Moving on from Permanent Supportive Housing: Barriers and Facilitating Factors Among People with Histories of Homelessness

Background/Purpose:  Over the past decade, supportive housing has been recognized as a critical ingredient in addressing the problem of homelessness among persons with psychiatric disabilities. However, the demand for such housing greatly outstrips the supply. In response, several pilot initiatives have attempted to help residents move on to independent housing to vacate supportive units for others.  Limited success so far suggests the need for additional research on how to best assist residents making this transition. This study explored factors that promote and impede formerly homeless supportive housing tenants from moving into more independent, community housing.

Methods: Data were collected using individual semi-structured interviews from a sample of 21 participants including 10 current and 11 former residents of supportive housing sites operated by a single social service agency in New York City.  Participants were recruited using flyers and by word of mouth. The sample was predominately female (62% female; 38% male) and black (85% black, 10% Hispanic, 5% white). Individual interviews explored participant’s experiences in supportive housing and in their efforts to move on. Interviews were transcribed using a naturalized method and analyzed using thematic analysis.  Once line-by-line coding was completed, Dedoose qualitative software was employed in systematic coding, grouping excerpts into categories, and then themed categories.  Major barrier and facilitator themes were identified by rank ordering them based on how frequently they were coded within and across transcripts.

Findings: Barriers identified included: financial concerns and lack of rental vouchers; fear by residents of becoming homeless again; unacceptability to residents of available housing options; and limited targeted help provided to residents that would facilitate the moving on process. Facilitators identified included: emotional support and concrete assistance from family members; peer support; assistance from supportive housing staff in skills needed to maintain housing as well as to obtain employment; alumni events and counseling provided by supportive housing personnel. Other facilitator themes identified included staying focused on set goals, thinking of supportive housing as a steppingstone, and a willingness to fight for what they hope to accomplish.  

Conclusion and Implications: Based on the identified barriers and facilitating factors, a range of policy and program recommendations is offered. These include: development of formalized service approaches to help residents make effective transitions out of supportive housing; growth of locally funded rental vouchers; focused efforts to prepare residents for independent living; promoting an organizational commitment to a moving on philosophy; a greater effort at linking current residents to outside ongoing community supports; expanded use of mutual aid, alumni supports and family reunification initiatives; staff training that can enhance effective moving on approaches; and the development of formal collaborative relationships that can help identify suitable and affordable housing options.