Session 4: Case Management Fundamentals: Housing Focused Practices

This session provides an in-depth overview of evidence-based techniques for engaging and enrolling individuals in crisis shelter and rehousing interventions without imposing preconditions for eligibility. The training covers core principles of Critical Time Intervention (CTI), housing-focused practices, and the use of housing as a stabilization platform for addressing mental health and substance use disorders. Participants will learn strategies for responding to housing crises in ways that avoid creating additional barriers, as well as how to apply housing-forward approaches across outreach, shelter, drop-in centers, and intake settings. The session also examines the impact of mental illness and substance use disorders within the context of homelessness and offers guidance on structuring required supportive service participation in a client-centered, non-punitive manner. Emphasis is placed on warm handoffs and coordinated engagement practices that promote continuity of care and support successful transitions.

Learning Objectives
1. Participants understand basics of housing-forward practices.
2. Participants understand importance of harm reduction in achieving engagement and stabilization goals.
3. Participants understand importance of personalized supportive services that are not tied to housing retention.

The training will be held virtually over Zoom.