Supportive housing is a proven component of the range of services that can help people facing health challenges to continue to live in the community. But it has occasionally faced local opposition. In 2008, Wellesley Institute funded research on the impact of supportive housing on neighbourhoods as a way to provide answers to people’s questions. Among other key findings, the research shows that there is no evidence that supportive housing buildings have negative impacts on property values or crime rates.
Prepared by Alice De Wolff, “We are neighbours: The impact of supportive housing on community, social, economic and attitude changes” offers an invaluable community-based view of the impact of supportive housing on the surrounding neighbourhood.