35 Years of Learning: The Journey to the Supportive Housing and Resident Services Academy
35 Years of Learning: The Journey to the Supportive Housing and Resident Services Academy
As the San Diego Housing Federation celebrates 35 years, we also celebrate the evolution of one of our most impactful and people-centered initiatives: the Supportive Housing and Resident Services Academy (SHRSA).
SHRSA was created in 2024 through the merger of two longstanding networks—Resident Services Support Network (RSSN) and the Supportive Housing Learning Network (SHLN)—each with its own rich history of supporting professionals on the frontlines of affordable and supportive housing.
Together, they form a unified program dedicated to training, peer support, and shared learning across property management and resident services staff in our region.
Building the Foundation: RSSN and the Power of Peer Learning
The Resident Services Support Network (RSSN) was born out of a conversation in September 2010 where SDHF recognized the lack of professional development spaces specifically for resident services staff in affordable housing and presented a proposal that was quickly approved by the SDHF Board.
Promotion of the network began just one month later at the 2010 SDHF Annual Conference, with the launch of an initial workshop focused on the critical role of resident services. In January 2011, RSSN held its first official meeting, welcoming 25 service professionals from across the region—many of whom would go on to lead workshops and shape the network for years to come.
The mission of RSSN was simple yet ambitious: to help resident service professionals reach higher levels of performance by fostering peer learning and professional growth. Workshops combined educational lectures, interactive activities, and tangible takeaways, allowing participants to grow their knowledge in practical, applicable ways. The structure also emphasized diverse learning styles and the unique challenges faced by each property, while fostering a sense of collective community and shared problem-solving.
Through its Advisory Committee of volunteers, RSSN became a trusted space for connection, inspiration, and innovation where lessons learned at one site could ripple out to improve practices across the region.
Meeting a Growing Need: The Emergence of SHON and SHLN
In February 2018, a new network was launched to meet a different but equally pressing need: the professional support of property management staff in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). Originally called the Supportive Housing Operators Network (SHON), the program emerged from a series of workshops hosted by Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation, addressing the complex realities of managing housing for formerly homeless individuals with high service needs.
The network was soon adopted by the San Diego Housing Federation, and an advisory committee of practitioners began shaping its future. The mission of SHON—and later the Supportive Housing Learning Network (SHLN), as it was renamed in 2020—was to offer a platform for property managers, assistant managers, maintenance teams, and other staff to share resources, build skills, and learn from each other’s experiences in the field.
The workshops, held monthly, covered a wide array of topics: trauma-informed care, hoarding, pest control, lease-up processes, mental health, and community building, to name just a few.
While focused on Supportive Housing, the network welcomed anyone in Affordable Housing interested in the content and brought together professionals from across property types to tackle shared challenges.
In 2019, SHLN began hosting an annual Supportive Housing Institute as part of the SDHF Conference, offering a full day of in-depth training and networking opportunities for those working at the intersection of housing and complex human needs.
Stronger Together: The Launch of SHRSA
Recognizing the overlapping needs and complementary missions of RSSN and SHLN, SDHF took a major step forward in January 2024, merging the two programs into a single, cohesive offering: the Supportive Housing Resident Services Academy (SHRSA).
SHRSA now serves as a central hub for both Resident Services and Property Management professionals working in affordable and supportive housing. The Academy hosts quarterly workshop trainings and a full-day Institute each January with six specialized sessions designed to offer practical tools, fresh insights, and opportunities to build professional networks across disciplines.
By unifying the strengths of RSSN and SHLN, SHRSA promotes a holistic approach to housing work—acknowledging that affordable housing properties thrive when property management and resident services teams learn and grow together. From eviction prevention and financial literacy programs to maintenance strategies and trauma-informed engagement, SHRSA provides a space where all staff regardless of title can gain the skills and support needed to help residents succeed.
Looking Ahead: A Community Built on Connection
At its core, SHRSA carries forward a shared belief that no one should have to navigate this work alone. Whether you’re overseeing 100 units, leading a youth program, or managing the lease-up of a new supportive community, there’s value in learning with and from others who understand the work.
SHRSA not only delivers training—it cultivates belonging and solidarity among those who care deeply about housing stability, resident wellness, and community transformation.
As we honor 35 years of advancing housing justice, SHRSA stands as a vibrant symbol of what’s possible when we invest in people, partnerships, and the power of learning together