There is a substantial shortage of available housing units in the Southeast and an overwhelming number of low-income, special needs individuals that need affordable housing. In addition to the affordable housing shortage in the rural Southeast, there exists the barrier of nonprofit organizational capacity. Rural providers have limited funding and staff, but typically must provide services to large geographic areas. Staff members often wear multiple hats in an office and have little time to learn new skills that may benefit their target populations. Despite these obstacles, many organizations recognize the need for affordable housing for their clients and need guidance to create capacity and develop housing in their areas.
The Rural Supportive Housing Initiative (RSHI) links emerging community-based organizations (CBOs) interested in the provision of supportive housing with experienced supportive housing developers. CSI has identified several organizations that fit this description in the Southeast and will provide the leadership, support, and training necessary to help providers address the affordable housing challenges in their communities. CSI hopes the end result will be the improved capacity of rural organizations to develop housing and, ultimately, permanent supportive housing units in the ground. Below are the goals that CSI has established for the RSHI project.
Program Goals
The Rural Housing Initiative involves a multi-stage process designed to meet the following goals:
1) Increase the capacity of community-based nonprofit organizations to provide additional supportive and affordable housing for special needs populations through one-to-one consultation, training, and support;
2) Form a leadership team of CSI staff and other housing specialists to aid CBOs to achieve their service and housing objectives;
3) Develop and maintain a Peer Network among rural CBOs so they may seek out expertise and support from the leadership team and their peers.
4) Organize and execute a series of trainings designed to build knowledge and capacity within the organizations.
5) Host an annual Leadership Institute for the organizations’ leaders to meet and share with one another about project concerns, problems, and success stories. Organizations will meet with the leadership team at the Summit to seek guidance on goals and objectives and to ensure these objectives are being met in a timely manner.
6) Create new affordable housing opportunities in the Southeast.
Currently CSI is working with four nonprofit service providers in Alabama. If your organization is interested in learning more about the Peer Network or would like to apply to participate in a future Peer Network, please contact Ashley Kerr at (205) 939-0411 Ext. 205 or ashley@collaborative-solutions.net.
