With the economy struggling through a pandemic and the ever-rising housing prices, it’s no surprise that homelessness and lack of permanent homes have been a growing issue. Transitional housing is a solid solution to help people get back on their feet and put roofs over their heads.

What is Transitional Housing?

The term “transitional housing” is a broad expression that defines a supportive system(s) that help the needy find their permanent homes, through temporary, transitional solutions.

In simple words, transitional housing helps those who don’t have homes to find a place to stay while they figure things out.

However, do not mistake transitional housing for emergency shelters. Transitional housing often focuses on keeping the tenant in private accommodation while helping solve some of their issues and/or helping them figure out their next course of action.

Who Provides Transitional Housing?

While the US government, under the supervision of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, has created several solutions for temporary housing. Unfortunately, the budget assigned to such projects is not enough to meet the high demand for such services.

Providing extra solutions for transitional housing, private organizations, such as religious groups, nonprofit organizations, and shelters step in to help fill the gap.

For instance, The National Alliance to End Homelessness not only acts as a perfect reference for those in need of shelter but also acts as a fantastic resource for information on local shelters, access to healthcare, etc. The organization also acts as a haven for those living under uneasy domestic situations, due to violence, underage runaways, and even veterans who suffer from mental and/or physical disabilities.

What Kinds of Transitional Housing Solutions are Available to Me?

Let’s have a rundown of your possible solutions and arrange them by how long you can stay in those transitional housing solutions, and how accessible they are to you.

Homeless Shelters

If you’ve ever experienced a problem finding housing, you’ve probably come across these before.

Homeless shelters provide a place to stay for a little while for those who need an immediate roof over their heads. Those can be found within your city through this map.

What you should know about these shelters is that they serve those who arrive at their doors first, so no booking or other ways of reserving your spot in them. They also usually provide shelter for a short amount of time, often 24 hours or overnight.

Not only will these places keep you sheltered for the night, but will also refer you to other local shelters. Get familiar with the referral program in your city and ask your local Public Housing Authority about it.

Emergency Shelters

Much like homeless shelters, provide immediate, yet temporary housing for those in need. The one difference is that emergency shelters focus on those.. well, in an emergency. Most commonly accepted cases are often victims of domestic violence, underage runaways, and people displaced because of disasters.

For victims of domestic abuse, you can also refer to The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. The number is available 24/7, online chat options are also available for anyone experiencing questionable/unhealthy aspects of their domestic relationships.

Transitional Shelters

This is when we start talking about places that will take you in for longer. Transitional Shelters will often provide tenants with transitional housing that spans anywhere between 6 and 24 months.

The purpose of transitional Shelters is to help people put on a foothold on the path towards finding a permanent home. Not only do these shelters provide shelter, but they also provide different supporting services that help people start careers, find permanent homes and resolve different issues, whether mental or physical

Rapid Re-Housing (RRH)

Rapid Re-Housing is a program specifically created to combat homelessness. The idea is to increase self-sufficiency, and the ability to obtain housing.

This program sticks to its core value of fighting homelessness, by often focusing on people that are more difficult to assist. That list includes unemployed/inexperienced individuals, individuals with criminal records, and those who struggle with substance abuse.

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)

The last entry on our list is Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). This is a program created especially for families that include one or more members with disabilities, whether mental or physical. The program is focused on providing families with homes that not only provide the required accessibility features necessary but also the support to help these families thrive and overcome the challenges they face.

How Do I Find My Transitional Housing?

We mentioned earlier that you can search a map for shelters, but the question is how do you find housing that lasts for 6+ months?

During your search for transitional housing, you’ll find several nonprofit organizations, religious organizations, and charities that focus on combating homelessness.

Keep in mind, the waiting lists for these houses can be pretty long. Waitlists can take anywhere between 6 to 24 months. But you shouldn’t give up, there are many other alternatives.

What Are My Other Options?

While looking into transitional housing, seekers should look into other options, such as Section 8 Housing, privately-owned subsidized housing, public housing, and mortgage assistance.

Your number one source of information should be the Department of Housing and Urban planning, considering they hold most of these projects under their supervision.

Another great source for information is your local Public Housing Authority, which is conveniently located in most cities around the country.

It might seem dreary to be constantly chasing a housing opportunity, but you should keep at it. There are plenty of organizations that are working hard to help folks out with finding their temporary and permanent homes.

You’ll find that all of these options will often focus on one thing, urgency. Whether public or private organizations, individuals and families that are going through emergencies will often be the top priority, so that should be the one thing you should focus on proving.

Let’s take a look at the other options and how you can use them.

Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)

Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) is a program created by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This program can help people in financial or social distress find affordable housing.

To qualify for the program, applicants must contact their local Public Housing Authority, check for their eligibility, and start the application as soon as possible.

The main qualifications for such a program are your citizenship/residence status, eviction history, family size, and income level.

Public Housing

This is one of the easiest options that you can apply for. The program is federal-funded and it aims to provide individuals and families with affordable, subsidized housing.

To start, you must be a US citizen or a legal resident. You also will need to meet certain income criteria. Moreover, you’ll need to go through a criminal background check.

Another key point to keep in mind is that the application requires the physical presence of the applicant. You should make sure to contact your local Public Housing Authority for clear information.

Privately-Owned Subsidized Housing

This is pretty straightforward. These housing options are privately-owned, not run by the government. Owners of the property offer programs to get compensation from the government and help individuals and families in need.

However, the conditions will be a little more challenging to overcome to acquire such housing. House owners will often require a certain minimum level of income, as well as a strict criminal background check.

Here are Some Extra Resources to Help You Out During Your Search

A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a local/regional organization that helps plan housing and service funding for homeless families and individuals

2-1-1 hotline is a number that connects you with a trained staff that focuses on providing residents with information on shelters and housing options in the vicinity.

The National Coalition for the Homeless is a great directory for information for homeless people on how to find shelters and food.

The Human Resources and Services Administration offers an extensive database on where to find shelter and food.

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) offer food, nutrition education, and counseling, as well as screening opportunities to access other health-related services.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans 1-800-VET-HELP offers a directory of information for veterans experiencing homelessness.

The National Runaway Safeline provides 24/7 service for young people experiencing homelessness in full confidence.

Conclusion

Facing homelessness and the housing crisis is a growing issue across the nation. Know that you are not alone. Many organizations are out there to help you out.

Whichever options you look for, make sure you qualify for them. You will also want to be ready to provide all documents needed. These documents should include anything regarding your income, assets, health condition, family status, citizenship status, etc.

For urgent temporary stays, make sure to always check local shelters. These shelters will give you a place to stay and a meal to eat. Call the 2-1-1 hotline to find out about the available local shelters and further useful information. The number is available 24/7 with trained staff. Staff members are ready to answer any question regarding help for the homeless.

If you require a place to stay for longer, you have several options to look into. Some of these options include public housing, transitional housing, and Section 8 Housing. These options will provide you with longer stays. However, they also require certain qualifications, so make sure you’re eligible before applying for such programs. Make sure you can provide and prove all information and qualifications required. Anything regarding your income, family, criminal record, eviction records, and health status would help push your application forward.