Rapid rehousing programs are best suited to individuals and families who need a little bit of support to get back on their feet after a period of homelessness. Rapid rehousing helps people find a new unit and provides them with short-term support once they are housed. People don’t need employment or income to enter rapid rehousing but are ultimately expected to be self-sufficient when the program ends. RRH services help them increase income during the program. Rapid rehousing services include housing-focused case management, rent and move-in financial assistance, and connections to appropriate community resources to address other needs the individual or family may have.

Rapid rehousing consists of short-term rental assistance and supportive services - anything from just a deposit to up to two years of support. Rapid Rehousing case managers work with clients to assist them access housing as quickly as possible, for example, by helping them with housing paperwork and communicating with landlords. To help clients maintain housing, case managers work with the client on an individualized action plan which may include connecting to benefits such as CalFresh, reengagement with family, reunification of parents and children, enrolling in school, or other assistance, depending on what kinds of support would enable long-term success. Typically, at the beginning of enrollment the RRH program will cover all or most of the client’s rent; as the program progresses and the household’s income increases, the RRH program’s rental assistance will taper off gradually until, at program end, the client is responsible for the full rent. Marin County has RRH programs funded by local, state, and federal funds.

 

In Transitional Housing people typically live at a single site for up to two years, with lots of services offered on-site. While transitional housing is a very effective model for certain populations–for example, people fleeing domestic violence and transition-age youth–they often have lots of rules and often provide a one-size-fits all approach to services, including offering more services than some people need. In contrast, RRH allows for personalized services and lets people establish roots in their permanent unit right away. For example, if someone needs help with financial planning, they can practice budgeting with the actual rent and commuting expenses they’ll be living with. RRH serves a lot of the same people who would have been served by transitional housing - often, people who are relatively new to homelessness and/or don’t have serious disabilities. Because RRH supports people throughout the community in their own units, and some participants only need short-term support, RRH can serve many more people than TH with the same amount of funding.