Frequently Asked Questions

When people move into housing, they are provided an opportunity for greater stability which can help set the stage for addressing mental health, substance abuse, and physical health issues. However, for some, housing without support will quickly lead to a repeat experience of homelessness. People who have experienced chronic homelessness, or incidents of homelessness lasting more than a year, or multiple incidents of homelessness while being disabled in some way experience a great amount of trauma and have ongoing difficulties with health issues. According to the US Interagency Council on Homelessness, study after study has shown that supportive housing not only resolves homelessness and increases housing stability, but also improves health and lowers public costs by reducing the use of publicly-funded crisis services, including shelters, hospitals, psychiatric centers, jails, and prisons.

We believe that people experiencing chronic homelessness benefit the most from low-barrier shelter and  housing without preconditions on sobriety or involvement in treatment for physical and mental health issues. We work to establish relationships with these individuals in our community through outreach work on the street and in shelters to help facilitate them moving into housing. Once placed in CHF housing, residents can participate in case management where they work with our staff to set goals and get help. The first step after housing is stabilization of health, behavior, and connection with physical and mental health resources, social service resources, and case management. Residents in housing work with a property management company who manages all CHF housing, sign a lease, and have the same rights as any other tenant, following Federal Fair Housing rules and and Oregon rental property laws. Our staff work with residents to help them be successful and stable in housing so that they can move on to other independent permanent housing or or stay in our housing, depending on their needs.

We are exploring partnerships with other landlords and organizations to create more supported housing units, as well as establishing more supported housing ourselves.

We operate behavior-based housing, so people can stay in housing if they follow rules of behavior. We provide case management for each individual coming into our services. We know that for many who have long-standing issues with addiction (as well as chronic mental health and physical health issues), the path to sobriety and recovery is likely going to be difficult, and may never happen. However, we offer support for sobriety and treatment including making referrals and facilitating transportation to detox facilities and substance abuse programs, as well as mental and physical health services. We assist people obtaining health and social service benefits. We encourage participation in alcohol and drug programs through Benton County Health Department, Milestones, and local 12-step groups.

Because residency at our properties is behavior-based, we do have rules residents must follow as well as lease agreements. We provide ongoing training to residents on hot to comply with these rules. While we do not require residents to be sober, we do not allow consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs in common areas. Marijuana and nicotine products must be smoked in the common smoking areas at each site. We have paid staff at all times when housing is occupied who are physically on-site or available on an on-call basis 24-7, 365 days a year. We also utilize security cameras in multiple locations to help ensure the protection of residents as well as the community. We work very closely with local law-enforcement and crisis services, and do not hesitate to call them for questionable behaviors.

We provide residents with a holistic, professional, individualized approach to case management that is assertive (meaning we often initiate conversations and interaction, and use motivational interviewing and other tools to help move people toward their goals), flexible but consistent, trauma-informed, and asset-based. We can help residents with everything from enrolling in college classes to applying for SSI/SSDI support, to finding and advocating for appropriate mental health services, to being a support during medical procedures, and beyond. For many residents, their case manager takes the place of a supportive friend or relative until they are able to establish positive, supportive relationships on their own. Successfully working with clients takes skill, a great deal of self-awareness, respect of the individual, and compassion with boundaries.