Facts about Supportive Housing

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a building that contributes to the vibrancy of the community and supports local businesses without the headache of additional cars and traffic?

Some Facts About Supportive Housing

1. What is supportive housing?

a. Definition: It is a successful, cost-effective combination of affordable housing with services that help people live more stable, productive lives. Supportive housing is nothing like a shelter. It is permanent housing. People who live in supportive housing sign leases and pay rent, just like their neighbors.

2. Why is it important?

a. It provides affordable permanent housing for community residents.

b. It provides a housing opportunity for residents that have been the foundation of our diverse community.

c. It allows residents who would otherwise be priced out of Logan Square to stay in our community. Today with rents of $800 and more, many people are paying more than 60% of their income for rent.

d. No one is creating new rentals. It is an opportunity for our community to have some much needed rental housing that is rarely created in today’s market.

e. Residents of the building will support the local business.

3. What does supportive housing look like?

a. A person or family who is the head of household and is homeless or at risk of homelessness due to critical circumstances.

b. The tenant pays no more than 30% to 50% of household income towards rent, and ideally no more than 30%.

c. The tenant has access to a flexible array of comprehensive services, including medical and wellness, mental health, vocational and employment, money management, coordinated support (case management), life skills, household establishment, and tenant advocacy.

d. The tenant has a lease or similar form of occupancy agreement and there are no limits on a person’s length of tenancy as long as they abide by the conditions of the lease or agreement.

e. There is a working partnership that includes ongoing communication between supportive services providers, property owners or managers, and/or housing subsidy programs.

4. What would this look like?

a. The street level would have storefronts and contribute to pedestrian-oriented local shopping.

b. The 2nd floor would have a combination of community based services.

c. The remaining floors would have a maximum of 50 units of permanent affordable housing.

d. On-site property management 24 hours a day.

e. Green roof.

f. Community space.

5. Why the Payless building?

a. It has been vacant for over 18 years.

b. It is a perfect location for rentals.

c. It is a great location for public transportation.

d. We don’t need condominiums there, because according to the statistics on the Multiple Listing Service there are over 600 condos currently on the market in Logan Square alone. This is not including ones currently not listed and still being developed.

6. New Communities Program?

a. A 16 neighborhood quality of life plan implemented through the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) where Humboldt Park Social Services has been selected as the lead organization to develop supportive housing in Logan Square.

For more information feel free to contact Delia C. Ramirez Executive Director of Humboldt Park Social Services at (773) 342-1091 or Noemi Avelar Director of Operations at (773) 342-1751.