Programs offer support to homeless
As a growing number of cities outline 10-year plans to reduce homelessness, many are developing housing programs that include support services to help keep people off the streets. A new report from the Washington-based Supportive Housing Investment Partnership summarizes the policies states have adopted to foster and encourage such supportive housing developments. “Using the Housing Credit for Supportive Housing: An Assessment of 2005 State Policies” identifies a variety of approaches to building and sustaining permanent, affordable homes using the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. For example, some states have used credit set-asides in which they pledge to allocate a certain portion of housing credits to supportive housing developments. A PDF version of the report is available at www.shippartners.org.