Relationship-building, community-building, and security of the building: staff perspectives on tenant retention in permanent supportive housing

Abstract Objectives: The objective of this article is to explore how housing practitioners navigate the challenge of tenant retention within Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) programs, and the practices they associate with program success. Methods: This article draws on semi-structured interviews with ten housing practitioners from seven organizations operating eight PSH programs in Edmonton, a city with roughly one million people in Alberta, Canada. Results: This article focuses on three specific challenges that have implications for the retention of residents: interpersonal conflict, property damage, and guest management. It also focuses on three “promising practices” that practitioners have utilized to mitigate these challenges: relationship-building, community-building, and security of the buildings. Conclusions: Tenant retention is integral to the realization of positive program outcomes in PSH. There are several factors affecting tenant retention. To address these challenges, the staff interviewed in this research found success in building programmatic elements that fostered positive interpersonal relationships, managed the behavior of guests on the property, and ensured the physical integrity of the buildings.