Preparing for the New Home

Before the Move

Hooray! Your client has been awarded a housing voucher! When helping your client move into their new home it is important to prepare them for this next step in their life. This can be anything from mapping out the community, finding out if they need renters insurance, and preparing them for being housed again! An important first step is reviewing their lease with them to ensure they understand what is expected of them. Here is an example of a lease. It is also important to encourage your client to to ask their landlord any questions if something is unclear, and make sure that they have their landlord’s contact information.

Building positive Relationships

To ensure housing success it is critical for our clients to build a positive relationship with their landlords, neighbors, and people at the agency who assist them. This means explaining to them what they could do to be a good neighbor. That includes greeting their neighbors, respecting common spaces, and making sure they do not make loud noises during quiet hours. Another important relationship is with their landlord. That includes paying rent on time, communicating and working with their landlord, and resolving any conflict that occurs.

Making the New Apartment HomE

Moving into the new apartment is an exciting time for all involved, especially for the client who is going from being unhoused to a place of their own. It is important to remember that as exciting as it is, it can also be an anxious time for clients. It is the job of the case manager to help make the transition go as smoothly as possible. As the Housing First manual reminds us, “ . . the transition from homelessness is not merely about exercising rights or obeying rules”. The transition is not as simple as just handing someone the keys to their new place! It involves spending lots of time helping your client successfully transition to being housed. As hard as it was securing the housing, now the real work begins!

Page 59 of the Housing First manual lays out the typical start up furniture that should be included in the apartment. Also, please review this move-in check list from House of Hope to see other items that may be needed in the apartment.

Case managers should encourage clients to be as involved as possible in the move in activities at the same time being aware that some activities may require assistance by the case manager. For example, calling the utility company may be an empowering experience for some but too overwhelming for others. Empowering clients to make decisions about their move in increases their ownership and self-confidence. And of course, all this work is steeped in, and built on the foundation of the Housing First principles.