CCHP EXPLAINED: BRIDGE TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
On July 1, 2020, the City of Houston, Harris County, and the Coalition for the Homeless announced a joint $65-million plan called the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) , which will serve 5,000 people experiencing homelessness over the course of two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Salvation Army of Greater Houston is one of many organizations providing much-needed relief to families impacted by COVID-19. We are partners of the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) via the two permanent housing programs (Bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-housing), and one new pilot intervention (Diversion). The following is a short summary of an original post by the Coalition for the Homeless.
What Is PSH?
PSH is permanent and designed to serve the most vulnerable in our community. It espouses the “Housing First” model that only after receiving access to safe, secure housing can a person attend to other needs such as finding employment, accessing voluntary supportive services, and stabilizing their life.
While 28 agencies provide PSH everyday as part of The Way Home, four local agencies are providing Bridge to PSH programs through the CCHP: The Salvation Army of Greater Houston is providing navigation and case management, Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. is providing navigation and case management, The Beacon is providing navigation, and the Houston Housing Authority is providing rental assistance.
How Does Bridge To PSH Work?
Once a person is assessed for housing through Coordinated Access and then referred to the Bridge to PSH program, they are assigned a navigator. One of the first steps in navigation is assistance in securing needed documentation such as documentation of homelessness, documentation of disability, identification, and birth certificates. Navigators also assist with various challenges clients may be experiencing on their path into housing, such as substance abuse issues, mental health barriers, and overcoming criminal backgrounds.
If you are interested in applying, please call 211 to connect with the appropriate resource. Read the entire original post here.