SUPPORTIVE HOUSING NARRATIVES

The following narratives must be completed for all supportive housing proposals, which may include service enriched, housing for persons with HIV/AIDS, safe havens, emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent rental housing with support services.  The supportive housing narrative questions must be completed for all housing proposals that target households experiencing long-term homelessness, as well as housing proposals with services that target populations at risk of homelessness, disabled households, youth, frail elderly, and/or other special populations.  If there are items that do not apply, note accordingly.

Supportive housing provides affordable housing for a variety of persons, especially persons with disabilities who may have been previously homeless, and offers management and service coordination that can help the household obtain services or tenancy supports necessary to maintain housing stability. The services offered in supportive housing settings should reflect the characteristics, needs and preferences of the residents.

Refer to the following link for clarity on the various definitions and types of supportive housing.  
http://mnhousing.gov/resources/apply/multifamily/MHFA_004717.aspx

General Overview and Target Population:

1.	Describe the characteristics of the population you are proposing to serve, such as:

•	Household Size and type, i.e. single, household with children, etc.
•	Amount of Rent Affordable to the Population
•	Sources and Amount of Monthly Income
•	Barriers to Accessing and Maintaining Rental Housing
•	Disabilities or barriers, such as mental illness, HIV/AIDS, chemical dependency, physical disabilities, chronic illness, traumatic brain injury, dual diagnosis, multiple disabilities, other
•	Other information, as applicable

     

2.	Describe your most recent experience in serving the proposed population within the past five years.  Summarize what you consider to be some of your best practices in achieving and demonstrating successful outcomes in serving this population.

     

Referral Sources for the Housing:

3.	Describe the types of outreach and referral sources that will be used to assist in recruiting tenants and their relationship to the proposed development.  For example:  if the applicant is proposing to serve persons experiencing long-term homelessness, will they utilize shelters and/or street outreach workers as a primary referral service?

     
Collaborating Partnerships:

Describe who will be the entities involved and how the relationships will be in place with the overall operating of the proposed housing: ownership, sponsor, services, management, county and rental assistance administration and a brief description of roles and responsibilities?

a.	Owner -       

b.	Sponsor -       

c.	Service Provider -       

d.	Management Agent -       

e.	County -       

f.	Rental Assistance Administrator -       

Tenant Selection and Occupancy Requirements:

4.	Describe how the development/rental assistance administrator will select eligible tenants for the housing.  For example: if the applicant is proposing to serve persons experiencing long-term homelessness, how will eligibility be determined?

     

5.	Describe reasons or policies in which a prospective applicant would be turned down for the housing.

     

6.	Describe the Occupancy Requirements for Tenants, and whether there are house rules, such as sobriety.  If there are house rules, describe the policies and how they tie into providing safe housing for the targeted population.  Describe your practices for remedying house rule violations.

     

7.	Describe whether the residents sign a lease with the owner of the housing, and if so, describe the terms of the initial lease.  Describe whether there will be any lease addendums and the terms and conditions of such addendums.  Describe your practices for remedying lease infractions or violations.

     

Services Plan Implementation:

8.	Describe whether a screening and needs assessment will be completed for persons referred to the development/rental assistance administrator and assessment process that will be used.

     

9.	Describe whether any of the following types of services will be offered, whether they will be available on site, or through referral, and who will provide the services.  (Please also reference other proposed services that are not listed on the following chart):

Type of Service	Available on Site or Referral	Entity that will provide service	
Adult Mental Health Services	     	     	
Chemical Dependency Health Services	     	     	
*Case Management	     	     	
Tenant Education, Advocacy	     	     	
Financial/ Budget Training	     	     	
Independent Living Skills/Hygiene	     	     	
Employment Training/Readiness	     	     	
Parenting Training, Mentoring	     	     	
Children’s Needs (education, truancy, behavioral health, etc.)	     	     	
Other:       	     	     	
Other:       	     	     	
Other:       	     	     	

*(Please refer to the Minnesota Interagency Task Force on Homelessness definition of case management found at: http://mnhousing.gov/resources/apply/multifamily/MHFA_004717.aspx).

10.	Describe how residents access services and available hours of services.  If services are provided on site, where will the services be provided?

     

11.	Describe whether participation in services is required for occupancy (Note – Minnesota Housing encourages proposals which allow voluntary participation in supportive services and which provide services focused on helping residents retain their housing).

     

12.	Describe desired participant outcomes and how they will be achieved and measured.

     

13.	Describe follow-up timelines, frequency and availability of services after resident completes program or moves.

     

14.	Describe the number of FTE service staffing positions and responsibilities directly related to the proposed development.

     

15.	Describe who will be responsible for data entry into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) – please note that this is a requirement for all developments and/or programs serving households experiencing long-term homelessness.

     

Funding for Services:

16.	Describe how services will be funded in the following table provided.

Source	Commitment Date	Dollar Amount	Conditions	Start Date	
     	     	     	     	     	
     	     	     	     	     	
     	     	     	     	     	
     	     	     	     	     	

17.	If rental assistance resources are also under consideration for the proposed units, list the type of funding and status of such resource.  See the following web link for Group Residential Housing and the Long-Term Homelessness Initiative to see if your development may be eligible.  
http://mnhousing.gov/initiatives/housing-assistance/homelessness/MHFA_001626.aspx