A Commonwealth of Virginia WebsiteAn official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia Here's how you knowAn official websiteHere's how you know

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) helps provide stable housing to individuals with serious mental illness

The Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program utilizes existing partnerships to provide stable housing and basic behavioral and primary health care services to individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). 

This program provides a rent-subsidized place to live paired with resources such as counseling, community treatment, and support.  

During the first year of the PSH program, the costs for people in the PSH program for emergency room visits, jails, state psychiatric hospitals, and local hospital inpatient stays fell greatly, while costs for community mental health services through community service boards (CSBs) rose 17%, as the individuals participating were able to seek community resources and continue to thrive in their new residences. 

Garrett, a Permanent Supportive Housing Resident, spoke in an interview about his experience being in the program. 

“One day I think I’d like to take care of my own finances and be able to move outside of the program, but for now I’m doing things on my own, I have somebody who’s got my back, I’m not just alone in the world anymore, there are people who care for me and want to see me do good,” Garrett said. 

Click here to view a DBHDS short video about the PSH program.