You asked what the difference is between “assisted living” programs and “supportive housing. ”

SUMMARY

“Assisted living” generally refers to housing for people age 55 or older who do not need full nursing home services, but require some health care, nursing, or assistance with daily living activities, such as dressing, eating, bathing, toileting, or transferring from a bed to a chair. "Supportive housing" is normally used to refer to housing for non-elderly people who need additional services (e. g. , individuals recovering from drug or alcohol addiction or at risk of becoming homeless).

The two terms can be confused because they both refer to people who live somewhat independently, but need help.

We provide more information on both types of housing below.

ASSISTED LIVING

Assisted Living and State Initiatives

Assisted living is a long-term care model that provides health care and other assistance to seniors (people over 55 for private institutions, and 62 or 65 and older for state programs) in various types of elderly housing situations who may not need or want nursing home care, yet need some help with activities of daily living. Until more recently, assisted living in Connecticut could be obtained only in relatively expensive private facilities.

Since 1998, the legislature has gradually expanded low- and moderate-income seniors' access to assisted living through several state-subsidized demonstration projects. These include (1) the moderate and low-income assisted living demonstration, which has been planned since 1998 and which opened the first of its four sites in September 2004; (2) assisted living in 16 existing state-funded elderly congregate housing facilities; (3) state subsidies for assisted living in up to four federally-funded elderly housing complexes; and (4) a private assisted living pilot project that helps people who have run out of money remain in private facilities. For more information see OLR report 2004-R-0848.

Assisted Living Services

The statutes do not define “assisted living,” but for the state's assisted living demonstration program in state affordable housing for the elderly (CGS § 17b-347e), the regulations (i. e. , the state Public Health Code) define “assisted living services. ” These are defined as nursing services and assistance with daily living activities that are provided to clients living within a managed residential community having supportive services that encourage clients primarily age 55 or older to maintain a maximum level of independence (Conn. Agency Regulations § 19-13-D105).

For information on assisted living services in Connecticut and surrounding states, see OLR Report 2006-R-0422.

THE STATE'S SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INITIATIVE

The state's Supportive Housing Initiative consists of the Supportive Housing Pilots Initiative and the Next Steps Initiative. These programs provide housing for people and families affected by psychiatric disabilities and chemical dependency who are homeless or risk homelessness, and for supervised ex-offenders with mental health needs, among others (CGS § 17a-485c).

Supportive Housing Pilots Initiative

PA 01-8, June Special Session, established the Supportive Housing Pilots Initiative to provide up to 650 units of affordable housing and support services to people with special needs, such as mental illness, chronic chemical dependency, homelessness, or risk of homelessness. It authorized $ 10 million in bond funds for the Department of Economic and Community Development to use for initiative-funded projects and required the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) to set aside $ 1 million a year in tax credits for them.

As part of the initiative, the law requires the Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) commissioner to implement and administer a grant program to nonprofit corporations to provide support services to eligible households. The services must be designed to enable eligible residents to (1) obtain and keep permanent housing, (2) increase their job skills and income, and (3) achieve greater independence.

For these grants, the law defines “eligible households” as people who are affected by psychiatric disabilities or chemical dependency, or both, and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

“Homeless or at risk of homelessness” means (1) living on the streets or in shelters, (2) coming out of homeless programs or transitional housing and having no permanent housing, (3) living in unsafe or abusive environments, (4) paying more than 50% of income for rent, (5) living in overcrowded conditions, or (6) needing supportive services to maintain permanent housing (CGS § 17a-484a).

Supportive Housing “Next Steps”

PA 05-280 (§§ 32-34), requires the DMHAS commissioner to provide for up to 500 additional units of affordable, supportive housing for people with mental illness. These units are the second, “Next Steps,” phase of the Supportive Housing Initiative.

By law, Next Steps housing is for:

1. people or families affected by psychiatric disabilities, chemical dependency, or both who are homeless or at risk of homelessness;

2. families who are eligible for Temporary Family Assistance (a Department of Social Services Program);

3. 18- to 23-year olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness because they are transitioning out of foster care or other residential programs; and

4. community-supervised offenders with serious mental health needs who are under Judicial Branch or Correction Department jurisdiction.

2006 Legislation Effecting Supportive Housing

PA 06-186 increases the amount of tax credits that may be used to create supportive housing.

By law, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) may allocate tax credits to businesses that contribute funds to nonprofit housing organizations developing low- and moderate-income housing. Section 65 of PA 06-186 increases (1) the total amount of tax credits CHFA can annually award from $ 5 million to $ 10 million and (2) from $ 1 million to $ 2 million, the amount of tax credits that CHFA must set aside for the Supportive Housing Pilots Initiative or the Next Steps Initiative. (The act adds the latter program to those eligible for tax credits).

JH: ts