Advisory Center for Affordable Settlements & Housing

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Edited By Saba Bilquis
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Housing Plus Services in Rural America

Housing alone cannot solve the problems faced by rural low-income people with special needs. There is increasing discussion and acceptance of the idea that these populations require housing plus supportive services to remain stable, safe, healthy, and housed. “Housing plus services” is a framework that provides affordable housing, incorporating various levels of services provided by trained professionals for whom service delivery, not property management, is the primary responsibility. Rural communities face distinct challenges in meeting the needs of their populations, given the geographic and capacity limitations that affect these areas. The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) examined different ways rural housing organizations throughout the United States are meeting the specialized needs of their communities by utilizing housing plus services strategies. Housing alone cannot solve the problems faced by rural low-income people with special needs. There is increasing discussion and acceptance of the idea that these populations require housing plus supportive services to remain stable, safe, healthy, and housed (Culhane, Metraux, and Hadley 2002; Corporation for Supportive Housing 2004; Granruth and Smith 2001; HUD 1995). Rural communities face distinct challenges in meeting the needs of their populations given their geographic and capacity limitations. Rural areas typically have fewer social services and public health providers and residents must travel greater distances between their homes and needed services (National Rural Health Association 2004).

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