CREJ

Page 32 — Multifamily Properties Quarterly — February 2022 www.crej.com Affordable Housing T hat all people need decent, safe and stable housing is a given. For many, the hous- ing alone is not enough; additional support is needed for many – the elderly on fixed incomes, immigrants new to this country, the unhoused, single- parent households, and people with mental illness, drug and/or alcohol dependency issues, chronic health conditions, histories of trauma and combinations of some or all the above and so on. This issue of Affordable Housing Spotlight highlights the services offered by affordable housing pro- viders, the challenges they face in delivery of those services, descrip- tions of the settings in which those services are provided and examples of the changes in the lives of recipi- ents. Service providers typically are not-for-profit organizations, many are faith-based and most tend to be mission-driven. Recognition of the positive impact on the quality of lives enjoyed by their residents has led several profit-motivated operators to incor- porate what some are calling “wrap- around” services into the operation of their communi- ties; some of the more thoughtful regulators, inves- tors and lenders have begun inquir- ing about the ser- vices offered to residents in making funding decisions and, in several instances, partnerships between not-for-profit providers and for-prof- it operators have been created. The challenges in developing and operating housing affordable to lower-income families are many by themselves, without the added barriers raised by increasing labor and material costs, rising interest rates, and scarcity of and competi- tion for fiscal resources, land, water and staffing. Throw in the conflicts inherent between those who must assure compliance with funding and equal opportunity rules and regula- tions and those who oversee ser- vices and advocate for residents, and operations can require Solomonic people skills to manage. Considering that in many cases underlying conditions beyond people’s control make it difficult for them to maintain stable living con- ditions without additional help, ser- vice-enriched housing can provide that much needed assistance. Perspectives from providers, funders and regulators will help shed light on this essential element, how those services are delivered and how the need for them is becoming greater as society changes. s From the desk of Rodger Hara: The trend of service-enriched housing is on the rise Rodger Hara Principal, Community Builder Realty Services 32 34 34 Contents Supportive services help many residents thrive Cris A. White A primer for building neuro-inclusive housing Desiree Kameka Galloway Denver Housing Authority offers more than housing David Nisivoccia VOA residents find benefits to wraparound services Angel Hurtado A community hub requires resident-driven programs Sharon Knight On-site health, wellness make difference for seniors Diana Delgado 35 35 36 H ome means so much more than a roof over one’s head. Achieving housing stabil- ity involves a sense of community and access to resources that help ensure individu- als and families can thrive long term. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority recognizes the deeper impact of affordable housing when developers seek to understand and address resident needs holistically by providing wraparound services. These can include education, health care, child care, case management and transportation services and can help break the cycles of poverty, homelessness and instability. CHFA brings this mindset to our affordable housing investment. For example, CHFA is the allocating agen- cy for federal and state housing tax credits in Colorado awarded in accor- dance with CHFA’s Qualified Alloca- tion Plan, which encourages service- enriched housing. As expressed in the QAP, developments may be more competitive in an award round if the developer plans to provide a range of supportive services to residents and details the com- prehensive service plan in its appli- cation. Addition- ally, developments serving homeless and special needs populations are pri- orities in the QAP. Such developments may provide behav- ioral health and substance abuse support services to help residents with complex barriers to housing stability. In addition, CHFA allows a “devel- oper fee boost” to support the budget of services provided for residents living at permanent supportive hous- ing developments. While CHFA pro- grams do not facilitate the approval or monitoring of service packages, CHFA recognizes the value they bring to residents’ lives and has supported many developments that provide services. These include the following examples of permanent supportive housing, each supported with hous- ing tax credits awarded by CHFA: n Laurel House Apartments, Grand Junction. Laurel House Apartments serves young adults ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Ser- vices are provided by the developer, Karis Inc., a Grand Junction-based nonprofit, and Mind Springs Health, the Western Slope’s largest provider of behavioral health services, and include mental health, substance abuse counseling, independent living and employment services. The prop- erty offers 34 affordable apartments and is key to serving the Western Slope. n Freedom Springs, Colorado Springs. Freedom Springs is a 50-unit property serving those who are unhoused or at risk of becoming homeless, with a special preference for veterans. Free- dom Springs was developed by the Vecino Group, a vertically integrated national organization. On-site and off-site services for residents are pro- vided, including case management, transportation, meals, independent living skills, medical and mental health care, substance abuse support and employment assistance. Ser- vices are provided by the lead service provider, Volunteers of America; the Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and other organizations. n Providence at the Heights, Aurora. To provide a path to successful lives for formerly incarcerated individu- als, the Second Chance Center Inc., an Aurora-based nonprofit, devel- oped Providence at the Heights. The property provides 49 affordable apartments with supportive services provided by SCC in partnership with Mental Health Center of Denver. Ser- vices include physical and mental health, substance abuse counseling, independent living, transportation and employment services. In addition to supporting develop- ments that provide resident services, CHFA offers ongoing education opportunities to service providers to help them carry out and enhance their programs. CHFA operates a training and membership program called chfareach, which stands for “Resources, Education, and Assis- tance for Colorado Housing.” Chfa- reach has offered classes for the past 15 years and in 2022 is offering a case management series that will include classes on post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, rapid rehousing, Medicaid/ Medicare and person-centered care. Chfareach offers at least one training each month for service providers and partners with the Human Services Network of Colorado to offer chfa- reach members a discount on many of their trainings. Visit chfainfo.com/ chfareach for more information. Like building and preserving afford- able housing, operating supportive services successfully requires a great deal of work and dedication from many partners. CHFA applauds the nonprofits, developers, funders and all of the individual service coordi- nators and providers who work so closely with residents to help them achieve stability and build toward strong futures. s Supportive services help many residents thrive Cris A. White Executive director and CEO, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority Laurel House Apartments in Grand Junction