Permanent Supportive Housing as an Evidence-Based Practice
The definition of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH):
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Permanent. Tenants may live in their homes as long as they meet the basic
obligations of tenancy, such as paying rent;
Supportive. Tenants have access to the support services that they need and
want to retain housing; and
Housing. Tenants have a private and secure place to make their home, just
like other members of the community, with the same rights and
responsibilities.
Core value: People with mental health problems have the right to live in the most community
integrated setting possible with accessible, individualized supports.
Core principles: PSH is comprised of six core principles from the evidence base and recognizes
the seventh principle of a tenant’s civil rights and access to fair housing. These seven core
principles are operationalized through the seven dimensions of the PSH Evidence-Based Practice
(EBP) fidelity scales:
1. Choice of housing. The tenant has access to a range of housing choices and
living arrangements sufficient to meet their preferences.
2. Separation of housing and services. There is a functional separation between
the housing management and services staff.
3. Decent, safe, and affordable housing. The housing is affordable based upon
the tenant’s income and perspective, and the housing complies with U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Quality Standards.
4. Housing integration. The degree to which the person’s housing is
incorporated into the community or clustered with other persons with
disabilities.
5. Rights of tenancy. The tenant has full legal rights as defined by local
tenant/landlord laws and tenancy is not based upon program rules or treatment
participation.
6. Access to housing. A person’s access is not dependent upon a demonstration
of housing readiness, limited by their barriers to housing, and respects the
tenant’s privacy.
7. Flexible, voluntary, services. The person has a choice of an array of adaptive
and scalable services that meet their needs and are consumer driven.
The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has compiled the
research base that establishes Permanent Supportive Housing as an Evidence-Based Practice
(EBP). Using the evidence base SAMHSA has developed the EBP KIT (Knowledge Informing
Transformation) which provides a structured training resource for the use of PSH as an EBP.
SAMHSA has identified eight EBPs of which Minnesota has implemented four with Assertive
Community Treatment, Illness Management and Recovery, Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment,
and Supported Employment. Permanent Supportive Housing is the fifth EBP that the
Department of Human Services Adult Mental Health Division is implementing statewide.
May 23, 2011
Permanent Supportive Housing Evidence-Based Practice Stakeholders Group
Videoconference the second Monday of each month available at various locations across
Minnesota, 1:30 to 3:30 PM.
SAMHSA Permanent Supportive Housing Evidence-Based Practice ToolKIT
Available at: http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA10-4510
Minnesota Statutes
245.461 POLICY AND CITATION:
Subd. 4. Housing mission statement. The commissioner shall ensure that the
housing services provided as part of a comprehensive mental health service
system:
(1) allow all persons with mental illness to live in stable, affordable
housing, in settings that maximize community integration and
opportunities for acceptance;
(2) allow persons with mental illness to actively participate in the
selection of their housing from those living environments available to
the general public; and
(3) provide necessary support regardless of where persons with mental
illness choose to live.
For more information contact:
Gary M. Travis
Mental Health Program Consultant
MSW Intern
Office: (651)431-2252
Fax: (651)431-7566
Email: Gary.M.Travis@state.mn.us
Department of Human Services
Adult Mental Health Division
PO Box 64981
St. Paul, MN 55164-0981
May 23, 2011