How to Evaluate a Proposed Project

MHSA Small County TA Call

Corporation for Supportive Housing Wednesday, November 17, 2010

www.csh.org

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Objectives for Today’s Meeting

1) To introduce criteria that can be used to evaluate the feasibility and fit of a proposed MHSA Housing project.

2) To learn from Coordinators what approaches to evaluating proposed projects have worked most effectively in their communities.

3) To provide tools to strengthen the project assessment and decision-making process.

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How Do You Find Out About Potential Projects or Sites?

From developers? From community networks? Working with a Realtor? Client suggestions? Other?

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept 

DEFINING THE TARGET POPULATION(S)  Who is your target population? Who are you

proposing to serve? The target population for your project will

influence decisions regarding the design of the building, the services programming to be offered, the community support process, the selection of partners, and capital, operating, and services financing options.

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Defining the Supportive Housing

Project Concept What is the need for supportive housing for

your target population(s)? How does your project meet this need? What data supports this need?

This is how your project fulfills the goals of your CSS Plan

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND TYPE Timeline to have units ready for occupancy:

< 1 year 1 – 2 years 2 - 4 years Development strategy:

New Construction Acquisition/Rehabilitation Housing type:

Rental Housing Shared Housing Site type:

Single-Site Scattered-Site Clustered

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

PROJECT SIZE, DESIGN, AND LOCATION DECISIONS

What is the planned size for your project? Total number of units Number of units that will be MHSA Number of units that will be non-MHSA

affordable housing

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

What is the planned unit mix for your project?

Number of studio units Number of 1-bedroom units Number of 2-bedroom units Number of 3-bedroom units Number of other units

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

What are the planned common spaces for your project?

Community rooms Laundry rooms Property management offices Front desk Mailboxes Health care / Exam rooms Services staff offices

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

What about outdoor spaces? What outdoor space is needed? How will it be used? How will it be maintained?

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Resource for Planning

Recommendations for Designing High-Quality Permanent Supportive Housing

Prepared by CSH’s Illinois Program and the CSH Consulting Group

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Resource for Planning

Doing More with Less and Working Creatively within a Tight Budget

‘Buildings with a Mission’ Can Inspire People and Create Lasting Interest

Well-Chosen Design Features and Materials Can Help Achieve Diverse Objectives

Addressing Tenants’ Needs for Independence and Privacy

Designing Common Spaces to Encourage Interaction and Community

Designing Safe and Secure Living Environments

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

What necessary neighborhood amenities do you want in close proximity to your project?

Public transportation Post office Affordable shopping (esp. supermarket) Public library Park/Open space Day care Public schools

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

In what geographic area(s) do you want to locate the housing?

Why? How does this relate to your CSS Plan? How does this relate to the need?

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

INITIAL SERVICES PLANNING Services partners Approach to service provision FSP clients only or non-FSP What community resources/services and

transportation options will be readily accessible to tenants?

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

What service needs do you anticipate for your target population(s)?

Case Management / Service Coordination Employment Services Health Care Services Educational Services Substance Abuse Services Independent Living Skills Services Support Groups

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

Which services do you plan to provide directly, either on-site or off-site?

Which services do you plan on developing partnerships to provide, either on-site or off-site?

Which services do you plan on assisting tenants to access in the community?

How will you meet the services staffing needs? How will the services respond to changes in the

population over time?

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

ORGANIZATIONAL ROLE AND PARTNERSHIPS

What role(s) will your organization play for this project?

Property Owner Developer Service Provider Property Manager Asset Manager

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

For which role(s) does your organization already have partners identified?

Property Owner Developer Service Provider Property Manager Asset Manager

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

Assessing fit with partners Not A Solo Act: Creating Succesful Partnerships to

Develop & Operate Supportive Housing (CSH Publication)

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

INITIAL FINANCING PLANS  What financing sources do you plan on

accessing for your project?–  Pre-development– Capital– Operating– Services

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Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

What approval processes will be needed for your project?

What community support do you anticipate for your project?

What community opposition do you anticipate against your project? – Some examples are neighborhood groups,

elected officials, City Council, Zoning Board, Design Review Board, Planning Commission, Continuum of Care

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Do You Really Need to Think All of These Factors Through Ahead?

YES

Discussion of how this pre-planning helps create a successful project

Examples from Coordinators

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Tools to Help Evaluation

CSH Publication: Defining the Supportive Housing Project Concept

Standards and Considerations for CSH’s Program Activities

CSH Small Town Toolkit Self Assessment Worksheet

Site Selection Criteria and Site Search Strategies

www.Designadvisor.org

Go Out and

Start a Project!