Housing Continuum

Lack of a stable, safe, and permanent place to live. This may result in people accessing shelters, temporary housing, living in vehicles, abandoned buildings, inconsistently with family or friends, or in public spaces.

Short-term shelter providing people with an immediate place to stay, designed for crisis-support and for people to enter and exit rapidly.

Temporary housing intended to help people move toward stable, independent living. Bridging the gap between homelessness or shelters and stable housing. Stays may last months to a few years.

Stable housing that includes built-in support for people with chronic and persistent disabilities, mental health conditions, or substance use.

Sometimes called Social or Subsidized Housing. Stable housing that is typically owned and operated by government or non-profit organizations, designed to provide deeply affordable rental units for low-income households.

Stable home rental or ownership that costs no more than 30% of a household’s gross income. Affordable housing is a broader category that includes both Community Housing and private sector developments. Affordability is maintained through various mechanisms and may include moderate-income households as opposed to strictly low-income residents.

Stable private rental and homeownership housing where prices are determined by landlords, developers, and real estate markets without direct subsidies or affordability mandates. Costs fluctuate based on supply, demand, and economic conditions.