Housing stability is the foundation of strong communities. Over the course of 18 months, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF) convened a Housing Stability Cohort (HSC) – an interdisciplinary group of affordable housing practitioners (asset management, property management and resident services) – to engage in peer exchange, collect and share data, and test new strategic engagement and programmatic responses to strengthen housing stability for residents.
Born in the wake of the pandemic, the goal of the HSC was to leverage and build upon emerging and resident-centered approaches used by mission-driven owners to support housing stability policies and practices. The HSC Practitioner’s Guide includes key themes we identified in this work, specific examples and opportunities for practitioners to build and enhance staffing models and collaboration, proactive resident engagement and more trauma-informed communications, and data-driven approaches to housing stability.
We know that many organizations continue to face significant operating pressures; identifying the tools and processes that proactively engage and better center residents will be critical for supporting resident stability and preserving affordable housing. SAHF’s new guide offers practical solutions for affordable housing practitioners to support residents and preserve quality rental homes.