Housing Stability
Building Trust Through Everyday Interactions
Affordable rent is essential, but it is not enough to ensure a resident or family remains stably housed.
Other factors—financial hardships, health crises, family changes, or other barriers—can create disruption and lead to instability. A trauma-informed approach to housing stability means moving beyond traditional enforcement models to embrace early intervention, collaborative problem-solving, and resident empowerment.
Instead of waiting for lease violations to occur, a trauma-informed approach proactively engages residents to identify challenges and develop solutions, preserving dignity while maintaining healthy communities. This approach also creates a more positive work environment for staff, reducing the stress and conflict that often come with traditional enforcement-based property management.
Trauma-Informed Guidelines
All resources in this section follow these key principles:
SIMPLE AND CLEAR
Materials use straightforward language that both residents and staff can easily understand and explain.
POSITIVE OVER PUNITIVE
Communications focus on what people can do rather than what they cannot do.
ACCESSIBLE LANGUAGE
Content is designed for people with varied literacy levels and includes visual elements where helpful.
SAFETY CENTERED
All policies and procedures prioritize physical, mental, and emotional safety.
CHOICE-ORIENTED
Resources provide options and promote resident agency whenever possible.
COMMUNITY-INFORMED
Materials incorporate feedback from residents and frontline staff.
PRACTICAL FLEXIBILITY
Guidelines look for opportunities to reduce unnecessary burdens.
Tools and Resources
Ready to apply trauma-informed practices to your everyday operations? These practical tools touch on each stage of the resident journey to promote collaboration and stability:
new resident welcome home guide
Help new residents feel oriented, informed, and welcomed into their new community. This resource replaces intimidating lease packets with clear, friendly information that builds a foundation for positive landlord-tenant relationships.
resident communication: template library
Transform standard notices into clear, respectful communications that maintain dignity while conveying important information. Templates include maintenance notifications, community updates, and policy reminders.
housing stability framework
Support residents facing housing instability with early intervention approaches and collaborative problem-solving tools. This framework helps identify challenges before they lead to lease violations while preserving resident dignity.
emergency response protocol
Prepare your team to respond to community emergencies with trauma-sensitivity. This protocol outlines communication practices, support resources, and follow-up procedures that promote community healing after difficult events.