For referring professionals
Refer a client
Discharge coordinators, case managers, shelter staff, probation officers, clinicians — everything you need to make a placement decision is on this page. No phone tag required.
20
beds in Houston, TX
Call or send a referral for today's exact count.
1 · Capacity
What we have open
20 beds in Houston. Call for today's exact count.
We publish this so you are not calling five providers to find one with room. If the number here is stale, the phone number below is always current — ask for the referral desk.
| Location | Type | Beds | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | Shared supportive housing | 20 | Accepting referrals |
| Phoenix, AZ | Support services & administration | — | Services only |
2 · Credentials
Who we are, on paper
- Continuum of Care
- The Way Home — Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County
Our Houston program operates inside The Way Home — Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. If your agency coordinates through the Coordinated Access system, we can take a placement that way as well as directly.
Need licensing documents, a W-9, or a certificate of insurance for your file? Email support@getato.org and we will send them the same day.
3 · Eligibility
Who we accept — and who we cannot
We publish the exclusions too. Knowing our "no" up front saves you a referral packet and saves your client a disappointment.
Good fit
- Adults 18 and older
- Adults with limited or fixed incomes, including Social Security or disability income
- Veterans receiving benefits
- Adults transitioning from another program or living situation
- People who can live independently in a shared, substance-free home
We cannot accept
- Anyone who needs 24-hour medical or nursing care
- Anyone who needs personal care, supervision or clinical treatment on site
- Anyone whose current situation makes the home unsafe for other residents
- Situations where a court order or registry restriction prevents placement at our address
Borderline case? Call us before you write it off. If we are not the right fit we will tell you quickly and point you to someone who is. We never leave a person with nowhere to call.
4 · The process
From referral to move-in
Timeframes are commitments, not estimates. If we are going to miss one, we call you.
You send the referral
Use the form below, call the referral desk, or email us a packet. Whatever fits your workflow.
5 minutesWe confirm receipt
You get a reply naming the staff member handling it and whether we have room.
Within 1 business dayScreening call
About 20 minutes with the client, with you on the line if that is easier. We cover fit, needs and expectations.
About 20 minutesIntake & placement
If accepted, we schedule intake and confirm a move-in date back to you in writing.
Within 48 hours of acceptance5 · Two things you can refer for
The housing and the services are separate referrals
This matters for your placement decision, so we state it plainly rather than bury it. A room in ATO Supportive Housing is housing. Case management and the rest of our support services are a different program, and a resident can decline them and keep their housing.
Refer for either. Refer for both. Tick what your client needs on the form and we will tell you what we can take.
ATO Supportive Housing
- Shared, furnished, substance-free room
- Short-term and long-term stays
- Independent living — residents manage their own days
Not provided in the residence: treatment, clinical care, personal care, supervision or case management. A client who needs care on site is not a fit, and we will say so. Housing details.
Support services, offered separately
- Needs assessment and individualized service plan
- Case management and regular check-ins
- Coordination with medical, behavioral health and social service providers
- Benefits navigation — SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, ID and vital documents
- Career and employment support: resume, mock interviews, placement help
- Digital literacy: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, online applications
- Referrals to GED, vocational training and college pathways
- Food assistance and community resource connections
Available to community clients as well as residents. All the services.
6 · Send it
Referral form
Three sections, about five minutes. Give us what you have — we will call you for anything missing rather than bouncing the referral back.
7 · See it yourself
Book a tour before you place anyone
We would rather you saw the house than took our word for it. In-person or a video walkthrough, whichever your schedule allows.
Direct line
Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Central and Mountain time. Voicemail is checked the next business morning.
Questions from referral partners
Answers, in writing
How fast do you respond to a referral?
We answer every referral within one business day. In practice most referrals get a reply the same business day. If we cannot take the client, you hear that just as fast.
Do you accept clients with no income?
Yes. Having no income at intake is not a barrier. Helping people get benefits and income is part of the program.
What is the length of stay?
We support both short-term and long-term stays. There is no arbitrary clock. Exit planning starts early and is built into the service plan.
Can we refer through Coordinated Access?
Yes. Our Houston program operates inside The Way Home — Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. You can also refer to us directly using this form or by phone.
Do you take clients from out of state?
Talk to us. We serve Houston and the Phoenix metro. Out-of-area placements depend on the client's plan and support network, and we will be honest about fit.
What does it cost the referring agency or the client?
Nothing. Services are free to the person served. If a specific program has a cost or requirement, we state it before intake.
Can I send a referral packet by email instead?
Yes. Email support@getato.org with your agency's standard packet and we will work from that.
What outcomes do you track?
Housing retention at six and twelve months, employment and training placement, and benefits secured. We report unduplicated counts.