Progressive Housing provides short-term, temporary housing to individuals age 18 and older with a serious mental illness (SMI) and/or co-occurring substance use disorders (SUD) who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Progressive Housing uses the Housing First model with low-barriers to entry and a harm reduction approach. Each house is assigned a level between one and four that corresponds with various stages of recovery and functionality. Program participants progres (or regress) through the levels in accordance with their ability to reside safely in a shared living environment.
Houses have numeric designation levels of one to four, which correspond with the stages of change in recovery. The two-year program begins at level one for a 90 day trail period that determines the appropriateness and participant interest in advancing to level two. In level two, clients have 12-18 months to obtain resources and skills for maintaining stability. At level three, clients enter into a lease agreement, which establishes a rental history, and at level four, they prepare to graduate from the program and into a living environment of their choice.
Each residence is a scattered-site, single-family home that is obtained by program partner, Stockton Self-Help Housing. The homes have an adequate number of bedrooms to house a minimum of five clients, including the Housing Leader, with no more than two clients per bedroom.
The program is open to BHS consumers or those referred through the San Joaquin County Continuum of Care. Stockton Self-Help Housing coordinates client intake and housing acquisition and maintenance.
Program goals are to stabilize a person’s living situation while also providing on-site supportive services within a shared housing environment. Ultimately, clients will be capable of a voluntary transition to permanent housing in the living environment of their choice within two years of enrollment in the program.