DHS, APAH Selected for Supported Housing Institute of Virginia
Published on August 10, 2023
The Arlington County Department of Human Services’ Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSH) and the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) have been selected to participate in the Supportive Housing Institute of Virginia starting in August 2023.
The Institute provides an exciting opportunity for supportive service providers, housing developers, and property/asset managers in the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads regions to receive 10 days of practical training and individualized technical assistance on developing supportive housing.
"Permanent supportive housing is a successful, cost-effective combination of affordable housing with services that helps people live more stable, productive lives,” said DHS Director Anita Friedman. "This opportunity to participate in the Supportive Housing Institute with APAH will strengthen our program and help us develop new permanent supportive housing units at Crystal House."
Across Virginia, there is a shortage of 7,220 supportive housing units for individuals with serious mental illness who are experiencing homelessness; residing in local or regional jails; high utilizers of Community Services Board Crisis & Emergency Services; or residents in assisted living facilities. s estimated that Arlington has a shortage of 200 supportive housing units.
“APAH is excited to have been selected to participate in this opportunity for another property that will serve our residents living in Arlington County,” said APAH President and CEO Carmen Romero. “We are committed to permanent supportive housing units within our housing communities and will work diligently with the Supportive Housing Institute of Virginia and Arlington County to ensure residents are supported and connected with the resources they need to thrive in their homes and community.”
Crystal House Development
Each project team participating in the Institute will have access to up to $310,000 in grant funding to help support the successful initiation and development of high-quality supportive and affordable housing. APAH and Arlington County will use this opportunity to design innovative, permanent supportive housing units at Crystal House, an 828-unit apartment community in the National Landing area in Arlington. This project is projected to serve up to 65 households with disabilities who are either homeless or unstably housed.
About Supportive Housing
Supportive Housing breaks the cycle of homelessness and crisis among individuals with extremely low incomes and complex medical and behavioral health challenges who are the highest users of emergency rooms, jails, shelters, hospitals, and other crisis services. It is a key component of the housing continuum and critical to advancing racial and housing justice.
About Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing
Founded in 1989, APAH helps more than 2,300 households live in stable, secure, affordable rental homes. APAH has nearly 400 affordable apartments under construction and an additional 1,500 in its development pipeline. As a CORES Certified Resident Services provider, APAH delivers comprehensive services to youth, families, and seniors across its 20 properties. APAH was named one of the nation's Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers of 2019 by Affordable Housing Finance magazine. The organization was named 2021 Developer of the Year by the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND). In 2022, APAH's Queens Court Apartments received HAND's Best Large Affordable Housing Project award and the Urban Land Institute's inaugural Terwilliger Center Award for Innovation in Attainable Housing. Lucille and Bruce Terwilliger Place was named Best Affordable Housing Development at the 2022 Virginia Governor's Housing Conference and received a Multi-Family Residential Award of Excellence at the Best of NAIOP Northern Virginia Awards 2022.
About the Arlington County Department of Human Services
The Arlington County Department of Human Services (DHS) works to advance economic security, safety, and general well-being. Our vision is a just and equitable community that is healthy, safe, and economically secure, and free of systemic racism. DHS is the County’s largest department, serving more than 58,000 individuals annually with a budget of over $183 million, about 800 employees, and more than 100 programs. DHS is well-equipped to address the complex needs of at-risk persons and their families because it is an integrated agency that houses public assistance, social services, behavioral healthcare, housing, public health, adult and aging services, and job programs under one department. DHS oversees and evaluates the complete range of human needs in the County, provides direct services in response to those needs, and contracts with the non-profit sector to provide additional services to those not met directly by the County.