WORKS now manages four sites and is in development of one more that are designed for individuals with a greater need for supportive services. These high-need populations include youths aged 18 to 25 transitioning to adulthood who are formerly homeless or at risk of homelessness, adults who are formerly homeless, including veterans, along with persons with developmental disabilities and other special needs adults. Studies by the Economic Roundtable, the Lewin Group, and others have shown that this kind of permanent supportive housing works – and costs our society on average less than 25% of the cost of public services used by unhoused individuals on the street or in institutions.

Young Burlington Apartments, Teague Terrace, T. Bailey Manor, 88th & Vermont and another development in the pipeline are especially designed to provide decent stable housing along with intensive supportive services to these populations. The first such development, Young Burlington, opened in 2011, the second, Teague Terrace, in 2015, the third, T. Bailey Manor, in 2017 and finally 88th & Vermont in 2019; in partnership with AmCal Holdings, two other developments, Terracina Apartments in 2014 and Florence Apartments in 2021, opened to serve populations in need. Today, 238 permanent supportive units have been made available, with another 33 under development.

In these developments, WORKS provides its menu of enriched services on-site to residents as appropriate – and in addition partners with Housing Works, a specialized supportive services enterprise, to provide intensive case management and referrals for each resident. Housing Works’ experienced case managers work with each individual to articulate their own life goals and develop a Life Plan aimed at helping them reach those goals. The case managers make sure residents are connected to the resources in the community they need to succeed, helping them navigate sometimes bewilderingly complex systems, and stay in touch with each resident to make sure the services they are receiving are meeting their needs. In the two developments with AmCal, Lifesteps provides similar services to residents.

Even at this early stage – just a few years since WORKS and Housing Works have been collaborating, several notable successes have been achieved.