Housing Stability and support

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Through our Housing First Division, Directions for Living offers a range of services designed to support children, families, and adults experiencing housing instability or homelessness in our community. Many of the individuals and families we serve are facing housing challenges as a result of past trauma, behavioral health needs, or other life circumstances—and we recognize that people living with mental health challenges are often more vulnerable to housing instability.

Our programs focus on helping individuals and families stabilize their housing, connect to essential resources, and build a path forward. With compassionate, person-centered support, we work alongside each individual to promote long-term stability, healing, and greater self-sufficiency.

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If you’re unsure where to start, our team can help guide you.

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Targeted Prevention

Targeted Prevention provides intensive case management for families with dependent children who are currently housed but at risk of losing their home. Services are focused in select Pinellas County zip codes where data shows the highest rates of eviction, allowing us to reach families who may need support most. Our team works alongside each family to address challenges early—helping reduce the risk of eviction, strengthen stability, and remove barriers that can make it hard to stay safely housed.

Need Housing Support?
We understand that life challenges—including mental health, financial stress, and unexpected changes—can impact housing stability. If you or someone you know is at risk of eviction or struggling to remain housed, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our team is here to listen, support, and help you explore available resources. Reach out to learn more about eligibility and how we can help.

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Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement (HOME)

HOME provides outreach services to individuals and families who appear to be experiencing street homelessness. Our team actively connects with individuals and families where they are—whether on the streets, in encampments, or other places not meant for habitation—to offer compassionate, life-changing support.

Outreach means building trust and meeting immediate needs first. This can include providing food, basic necessities, emotional support, and a listening ear, while also helping individuals access emergency shelter, healthcare, and mental health services. Through consistent connection and relationship-building, our team helps people take the first steps toward stability and hope.
The HOME program conducts street outreach in the cities of Gulfport, Treasure Island, the City of St. Petersburg, and throughout other areas of Pinellas County, working to ensure that no one has to navigate homelessness alone.

Need Street Outreach Support?
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing homelessness, our team may be able to help. Contact us to learn more about available services and eligibility.

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SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR)

The SOAR program helps adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness access Social Security disability benefits (SSI/SSDI)—often a life-changing step toward stable housing and financial security. For many, these benefits provide the consistent income needed to move out of crisis and into a safer, more stable future.

Our team offers personalized, hands-on support throughout the application process, helping individuals with mental health conditions, medical needs, and/or substance use challenges navigate what can otherwise feel overwhelming. By walking alongside each person every step of the way, SOAR helps open the door to vital financial resources that make lasting stability and independence possible.

Need assistance accessing Social Security disability benefits?
Our team may be able to help. Contact us to learn more about eligibility.

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Rapid Rehousing

Rapid Rehousing is a program designed to help individuals and families quickly move out of homelessness and into safe, stable housing of their own. Financial assistance for rent and move-in costs is included, but it’s only available as part of the program’s required support—participants must also engage in intensive case management and counseling for 6 to 12 months. By combining financial help with personalized guidance, our Rapid Rehousing team helps individuals and families regain stability, build lasting skills, and maintain safe housing.

Our team works closely with each person to navigate the housing process, connect with landlords, and develop a plan for long-term success. We know that having a safe place to call home can be life-changing, and Rapid Rehousing combines financial help with personalized guidance to help people regain stability, independence, and hope for the future.

Need Housing Support?
If you are currently experiencing homelessness or struggling to stay in stable housing, you don’t have to face it alone. We’ll work with you to find a safe place to live, connect with resources, and build a plan for lasting housing success. Reach out today to learn more about eligibility and how we can help.

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Behavioral Health Homeless prevention

The Behavioral Health Homeless Prevention program supports adults (18+) who have experienced homelessness and are living with a mental health condition or co-occurring substance use disorder. Designed for individuals who have recently been rehoused after homelessness related to a mental health condition, this program helps people maintain stability and continue building a strong foundation at home.

We know that managing mental health or substance use challenges can make it harder to stay stably housed—and we’re here to help ensure those challenges don’t get in the way of progress. Through counseling, case management, and connection to resources, our team provides ongoing support to help individuals feel secure and supported.

Eligibility typically includes adults with a current mental health diagnosis that may impact housing stability, who have recently experienced homelessness and are now living in permanent or supportive housing.

Interested in Behavioral Health Homeless Prevention?
You don’t have to do this alone. Our team is here to listen, support, and help you explore your options.

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Family works

The Family Works program provides intensive case management, housing navigation, and access to financial support for children and their families identified by the Pinellas County School System as experiencing homelessness or housing instability, in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Priority is given to elementary-aged children.

We understand that housing instability can look different for every family—living in a hotel, staying doubled up with others, moving from place to place, couch surfing, or living without reliable utilities like power or water. These challenges can make it difficult for children to feel safe, focused, and ready to learn.

Our team works closely with each family to help navigate housing options, connect to financial resources, and remove barriers to stable housing. Through a dedicated Counselor, Housing-Focused Case Manager, and Integrated Decision Team Facilitator, services are provided in the home, school, and community to support both housing stability and a child’s academic success, including attendance and performance.

By walking alongside families every step of the way, Family Works helps create a stronger, more stable foundation so children can thrive at home and in school.

Eligibility requirements: Referral from Pinellas County School System HEAT (Helping Educate All in Transition) Team, 211 First Contact, or the Homeless Leadership Alliance

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Emergency shelter

Pinellas County’s emergency shelter access point is First Contact. If you need emergency shelter, call 211.

support beyond our services

additional community resources

Stable housing often depends on having access to other essential resources. In addition to our services, these community partners provide support with basic needs such as food, transportation, and employment support.

food resources

Use the interactive map below to find food resources in Pinellas County.

St. Pete Free Clinic’s Pinellas County Food Resources Map
transportation support

Apply for reduced-cost transportation throughout the county.

Fill out the PSTA TD Program Application
employment support

Get help with resume development, interviewing skills, and finding jobs.

CareerSource Tampa Bay Employment Services

Restoring hope

Experiencing housing instability can feel overwhelming, especially when it’s connected to past trauma, behavioral health challenges, or other difficult life circumstances—but you are not alone. At Directions for Living, we work alongside individuals and families to help stabilize housing, navigate immediate needs, and begin moving forward.

We understand that people facing mental health challenges are often more vulnerable to housing instability and homelessness, which is why our approach is compassionate, coordinated, and centered around the whole person or family. Our team connects individuals with essential resources, behavioral health services, case management, and other community supports to address both housing and the underlying challenges that impact stability.

Our goal is to help people find safety, regain stability, and build a path toward greater independence and hope for the future.

“This year has been incredibly hard for our family. We went from living in our car, to staying in a hotel, and nearly losing our vehicle altogether. Directions for Living truly made us feel human again. Working with my case manager has been life-changing. She keeps me on track, supports me, and empowers me to take control of my future. Because of this program, I feel hopeful and capable of building stability for my family.”

–Family Works Client