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Affordable Housing Provider, Prospera Housing Community Services, receives Nationally Recognized Certified Organization Resident Engagement Services (CORES) Certification
Prospera is the first solely Texas-based direct model organization to receive the CORES Certification
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, January 18, 2022 — Prospera Housing Community Services (Prospera), a nonprofit organization that provides safe, high-quality affordable housing across South and Central Texas, has received the Certified Organization for Resident Engagement and Services (CORES) Certification. In the state of Texas, Prospera is the first solely Texas-based direct model organization to receive the CORES Certification.
This nationally recognized certification acknowledges organizations that have developed a robust commitment, capacity, and competency in providing resident services coordination in affordable rental housing. Being awarded the CORES Certification signals an organization’s commitment to the highest standards for resident services, a deep commitment to resident health and well-being, and data-informed operations and decision making.
The CORES program was launched in 2018 by Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF), which is a network of 13 multi-state organization that provide over 140,000 affordable rental homes across the United States. This program operates in conjunction with Fannie Mae’s Healthy Housing Rewards-Enhanced Resident Services (ERS) initiative. Prospera provides over 4,200 affordable apartment homes to over 8,800 people across Central and South Texas.
Prospera is a “direct model” for providing resident services coordination. Direct models are affordable housing owners/organizations that wholly retain responsibility for management, delivery, and implementation of resident services coordination at their own properties.
Prospera’s Resident Services department has a team of forty-one (41) resident services managers, regional services managers, housing navigator, employment readiness staff, and administration that work strategically and thoughtfully to provide service-enriched, wrap-around services essential for improving resident stability, economic mobility, and well-being.
Preliminary analysis has shown that working age families living continuously at a CORES certified apartment community gained $6390 in median gross income, while those living in properties without service coordination gained only $468 in median gross income (CORES, 2021).
Agencies who partner with CORES certified organizations receive investment on greater resident improved health outcomes; accountability and collaboration with partners to ensure alignment across partnership goals/outcomes center around resident outcomes; and data-driven approaches towards resident impact that creates more informed decisions about operations and programs to provide positive impacts on residents’ health and well-being.
“The CORES Certification recognition is meaningful to our work and continued fundraising efforts,” says Gilbert Piette, Prospera’s Executive Director. “A large portion of our Resident Servies funding comes from programs we are participating in with major Texas managed care organizations and in addition to local/regional foundations who invest with Prospera. Our collaborative partners and funders can feel confident in knowing that our well-trained Resident Service staff is providing enriched onsite services focused on Social Determinants of Health factors. The CORES Certification brings additional credibility and confirmation to our valuable work for the most vulnerable communities.”
Prospera’s CORES certification lasts for five years and is applicable across Prospera’s entire affordable housing community portfolio.
About Prospera Housing Community Services
Prospera Housing Community Services, formerly known as Housing and Community Services Inc., assists families in achieving social and economic stability by providing affordable housing, community support and education. Prospera Housing Community Services is a non-governmental, community-based 501(c)(3) Texas nonprofit housing provider established in 1992 that owns and/or operates 49 properties throughout Texas. For more information, visit www.prosperahcs.org
CORES (2021). Certified organizations for resident engagement and services (CORES). https://coresonline.org/sites/default/files/documents/cores_1_pager_aud2_final.pdf
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