Permanent Supportive Housing Operating, Maintenance, and Services
The Permanent Supportive Housing Operating, Maintenance, and Services Program (PSH-OMS) program is funded by Legislative appropriations to provide supplemental revenue to multifamily housing projects that contain units of permanent supportive housing, as defined in RCW 36.70A.030 (16). Commerce administers approximately $47 million per year under this program, and currently provides needed funding for 160 distinct housing projects across Washington that received capital funding from Washington’s Housing Trust Fund, or some other public capital funding source.
The PSH-OMS program reimburses project owners for traditional operating and maintenance expenses, as well as the cost of providing certain supportive services to residents residing in permanent supportive housing units.
Permanent Supportive Housing
As defined in RCW 36.70A.030 (16), permanent supportive housing (PSH) is subsidized, leased housing with no limit on length of stay that prioritizes people who need comprehensive support services to retain tenancy. PSH utilizes admissions practices to use lower barriers to entry than would be typical for other subsidized or unsubsidized rental housing, especially related to rental history, criminal history, and behaviors resulting from untreated or undertreated health issues.
Permanent supportive housing is paired with on-site or off-site voluntary services designed to support a person living with a complex and disabling behavioral health or physical health condition who was experiencing homelessness or was at imminent risk of homelessness prior to moving into housing. This pairing allows the person to retain their housing and be successful tenant in a housing arrangement, improve the resident’s health status, and connect the resident with community-based health care, treatment, and/or employment services. Permanent supportive housing is subject to all of the rights and responsibilities defined in the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (chapter 59.18 RCW).
Eligible Organizations
- Local governments
- Local housing authorities
- Nonprofit community, neighborhood, state, or regional organizations
- Federally-recognized Indian tribes in the state
- Regional support networks established under RCW 71.24
NOTE: Funding is restricted to projects in the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) portfolio that are in workout and to projects newly applying for regular HTF funding.
Projects that receive O&M funding have several reporting requirements. Please refer to Chapter 6 in the HTF Handbook (PDF) for more details.
Length of Availability
Projects are awarded funding through short or long-term commitments (5 or up to 20 years) and are renewed yearly.
If you already have an O&M commitment and have questions, please contact your HTF Portfolio Manager directly.
2022 Available Funds for Permanent Supportive Housing Projects
The Department of Commerce is soliciting applications, for the 2023 State Fiscal Year, from qualified owners/operators of permanent supportive housing (PSH) projects for funding of operating and maintenance costs, as well as reimbursement for the cost of supportive services offered to clients in PSH units. Qualified applicants must own or operate multifamily housing projects funded by the Washington State Housing Trust Fund, or other public capital funding sources.
2020 Available Funds for Permanent Supportive Housing Projects
The Department of Commerce solicited applications from qualified owners/operators of permanent supportive housing (PSH) projects for funding of operating and maintenance costs, as well as reimbursement for the cost of supportive services offered to clients in PSH units. Qualified applicants must have owned or operated multifamily housing projects funded by the Washington State Housing Trust Fund, or other public capital funding sources.
Program Links
Resources
Helpful Links
Program Contact
Commerce Operating and Maintenance Program
Email: OMProgram@commerce.wa.gov