Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) has been shown to be an effective intervention for people who have multiple barriers to finding and maintaining stable housing.

This successful model links quality, safe, affordable housing with flexible, voluntary support services designed to help individuals or families stay housed and live more stable and productive lives. The services are designed to connect people with community-based health care, treatment and employment services, enabling them to build independent living and tenancy skills.

PSHs are proven to have a positive impact on a variety of audiences, including veterans, generational homeless families and substance users, helping the majority of persons who enter the program from becoming homeless again. Studies have shown that PSHs not only increases housing stability, but also reduce the demand for publicly-funded crisis services, including shelters, hospitals, psychiatric centers, jails, and prisons.

Unlike housing shelters, PSHs offer individual, affordable housing units for families. There is no time limit to their lease and can remain as long as they meet tenancy requirements. This is particularly important for the well-being of children, who often suffer a lifetime of challenges as a result of housing instability.

A study by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council found that children living in poverty, including those experiencing homelessness, have a higher likelihood of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) including abuse, neglect, mental illness and economic hardship. These children are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, developmental delays, socioemotional health issues, academic challenges, behavioral issues, and health challenges.

Providing families a secure place to live with interventions to reduce trauma-inducing experiences through programs that address mental illness, substance use, disorders, parenting skills and financial instability have been shown to improve developmental outcomes for homeless children and reduce generaltional homelessness.