FLEXIBLE HOUSING SUBSIDY POOL
Overview
The Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool is a nationally recognized supportive housing model that combines rent subsidies, landlord engagement, pinpointed tenant/landlord matching, and ongoing tenant services and intensive case management. Initially launched in 2014 in Los Angeles County as a public-private partnership led by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) Housing for Health division and operated by Brilliant Corners, the model has since been replicated in San Francisco and San Diego in 2020, and launched in Sacramento County in 2026. Similar models have been launched in Cook County and in New York City.
The Flex Pool is a system-changing innovation that taps available, existing units in the private market that can be rapidly converted to supportive housing, unlocking a range of housing options and ensuring housing stability through landlord engagement, rent subsidy administration, and tenancy supports. The Flex Pool braids resources from local government agencies, philanthropic partners, managed care plans, and private entities to facilitate housing and supportive services.
The Flex Pool is targeted towards extremely low-income households, high utilizers of public services and other vulnerable populations. Evaluations have identified cost savings and a decreased reliance on emergency public services when people have stable housing and wrap-around support.
10 Years of the Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool
How it Works
The Flex Pool leverages housing subsidies, a team dedicated solely to finding suitable housing units, and ongoing housing services and case management to ensure the long-term stability of individuals transitioning out of homelessness. The Flex Pool approach reduces the time it takes to get people housed and ensures clients retain their housing through dedicated housing coordinators and ongoing tenancy supports.
The Flex Pool model can serve a broad range of different populations: people exiting healthcare systems, the justice system, people experiencing homelessness, veterans experiencing homelessness, seniors, transition-age youth, and more. A range of people with one thing in common: they need a combination of deeply affordable housing and wraparound supportive services to achieve long-term stability.
The program works to break the cycle of homelessness. Rather than people continuing to cycle from shelters to emergency services to institutional settings, the Flex Pool can create permanent housing opportunities in real time, tapping local market-rate units to transition people from shelter into permanent settings. The success of the Flex Pool also demonstrates that there are units available in the most expensive, competitive, low-vacancy housing markets, and that with the right strategies and resources, it’s possible to secure these units and match them to someone in need.
A Range of Housing Options
Brilliant Corners works to secure a broad range of housing options, including individual apartments, blocks of units or entire buildings. Brilliant Corners identifies and secures units county-wide; provides move-in assistance and rental subsidy disbursement; coordinates with case managers; and assists with landlord relations.
Tenancy Supports
Our person-centered model provides housing retention services to participants to ensure a smooth transition into housing, as well as ensuring they stay housed. This includes facilitating the move-in process, and working with the participant, case manager, and property provider to resolve all tenant-specific, housing-related issues.
Intensive Case Management Services
All tenants have a dedicated case manager and wrap-around services to support their transition to permanent housing and promote housing stability, either through Brilliant Corners or through a partner agency. Case managers support participants to access health care, treatment, and benefits. Case managers are available to respond when issues arise and support the long-term success of the tenant.
Easy Landlord Participation
- Improved Collections: On-time payments every month from Brilliant Corners.
- High Occupancy / Low Turnover: Reduced unit turnover cost and lower vacancy loss. Targeting long-term tenancy and housing stability.
- Ease of Management: Dedicated point-of-contact for all tenant issues. Intensive case management and wrap-around services to support tenants and promote housing stability.
Become a Partner
The Flex Pool works by tapping available units in the community that can be quickly matched to people in need of housing. We work with property providers in LA County, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento who are committed to making a difference and being part of the housing solution. Join us!
