Access to safe, decent, affordable housing is an issue that far too many Americans must grapple with. Housing is considered affordable when it costs a family no more than 30 percent of their income. However, over 15 million households in American are paying half of their income or more towards rent; an amount that leaves little for other basic needs. A single, minimum wage earner working full time cannot afford a government fair market rent two bedroom unit anywhere in the country. And while demand for housing is up, the supply of affordable rental units is dwindling. Since 1995, the nation has lost 1.5 million low-cost units. Given these realities, it is little wonder that close to 750,000 individuals are homeless on a given night.

In the United States Housing Act of 1949, our government wisely declared that, "…the general welfare and security of the Nation and the health and living standards of its people require…the realization as soon as feasible of the goal of a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family." Unfortunately, nearly sixty years after the passing of this Act, our nation is far from realizing this core goal. Whether it is a family trapped in a mortgage they cannot afford or an individual suffering from chronic homelessness, far too many in our nation struggle to access and maintain safe, decent, and affordable housing that is their human right.

Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights takes a comprehensive approach to the need for housing. Over the past 20 years, we have focused on creating housing opportunities for the hardest to house – the chronically homeless, those with severe disabilities, families burdened by generational poverty. We have developed 1,200 units of housing and currently manage close to 700 for some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in our region. Heartland Alliance's approach to housing goes beyond bricks and mortar. Using holistic housing models, such as supportive housing, we ensure that people both have a roof over their head and the supports necessary to remain housed.

By providing innovative and effective housing opportunities, Heartland Alliance is leading the way in providing solutions to one of our nation's most pressing issues. The following principles guide Heartland Alliance's comprehensive housing programs as well as our advocacy efforts.

Focus on housing first

Individual or family stability and safety are a basic foundation on which other life goals and accomplishments can be based. For vulnerable people, finding permanent housing first, and then following it with needed services such as counseling, substance abuse treatment, or employment support, is much more effective in terms of achieving long term goals of behavior change and stability. Programs that employ a housing first model recognize the primary need for safe, decent, and affordable housing in the life of each individual, regardless of his or her other circumstances or treatment needs.

Develop innovative models for overlooked populations

Comprehensive housing solutions show respect for the unique experiences of the most vulnerable in our society. An individual that has paid their debt to society and is looking to redeem their life is facing barriers different from the mother that has been a victim of violence in her own home. Unique circumstances require programs that adapt to specific needs and acknowledge the totality of an individual's challenges and try to address them in a comprehensive manner, rather than isolating different needs – housing, health, and access to work.

Make public housing a place of opportunity

In addition to housing, all individuals and families need access to real opportunities that will provide for future stability and success. For vulnerable populations, the provision of innovative housing opportunities combined with supports helps ensure that any of a myriad of problems in an individual's life does not lead to them losing their home. Public housing should be a model that integrates a full compliment of programs – mental health and substance abuse treatment, workforce development, financial literacy, and others – as necessary in order to meet each person or family's unique needs. With this approach, residents are more apt to stay housed, find meaningful employment, and live a life of dignity and respect.

Enact policy change that integrates best practices and effective solutions

• Congress must fully fund the National Housing Trust Fund with sufficient, dedicated, and permanent sources of revenue to build, rehabilitate, and preserve 1.5 million units of housing for the lowest income families.
• All levels of government must provide expanded resources for homelessness prevention, ensuring more families never experience homelessness when the stability of their housing is threatened by a crisis.
• The federal government, in collaboration with local entities, must create a new model for public housing that goes beyond the current vision for mixed-income communities. This new model must provide a full complement of interwoven residential services without arbitrary time limits.  
• Congress must expand resources for the hardest to house – the formerly incarcerated, those experiencing chronic homelessness. Models of permanent supportive housing that link housing with mental health and addiction services must be adequately funded to meet the need.

Ø  Congress must provide packaged financing for the redevelopment and management of affordable housing and the provision of services to meet client need.

Policy Success