What’s at Risk with Unsustainable Funding Models
When CHOC’s Chief Strategy Officer Joy Silver wrote in Multi-Housing News about “putting people first,” she named what drives our work: housing is about more than buildings — it’s about people, families, and communities. But putting people first doesn’t stop at creating affordable housing communities. It also requires that onsite resident services within those communities are supported for the long term.
At CHOC, these services are the wellness checks that allow seniors to age in place safely, the after-school programs that help youth thrive, and the crisis support that keeps families from slipping into eviction. Without sustainable funding, those supports are at risk — and with them, the stability of entire communities.
A Model That Puts Stability at Risk
Resident services are often written into regulatory agreements as requirements, but the funding attached can be limited or short-term. If contracts expire, or owners and investors redirect resources, services that families depend on can be at risk.
If resident services programs are underfunded, residents pay the price. The need for support doesn’t vanish when funding does. Families still face financial shocks, seniors still need wellness checks, and youth still deserve enrichment opportunities.
What’s at Stake
For seniors: isolation, preventable health crises, and even eviction when basic supports fade.
For families: housing instability that could have been prevented through mediation, rental assistance, or crisis support.
For youth: lost opportunities to engage in enrichment programs that build confidence, skills, and equity with peers who have access to fee-based programs.
These are not abstract risks — they are lived realities when resident services are given less than essential priority.
Beyond Short-Term Fixes
Short-term grants and contracts can provide immediate relief, but they rarely build the foundation that affordable housing communities need. When funding isn't static, staff must become even more creative, chasing new funding in addition to serving residents. The extreme result of this approach makes programs reactive instead of proactive, and families may have uncertainty about the services they rely on i.e. will they still exist next year.
For CHOC Impact, sustainability means more than keeping programs open today — it means ensuring they are still strong tomorrow. Stable funding creates space for innovation, for long-term planning, and for building the kind of enrichment opportunities that move residents beyond survival and toward growth.
The Opportunity Ahead
At CHOC Impact, we’ve seen the difference that sustainable services can make. Some examples include seniors who remain connected and healthy, families who weather financial crises without losing their homes, and young people who discover new skills and passions that propel them forward in life.
When services are stable, communities are stable. That stability doesn’t come from contracts that expire or grants that shift — it comes from a commitment to long-term investment in people.
CHOC’s Commitment
Since 1984, CHOC has created affordable housing paired with resident services that turn housing into opportunity. Our work is rooted in a simple truth: housing alone is not enough. Sustainable resident services are what transform housing into communities where everyone has the chance to thrive.
