Service-enriched housing as used here refers to properties that offer selected and targeted resident services in addition to providing affordable, safe and clean living units for families. Providing targeted services at selected affordable housing developments have been found to impact the stabilization of low-income families particularly recent immigrants. The latter face a variety of barriers for achieving economic stability.  These include lack of functional English language skills, transportation, cultural barriers and financial constraints. 

Stabilizing families impacts the supply of affordable housing. Economically stable families usually move into other forms of housing such as home ownership or market rent housing thus freeing the very affordable units to lower income families.  Family stability also impacts the financial health of affordable housing developments. Experience has shown that unstable families tend to increase turnover and vacancy rates for properties.  A high turnover rate usually creates added costs which if eliminated would free up financial resources that may be used for further enhancing the quality of the living environments at affordable housing developments.

Currently, TCHDC offers selected and targeted services at two developments. The services are provided through collaboration with community-based organizations that share the goal of strengthening low-income families. Participation in the services offered at TCHDC –owned developments is, however, voluntary. Residents are not required to participate in the services offered but are encouraged to take advantages of the opportunities available to them.