Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) provides financing and related services to help communities transform how they address homelessness and improve the lives of very vulnerable people. Corporation for Supportive Housing received the Award for its plan to increase the development of supportive housing across the country. CSH plans to expand into an additional 10 large, underserved markets, adding 11,500 new housing units and providing a replicable model for other CDFIs.
Over the past two decades, the CDFI has led the movement to make this integration the solution to ending chronic homelessness in and around New York City. Today, a combination of forces have come together to help CSH, the only national CDFI dedicated exclusively to supportive housing financing and development, expand its services into more communities across the U.S.
At a time when federal funding for affordable housing is decreasing, states are responding to a landmark 1999 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that requires them to provide community-based services to people with disabilities. At the same time, these states are looking for ways to end chronic homelessness. This creates a perfect storm of opportunity for CSH, which, as a lender, technical assistance provider, and public policy advocate, has supported projects and policies that work to end and prevent homelessness for the past 20 years.
Says De Santis, ““Many recent factors, including the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision, are pushing communities to create more affordable housing opportunities for low-income and very vulnerable people. Among those opportunities is supportive housing. Because CSH has led the supportive housing field for over two decades, we are uniquely positioned to offer expertise, experience, and capital to help these communities.”
With its NEXT Award, CSH will bring its expertise and expand its lending program into parts of the country where it’s identified great need and opportunities, including Georgia, Florida, and Arizona. In doing so, CSH projects it will create approximately 10,000 supportive and affordable housing units—giving more vulnerable individuals and families the opportunity to stay housed and healthy.
