What is ‘permanent supportive housing’?: an explainer from Berkeley’s Terner Center

Permanent Supportive Housing: Building On What Works To End Chronic Homelessness

Homelessness is a persistent problem across the United States. And in California, this problem is growing in complexity and scale. In 2024, more than 187,000 people in California were counted as experiencing homelessness on a given night—an increase of more than 5,500 from 2023. This growth is consistent with large increases in recent years, with California's homelessness rates eclipsing those of the rest of the United States. 

While the specific factors pushing any individual into homelessness are complex, homelessness is more common in California largely due to the high cost of housing. In addition, the majority of people experiencing homelessness in California are unsheltered, meaning sleeping outside or in tents, vehicles, and other places not meant for habitation.

As California’s homelessness crisis persists, more and more people are experiencing chronic homelessness. This growing population has a range of complex housing, healthcare, and social services needs that must be addressed to become and remain stably housed. Despite this worsening crisis, there are solutions that work.

Read the full article at The Terner Center for Housing Innovation