Transitional housing is defined as intermediate length housing, usually from 3 months to 2 years, that is combined with intensive case management services.

Most transitional housing programs will only consider applicants if they are enrolled in a social service agency and referred by this agency. In addition, they often require the person currently be using shelter services. This is because transitional housing is most helpful to people who are ready to make changes in their lives and are actively seeking a more stable environment.

Transitional housing often groups people in similar situations together in either a house or some other shared living arrangement. This means that there are specific transitional housing programs for specific populations. Some of these include:

· Single men/women recovering from substance abuse
· Families
· Survivors of domestic violence
· Chronically homeless women
· Veterans
· Single men/women with chronic mental illness
· Single women
· Teen parents
· Young adults
· People living with HIV/AIDS

Things to Know:

· The cost of transitional programs is often set at 30% of the client’s income. Sometimes
  there is a fixed rent, but this is still kept at an affordable level. People can be formally 
  evicted from a transitional housing unit for failure to pay rent. Utilities, food and laundry 
  are sometimes covered or subsidized.

· Many transitional programs are linked to specific emergency shelter programs (e.g., 
  Seattle Emergency Housing) and will only take clients from that shelter.

· Clients must comply with the requirements of the program, whether those are preset or
  determined by the client and caseworker. Depending on the program, this could mean 
  staying employed, keeping clean and sober or attending counseling. Failure to comply 
  can result in termination from the program.

· Most programs maintain a waiting list. The length of wait depends on individual 
  programs turn-over rate.

  For more information on transitional housing in King County, go to  
  Community Resources Online and search housing by topic section, or call the
  Community Information Line.