Housing Ends Homelessness: Planning for Supportive Housing

Planners play an integral role in the development of housing. This presentation delves into what supportive housing is and why it’s needed in your community.

Planners are uniquely qualified to advance the development of supportive housing and this presentation looks at five key areas that spur development: land use and zoning, community development, maximizing health resources, expanding funding, and connecting with continuums of care. For each area, the focus is on action items and potential barriers that planners might face.

Presenters introduce and demonstrate the Supportive Housing Development Decision Guide. This invaluable, Excel-based tool is designed to assist with managing housing development. It guides users in evaluating organizational readiness and capacity to pursue and complete a high-quality, supportive housing project. The guide follows a five-phase development approach and provides an opportunity to identify "primary decision points" that will help shape the purpose, structure, and direction of a project. Additional project resources are embedded. The guide offers practical strategies for overcoming common barriers and fostering equitable outcomes.