCS Executive Director, stressed the critical connection between stable housing and overall health, stating to the OHCS official website, "Housing and health are the foundations of everyday life that we all depend on, and OHCS has a responsibility to help make that possible for all people, regardless of what they have been through." OHCS, in partnership with Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), runs the Oregon Supportive Housing Institute. The institute aims to quickly advance affordable and supportive housing development by providing five months of intensive training and individualized technical assistance to teams made up of various project partners.
Newly graduated cohorts from the institute are setting out to implement evidence-based approaches for residents facing complex barriers to housing. Rae Trotta, Senior Program Manager at CSH, acknowledged the challenges faced by these teams: "This is not easy work, and we are proud of all our Institute alums over the past five years for leading with creativity and innovation that has lasting impacts across our communities," she said in a statement obtained by Oregon Housing and Community Services.
Some of the highlighted projects include Bridges to Change in Portland, which will serve those facing long-term homelessness and substance use or mental health disorders, with an emphasis on the LGBTQ+ community. Home First in Manzanita will focus on families experiencing long-term homelessness. Meanwhile, Our Just Future in Portland aims to provide housing for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals, unsheltered veterans, families, and immigrants. Overall, the Oregon Supportive Housing Institute has so far seen the graduation of 43 teams who have been responsible to open 339 new PSH units, with an additional 360 units currently in development.
Deborah De Santis, President and CEO at CSH, expressed gratitude to Oregon Housing and Community Services: "Their partnership has been integral to the Institute’s success and for making quality housing and services possible for hundreds of families and individuals in Oregon." With the ongoing effort of these teams and the support of the institute, the hope is to foster further innovation and creativity in addressing Oregon's housing challenges.
