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New Destiny develops and owns emergency, transitional, and permanent housing. Our permanent housing serves families and individuals with a history of domestic violence as well as low-income households from the community. New Destiny has provided support services to the tenants of our permanent housing since 2001 using a “service-enriched housing” model.
The services provided under the service-enriched model are not as comprehensive or extensive as those available in traditional supportive housing. The service-enriched model offers services that are appropriate for a high-functioning tenant population that can live independently.
A Housing Support Coordinator engages tenants by encouraging their involvement in tenant association meetings, informational workshops, and social events. The Coordinator is also available on site during specified hours to meet individually with tenants to discuss case management issues, provide counseling and referrals, assist with rental arrears, help develop and encourage educational and employment plans, and provide other appropriate assistance.
Because most of New Destiny’s tenants are families and many are headed by domestic violence survivors, the Housing Support Coordinator provides services to children and is alert to the issues particular to individuals with histories of domestic violence—e.g., the continuing concern with safety, depression, and fear. For residents who have suffered long-term and severe abuse, overcoming the legacy of domestic violence may be a lifelong struggle.
Services on site—even relatively light services—can provide benefits for the property owner and manager by reducing turnover and eviction, benefits for tenants by helping them address problems before they become crises, and benefits for the community by helping households at risk of homelessness remain in permanent housing rather resorting to higher-cost City shelters.
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