Unlocking Possibilities: Creating Community Through The Campus Model of Housing
Deby Wolford comes to NHHA with a wealth of knowledge and experience working with the homeless population in Southern California. Working with this vulnerable population for the past 19 years, Deby has created lasting impact through expanding non-profit service sites, creating flexible and diverse housing, and offering structure and self-sufficiency to her clients.
Deby's passion for creating housing solutions is rooted in her deep concern for the single mothers and children who lack adequate housing. Deby remembers being invited to The Armory by Paul Leon, a fellow changemaker passionate about helping the homeless. There, Dr. Eric Handler, Orange County’s Health Officer at the time, asked her to close her eyes and just listen. The Armory was so loud and chaotic, Deby only heard noise. The conditions in which the children at the Armory were attempting to sleep were nothing short of a nightmare, and at that moment she knew that she needed to be a part of the solution. Deby is proud of the work she has done to help vulnerable single moms harness their love for their children to become self-sufficient, identify a path forward, and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
From Disconnected Spaces to Continuum in Housing: Enhancing Livability and Well-Being
There are many different types of street to home housing options: transitional housing, emergency housing, and tax credit affordable housing to name some. Through her experience, Deby knows that the key to creating impactful and life-changing solutions for the housing crisis are based in creativity, continuity, and flexibility.
“Having worked with the homeless for the past 19 years, I have seen so many resources be poured into this problem only to have the problem continue to get worse. We need to think outside the box to come up with innovative solutions in order to enact meaningful and sustainable change.”
Currently, the existing Continuum of Care is siloed and does not have the flexibility that is needed to provide quality care to those it serves. For example, an individual living in permanent supportive housing that becomes ill should have access to recuperative care services so that they can stabilize their medical conditions without fear of losing their housing and falling through the cracks in the current system.
Additionally, while providing housing and supportive services in a scattered site model is helpful for some, this model misses the very important aspects that come with being a part of a community. This is where NHHA’s emphasis on the campus housing model comes into focus.
Achieving Affordable Housing Goals through Campus-Inspired Housing Designs
The campus housing model is designed to address the crisis of affordable housing and lack of a continuum of service in all communities. A campus allows for there to be a community that services different populations with different inventions in the same location and encourages support for its residents. Whether this support is easy access to medical care, nutritional grocery stores, sobriety resources, or just the general support that comes from living in a close and like-minded community, the campus model aims to create lifelong connections. Those who are going through a tough time tend to isolate themselves from society; the campus housing model helps residents feel invested and included in their community.
To achieve the goals of developing affordable housing solutions, like the campus housing model, Deby believes it is essential to have public and private partnerships. Both sectors need to come together to have creative and innovative solutions that challenge the norms. Drawing funding from multiple sources and looking at different sources of income for a project will also make it more successful.
Deby is currently in the process of launching Encompass Housing, a nonprofit that will provide housing solutions nationwide.
“Our mission is to build communities that foster a sense of belonging, provide support and stability, and connect individuals to their purpose. We are dedicated to serving seniors and families with children, and we strive to provide not just housing, but a foundation upon which individuals can build their lives.”
For more information or to get involved, please email Info@encompasshousing.org.
