Supportive housing and the Common Ground model

Supportive housing

Supportive housing combines long-term affordable housing with services to assist people who have experienced homelessness to live stable, productive lives and not experience homelessness again. It works as an exit from homelessness because people sign a lease and stay for as long as they meet the requirements of their lease. Their unit remains the housing of their choice and as a homelessness prevention strategy.

Onsite supportive housing can exist in many different models, including high and low density housing for individuals and families. With onsite supportive housing, support services are physically located within an apartment complex. This model has proven especially successful in sustaining tenancies for people who have experienced long-term or chronic homelessness. An alternative and less effective supportive housing model is called 'scattered site' supportive housing. Outreach support services need to visit tenants in public, community-managed or private rental homes. Services visit tenants as often as is needed to support them to maintain their tenancies.

There is strong evidence demonstrating supportive housing works to sustain tenancies and avoid evictions. The Corporation of Supportive Housing (USA) reports that approximately 75-85% of people who enter supportive housing remain housed and are helped to access the support and health services they need. Tenants do not become homeless again and often move onto more independent housing.

There is also strong evidence to suggest that supportive housing costs the same or less than traditional responses to homelessness, such as shelters or crisis housing and emergency services.

Research has shown that a secure and quality building design is important in influencing the self-perception and aspirations of the tenants. Many rough sleepers, who have been subjected to persistent violence or exploitation on the streets, can now feel secure and in an aesthetically pleasing environment, which influences their ability to start afresh and move on in their lives.  

Supportive housing exists in many forms throughout Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.

The Common Ground model of supportive housing

The Common Ground model of supportive housing was established in 1990 by Rosanne Haggerty in New York City.

Key features of the Common Ground model of supportive housing are:

1. Aspirational design
2. Safety and security
3. Social mix
4. Social inclusion
5. Permanency and affordability
6. Support services.

Common Ground's innovation was to create a secure 'mixed-use' environment in which formerly homeless people lived in a building complex with people on low incomes who may not have experienced homelessness.

Under this model, housing is well-designed, safe, secure and affordable. Mental health, education, employment and welfare services are either onsite or easily accessed. A key feature is a 24-hour concierge to maintain the safety and security of tenants and the neighbourhood.

Housing is well presented and maintained so that that people are able to live in a home they are proud of and where they feel included. They are given the responsibility of maintaining the rules of a tenancy and living within a community environment.

Common Ground supportive housing also encourages the broader community to make use of the buildings. Spaces are dedicated to retail and services that the local neighbourhood can use and spaces within the apartment complex are made available to organisations and local residents to hold meetings and social events. The building is to be viewed as an asset for the whole community, which increases a feeling of social inclusion by the Common Ground tenants.