Pathways Home Toolkit

Each community sends a team of 3-5 individuals to participate in five sessions. Ideally, teams consist of a lead sponsor (project owner); lead service provider who has experience working with the local homeless/at-risk population; and property management entity. Other potential team members include development
consultants and board members who will be key decision makers for a project. This group is responsible for advancing a supportive housing development in their community upon conclusion of the Toolkit.

Every 2-day session will provide individualized technical assistance covering all aspects of supportive housing from developing a project concept, to development and funding, property management, opeartions and service provision. Staff from the State Housing and Finance Authority and the Division of Housing will be encouraged to attend, and work with teams as they develop their project concepts. Teams will have the opportunity to report progress during group discussions for peer-to-peer learning, and various supportive housing funders will be available at sessions to meet with individual teams and discuss how each community can access potential funding.

Teams are required to meet and complete assignments between sessions to ensure progress is continued.

Depending on resources, Technical Assistance Coaches may be available to meet remotely with teams as needed and/or desired.

Session 1: Introduction to Supportive Housing & Project Concept Development
General overview of what makes supportive housing unique, with opportunities for teams to increase their understanding of where supportive housing fits along a resource continuum, while also beginning to draft project concepts appropriate for their area.

Session 2: Capital Development and Financing – Building your Building
Design and budget considerations for project development, including basic information on Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Federal Home Loan Bank/Affordable Housing Program (AHP) and various local and state sources, with a panel of Funders, Syndicators and Investors, as available.
Session 3: Operations & Property Management in Supportive Housing
Information on what makes supportive housing property management different from operating traditional affordable housing, and discussion around subsidy opportunities to help ensure projects are able to serve low-income populations being prioritized.

Session 4: Supportive Services in Supportive Housing
Overview of supportive housing service delivery including Housing First and Harm Reduction principles, while teams begin to develop service plans and budgets, based on unique challenges anticipated for tenant population and resources available in their community.

Session 5: Fair Housing, Siting/Community Engagement & Presentations to Funders
Learn about important Fair Housing considerations and strategies for increasing community support, then celebrate your work and show-off what you learned by presenting project concepts to peers, funders, and officials with opportunities for constructive feedback.