BROWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMEN

BROWARD HOUSING SOLUTIONS (BHS) PROVIDED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO A TOTAL OF 331 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. AMONG THESE, 217 WERE IDENTIFIED AS PRIMARY CLIENTS AND 66 WERE CHILDREN AGES 0-17. THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE, WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION SERVICES, BHS DELIVERED OVER 5,000 HOURS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES AND MORE THAN 900 HOURS OF THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS. BHS IS PROUD TO REPORT THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES: . 82% OF CLIENTS RECEIVING RENTAL SUBSIDY ASSISTANCE THROUGH FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS (SAMARITAN, BROWARD II, AND BROWARD IV) MAINTAINED OR INCREASED THEIR INCOME. . 90% OF YOUTH IN THE YOUTH SOLUTIONS PROGRAM ARE EMPLOYED OR ENROLLED IN SCHOOL FULL-TIME. . 100% OF ADULTS SERVED HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A SEVERE AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS. . 94% OF CLIENTS MAINTAINED STABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 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. THREE POINTS SUPPORTING THIS APPROACH: 1. PREVENTS HOMELESSNESS: BHS' AFFORDABLE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PREVENTS LOW-INCOME AND MENTALLY ILL 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 PERMANENT AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDES LOW-INCOME PEOPLE A SAFE HOME WHERE THEY ARE GIVEN TOOLS FOR SUCCESSFUL, LONG TERM, INDEPENDENT LIVING, ACHIEVING LONG-TERM SELF-SUFFICIENCY. 3. SOCIAL BENEFIT: BHS' PERMANENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING 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.