Housing stabilization helps people returning from incarceration focus on work, healing, and family reconnection.
An introductory slide that provides an overview of Harbor of Hope’s Housing Stabilization program, which is developing navigation, short‑term stabilization, and partnerships with housing providers and counties to support successful reentry.
Housing Stabilization is a developing program of Harbor of Hope, a nonprofit organization whose mission is dedicated to supporting successful reentry from prison. Harbor of Hope is designing housing stabilization services that provide navigation, short‑term stabilization, and partnerships with housing providers and counties to expand long‑term options. By creating safe, low‑barrier places to land, the program helps people returning from incarceration focus on work, healing, and family reconnection instead of daily housing crises. Grounded in dignity, safety, and collaboration with public and nonprofit partners, Housing Stabilization will serve as a core pillar of Harbor of Hope’s reentry model for communities seeking to reduce homelessness, lower recidivism, and build stable pathways home.
Housing stabilization combines navigation, short‑term support, and trusted partnerships so people returning from incarceration have a stable place to land and focus on work, healing, and family.
Housing navigation during reentry helps participants identify options, complete applications, and coordinate with supervision and partners so placements are safe and stable.
Short‑term stabilization bridges immediate housing needs with flexible support, giving participants time to secure income, connect to services, and move toward longer‑term options.
Harbor of Hope collaborates with housing providers and counties to expand units, improve coordination, and create clear pathways from temporary shelter into permanent, stable housing.
Stable, supported housing reduces crisis, increases safety, and gives participants a dependable base from which to focus on work, healing, and family reconnection.
Partnerships with counties, housing providers, and community organizations create coordinated pathways that connect participants to neighborhoods, services, and long‑term support.
When housing is stable, participants are more likely to keep jobs, attend appointments, and stay engaged in treatment, coaching, and other reentry services.
Access to safe, reliable housing lowers the likelihood of returning to custody by reducing survival‑based offenses, stabilizing income, and supporting compliance with supervision.
Housing stabilization reduces stress and exposure to trauma, improving mental and physical health so participants can focus on long‑term goals instead of daily survival.
With basic shelter needs met, participants are better prepared to engage fully in employment, education, and therapeutic programming that support lasting change.
Navigation and short‑term stabilization create structured, step‑by‑step pathways from shelters or street homelessness into permanent housing, reducing chaos and instability.
Housing Stabilization supports people during reentry by coordinating with supervision, community partners, and housing providers to identify options, complete applications, and secure safe, appropriate placements.
Short‑term stabilization beds provide an immediate, low‑barrier place to stay while participants reconnect with family, secure income, and prepare to move into longer‑term housing.
Harbor of Hope collaborates with supportive and transitional housing programs to create stable environments where participants can focus on work, healing, and rebuilding community connections.
The program is designed to be piloted with partner counties, aligning local reentry efforts with housing resources and planning to expand long‑term options over time.
Shelters and navigation centers offer low‑barrier entry, trauma‑informed services, and housing navigation that help participants stabilize quickly and move toward permanent housing.
As Housing Stabilization develops, Harbor of Hope will work with additional housing providers and counties to launch pilots, test new models, and grow the number of stable placements available to people returning from incarceration.
| Format | Description | Duration | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Navigation & Stabilization | Launch core housing navigation and short‑term stabilization services in one pilot county. | 12 months | $100,000 |
| Short‑Term Stabilization Beds | Fund a small number of low‑barrier stabilization beds to bridge participants from release to longer‑term housing. | Per year | $25,000 |
| Housing Navigation Support | Support navigation staff who coordinate placements, applications, and housing partnerships for people returning from incarceration. | Per Navigator FTE | $15,000 |
| Participant Move‑In Support | Provide deposits, application fees, and basic furnishings so participants can safely move into new housing. | Per cohort | $5,000 |
| Flexible Stabilization Fund | Flexible pool for transportation, temporary stays, and emergency costs that keep people housed during reentry. | Rolling | $2,500+ |
Housing Stabilization is designed as a low‑barrier, trauma‑informed support so participants can stabilize quickly, keep their dignity, and move safely toward permanent housing with trusted partners and clear pathways out of homelessness.
Housing options are designed to be low‑barrier and predictable, reducing unnecessary rules so participants can enter quickly, stay with their belongings, and focus on stabilizing instead of navigating red tape.
Staff use trauma‑informed, non‑judgmental approaches that prioritize safety, respect, and emotional wellbeing while connecting participants to case management, medical support, and benefits navigation.
Participants have meaningful choice in where they stay, how they engage with services, and when they are ready to move to longer‑term housing, without coercion or unnecessary pressure.
Information about a participant’s history, health, and housing needs is shared only with consent and for clear purposes, protecting privacy while still coordinating effective support.
Each housing setting uses clear, simple guidelines that emphasize safety, mutual respect, and responsibility, helping participants understand what to expect and what is expected of them.
Housing Stabilization partners work together on written crisis and escalation plans so staff can respond quickly and safely to conflicts, medical issues, or emergencies while maintaining participant dignity.
Housing Stabilization is a developing program of Harbor of Hope that creates stable housing pathways for people returning from incarceration. The initiative is being designed to provide navigation, short‑term stabilization, and partnerships with housing providers and counties so that participants have a safe place to land while they focus on work, healing, and family reconnection. As a core pillar of Harbor of Hope’s reentry model, Housing Stabilization will be piloted with partner counties and providers to expand long‑term housing options over time.
Why Housing Stabilization Matters
Housing Stabilization is designed as a low‑barrier, trauma‑informed response that offers navigation and short‑term stabilization so participants can enter quickly, keep their dignity, and safely transition toward permanent housing.
Harbor of Hope previously developed the River District Navigation Center, a low‑barrier, trauma‑informed facility that provided shelter and wraparound services to help people stabilize and move toward permanent housing. The project was donated to the City of Portland, which now manages the site and continues to offer case management, medical support, benefits navigation, and employment connections.
Navigation‑style housing reduces barriers by accepting people with partners, pets, and belongings, and by integrating services that build trust and create clear, step‑by‑step pathways out of homelessness into long‑term housing.
Behavioral health and substance use providers
Medical clinics and mobile health teams
Benefits navigation and case‑management agencies
Low‑barrier shelter partners
Navigation centers focused on rapid stabilization
Workforce and apprenticeship programs
Community‑based organizations and faith partners
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