The organization is the only supportive housing provider in Florida to hold this distinction
Jan. 23, 2024 — Jacksonville, Fla. — Ability Housing, a nonprofit developer of affordable multifamily housing, is the first and only organization in Florida to earn Gold certification from CSH through its Quality Supportive Housing Standards program.
Gold Certification is the highest level and recognizes Ability Housing for achieving excellence in providing supportive housing and leading the industry with innovations and best practices. The CSH Quality Supportive Housing Standards program evaluates how housing developers prioritize equity and best practices that help supportive housing tenants achieve their highest level of stability, health and independence. The program analyzes housing developments across five components:
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- Core outcomes for tenants,
- which is assessed through data such as tenant housing stability rates; overall tenant satisfaction with services and housing; documented increases in household income and employment; improvements to physical and mental health; and the establishment or growth
- of social and community connections
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- Program design and administration,
- which evaluates the process of planning and leading the property’s physical structure(s), team members and funding
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- Property and housing management,
- which comprises the operational functions of a development like rental applications, payment processes and physical upkeep of property, as well as property management staff performance
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- Supportive services,
- which reviews the comprehensive supports that help tenants sustain housing stability and meet life goals through direct services provided by the property owner or through collaborations with other organizations
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- Community,
- which demonstrates how a property contributes to the larger community in which it operates
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Each property must meet or exceed a 70% score across all five components to achieve Gold certification. Ability Housing achieved Gold status for the eight multifamily properties in its portfolio that provide permanent supportive housing, representing a total of 639 apartment homes in Northeast and Central Florida. Certification is valid for three years.
“Achieving Gold Certification recognizes the high standards we strive to uphold every day, across all of our properties and programs,” said Shannon Nazworth, President and CEO of Ability Housing. “This accomplishment is not merely a culmination of our team’s collective effort; it is a reflection of our commitment to working in the best interests of our residents, communities and partners across the state of Florida.”
CSH is a national organization that leverages capital, expertise, information and innovation to provide housing solutions, with an emphasis on supportive housing — defined as a combination of affordable housing and supportive services designed to help vulnerable individuals and families use stable housing as a platform for health, recovery and personal growth. CSH launched the Dimensions of Quality Supportive Housing program in 2009 to promote the development of supportive housing throughout the country at the highest levels of quality.
"The CSH Quality Endorsement is a significant achievement, showcasing Ability Housing's commitment to excellence in supportive housing," said Deirdre Bolden, Southeast Director at CSH. "We commend the Ability Housing team for their dedication to quality standards and intentional focus on positive outcomes for their residents. This endorsement recognizes their achievements and positions them as a leader in the supportive housing field."
“In the nearly 15 years since we launched the Quality Supportive Housing Standards program, we have seen an exceptional correlation between organizations that pursue certification and positive outcomes among their residents. We are proud to welcome Ability Housing as one of our newest Gold-certified partners,” said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO at CSH.
The Quality Certification entails an intensive review of the developer’s application that details property specifics, desk and onsite reviews, as well as resident and partner interviews; all of which are scored for the final Certification determination. Funding to support Ability Housing’s participation in the certification process was generously provided by The Jim Moran Foundation in Northeast Florida and AdventHealth in Central Florida.
“Ability Housing continues to demonstrate innovative and effective approaches to housing that strengthen families and provide pathways to long term stability. We congratulate the entire Ability Housing staff on this achievement,” said Jan Moran, chairman and president of The Jim Moran Foundation.
“Quality housing is a critically important extension of personal and public health. Ability Housing’s success exemplifies how quality housing can be leveraged to improve tenant outcomes, while contributing to broader community health,” said Michael Griffin, chair of the board of Ability Housing and senior vice president of advocacy and public policy for AdventHealth.
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About Ability Housing:
Ability Housing is an industry-leading not-for-profit multifamily rental housing developer dedicated to creating high-quality affordable housing. We invest in communities through properties that enhance their surrounding neighborhoods, improve each community’s quality of life, and connect residents with a network of voluntary support services. For more information, visit AbilityHousing.org, like the organization on Facebook (facebook.com/AbilityHousing) and follow on Twitter (@AbilityHousing).
About CSH:
CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) advances affordable and accessible housing aligned with services by advocating for effective policies and funding, equitably investing in communities, and strengthening the supportive housing field. Since our founding in 1991, CSH has been the only national nonprofit intermediary focused solely on increasing the availability of supportive housing. Over the course of our work, we have created more than 467,600 units and distributed over $1.5 billion in loans and grants. Our workforce is central to accomplishing this work. In 2023, we employed approximately 180 in 30 locations across the United States and Territories. As an intermediary, we do not directly develop or operate housing but center our approach on collaboration with a wide range of people, partners, and sectors. Learn more at www.csh.org.
About the Jim Moran Foundation:
Founded by automotive pioneer Jim Moran, the mission of The Jim Moran Foundation is to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of innovative programs and opportunities that meet the ever-changing needs of the community. The Foundation has invested more than $250 million in education, elder care, family strengthening, after school and youth transitional living initiatives since its inception in 2000 – with efforts currently focused in Broward, Palm Beach and Duval counties. Through a long-term grant agreement, The Foundation’s significant funder is JM Family Enterprises, Inc. To learn more, visit www.jimmoranfoundation.org or call (954) 429-2122.
About AdventHealth:
AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division encompasses more than 15 hospitals and ERs in the four counties in and surrounding metro Orlando. The world-class hospitals, combined with a comprehensive outpatient care network, see more than 3.5 million patient visits annually. AdventHealth also has an expansive research portfolio in Central Florida, with more than 500 clinical trials and studies in progress. The organization has a deep commitment to serving the community and has a local financial impact of more than $1 billion annually. AdventHealth and its employees are responsible for nearly 20 percent of Central Florida’s economy. The division’s flagship campus — AdventHealth Orlando — boasts nationally and internationally recognized programs, and serves as a major tertiary and quaternary referral hospital for much of the Southeast, the Caribbean and Latin America. Quality specialty care is provided through AdventHealth Institutes, which is nationally recognized in numerous specialties. AdventHealth Orlando has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek and the Leapfrog Group. Learn more about the Central Florida Division on our Newsroom.