Broward County Community Development

Affordable housing program: 1. Prevents homelessness: bhs affordable and supportive housing prevents low-income people from becoming homeless. Coupled with collaboration from Community behavioral health partners offering an array of support services encourages a permanent exodus from the streets. 2. Provides opportunity: bhs affordable and supportive housing provides low-income people a safe home where they are provided the tools for successful, long-term, independent living, achieving long-term self sufficiency. 3. Social benefit: bhs affordable housing for young adults addresses the immediate needs for long-term stability and productive citizens which produces significant social benefits and reduces substantial financial strains on our communities (taxpayers), such as incarceration, over- utilization of emergency rooms and substance abuse. Bhs currently serves 325 clients; 72 tenants we house are children under the age of 18 of which 100% are now residing in a stable environment; 86% have maintained stably housed throughout the last year. In addition, over 75% of our clients have maintained and/or increased their total income. Most importantly, bhs has provided almost 6,000 hours of client services, 637 hours of therapeutic intervention, 1,412 hours of home inspections, 1,746 hours of property maintenance, and 1,286 hours of client work orders. While residing in bhs' affordable housing units, low-income or homeless people with a diagnosed mental illness have access to a variety of resources. These wrap-around supportive services encourage self-sufficiency and independent living. Housing specialists and case management teams connect residents to employment, volunteer, educational and healthcare opportunities, which promote safe, permanent and independent living opportunities. While residing in bhs' affordable housing units, low-income or homeless people with a diagnosed mental illness have access to a variety of resources. These wrap-around supportive services encourage self-sufficiency and independent living. Housing specialists and case management teams connect residents to employment, volunteer, educational and healthcare opportunities, which promote safe, permanent and independent living opportunities.