Corporation for Supportive Housing presented a toolkit for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) at a session during the 2013 Building Michigan Communities Conference. The PHA toolkit is a website for PHAs and those interested in working with a PHA on supportive housing: http://www.csh.org/phatoolkit

The toolkit is incredibly useful for PHAs that are considering improving their housing choice voucher program, implementing project-based vouchers, partnering with other organizations that will provide supportive services or co-opting best practices from other PHAs that have unique approaches (such as housing development, coordinated funding, sponsor-based subsidies, etc.). The toolkit covers more than this, so it is worthwhile to take a look.

If you are an organization or service provider interested in working with a PHA, the toolkit will give you background information that will help you start collaborating. The information from CSH’s presentation below will also give you a sense for what the local PHA needs when you meet with them, depending on what your goals are.

Tenant-based Vouchers

What do you bring to the table?

• Help with paperwork
• Housing search assistance
• Services for tenants and landlords
• Super-NOFA credentials
• Grant writers

Project-based Vouchers

What do you bring to the table?

• Connections to other funders and local planners
• Help with paperwork
• Expertise in defining, providing and funding services
• Advocacy

Public Housing

What do you bring to the table?

• On-site activities
• Mental health services
• Good will
• Advocacy