Clients in our permanent supportive housing program are often “forgotten” to the outside world. These individuals are accepted into our program because they often suffer with a disability, cannot work and were previously chronically homeless (by definition, having been homeless for one year or had four episodes of actual homelessness in the last three years and have a disability).

Though we are fortunate that through state contracts we are able to purchase basic needs items outright for individuals in our housing program, as an agency, ImmaCare receives the least amount of donations that are restricted to our housing program. For starters, individuals experiencing homelessness who are in an emergency shelter receive three meals a day. Once housed, these donations of home-cooked meals are typically hard to come by, unless by going to a soup kitchen or community meal events hosted by other organizations. We are quite fortunate to receive donations of Welcome Kits from our donors. However, these donations are typically for individuals who are directly coming out of shelter and are very newly housed. These donations are critical as the items help the newly-occupied apartment feel like home.

On average, our clients have been housed for approximately seven years. This means, aside from some important donations received as they are first housed, housing clients don’t have a lifeline to continuous donations. They do, however, have a lifeline to comprehensive, wrap-around case management services for as long as they’re part of our program. They have access to case managers who check in with them, make sure the utilities remain on in their apartments, provide guidance on how to stick to a budget, help individuals navigate issues of mental and/or physical health, and make referrals as needed. Case managers also offer guidance on how to keep an apartment clean, how to shop and meal plan, as well as how to cook basic meals.

Just because these individuals are housed through a program doesn’t mean they don’t want to work. Case managers also assist with creating resumes, job applications, transportation to job fairs and interviews. Clients in our permanent supportive housing program pay 30 percent of their income toward rent with the rest being paid through various subsidies. When clients secure employment, their portion of the rent due increases.

The most important goal for housing case managers is helping clients remain housed. That is the focal point. If clients run into issues jeopardizing their housing, case managers offer support to correct any issues. As stated in our Vision Statement, “housing is a human right,” and our case managers do whatever they can to help keep clients housed.

One night Jack* came through ImmaCare’s doors. It was challenging for his Housing Navigator to build a rapport because due to his drinking, he would either often miss appointments, or he would show up so intoxicated that nothing would get accomplished. The Housing Navigator was discouraged and needed to figure out an alternative plan.

ImmaCare provides Harm Reduction services to people with substance use disorder which means our case managers meet clients “where they are” in their journey to treatment. As such, the Housing Navigator worked with Jack to identify the best time of day to meet before he started drinking, and they began scheduling his appointments earlier in the morning. This allowed Jack to be clear-minded and present during appointments, and they began making real progress.

The Housing Navigator encouraged Jack to reconnect with his daughters and to take small steps toward cutting back on his drinking. Since shifting the appointments to earlier in the morning, Jack not only attended most of his appointments but was also able to obtain his birth certificate and Social Security Card, both of which are required to secure housing. Although Jack has major health issues and an obvious substance use disorder, prior to coming to ImmaCare, he was not connected to any providers who could complete his disability verification. After some months, Jack’s Housing Navigator connected him to a provider to get his disability verification and he was soon after matched to a housing program.

ImmaCare’s "emergency shelter" has rebranded to a Housing Navigation Center; “shelter case managers” are now Housing Navigators; and “shelter frontline staff” are now Housing Support Counselors. The purpose of this rebranding is to ensure there is a focus on housing in everything we do. We are not just providing a bed, a meal, and overnight shelter to people; we are actively providing housing navigation services and expect our clients to be actively seeking permanent housing and working toward ending their homelessness.