The Housing Authority of the city of Bremerton is pleased to announce that it has received $132,450 to continue its Supportive Housing Program in partnership with Kitsap Community Resources. Funds were awarded through Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance funds.

 With the goal of providing on-going support services to residents of the Supportive Housing Rental Assistance Program, through case management, a number of resources are utilized.  In an effort to provide support services beyond the emergent need for safe and affordable housing, a network of local and state programs are utilized through referral and advocacy to access chemical dependency treatment, food, household goods and clothing, legal services, health and dental care, job training and counseling, mental health services, and access to TANF and medical assistance.  In addition BHA has established a preference on its waiting list to issue Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to SHP participants who successfully complete the program — making a seamless transition from transitional to affordable permanent housing.

BHA has had past success with this program. During the 2005 fiscal year, 100 percent of families who successfully completed the program obtained permanent housing through Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher assistance; 100 percent of households gained access to eligible services and benefits; 100% of households who were employed upon entry to the program remained employed for the duration of their participation; and 72 percent of the adults participating in SHP completed the program with the ability to independently identify and monitor household strengths, barriers and goals.

With the announcement of the continued funding, BHA looks forward to helping at least 19 homeless Kitsap County families transition to permanent housing over the next year.