Housing instability isn’t just a matter of eligibility or paperwork. For individuals navigating trauma, disrupted support systems, or long-term disconnection from care, the barriers to stable housing often begin at a deeper level within trust, readiness, and confidence in change.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) offers a person-centered, structured approach to overcoming those barriers. At Upside, Care Guides use MI to support members who feel overwhelmed, resistant, or unsure of their path forward. The result is a scalable, sustainable method for guiding individuals toward housing stability on their own terms, at their own pace.
Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative communication method that helps individuals explore their own reasons for change. It’s rooted in empathy, autonomy, and partnership making it ideal for populations where traditional, directive approaches often fall short.
Care Guides use the OARS technique to build trust and momentum:
Instead of prescribing action, MI creates space for questions like:
“What would housing look like for you?”
“What might feel manageable to focus on this week?”
MI is most impactful when resistance is high or engagement is low.
For example, a member facing chronic instability might express deep frustration “I’m tired of moving around, but I don’t know what I want.” Rather than push a solution, a Care Guide might respond with:
“If you had a stable place, what would be different in your day-to-day life?”
In one case, that question prompted a shift in focus. The member began connecting the idea of housing not just to shelter, but to community, routine, and personal wellbeing. The conversation evolved naturally into exploring local housing options anchored in internal motivation, not external pressure.
Many members begin by listing all the reasons they can’t take action:
“I don’t have a ride.”
“I can’t get time off work to go to the housing office.”
“I don’t know what credit is.”
Instead of debating these barriers, Care Guides validate the reality and help identify the smallest next step. That might be:
Each of these low-pressure options gives the member control reframing progress as something flexible and achievable. This approach often prevents disengagement and supports re-engagement even after missed calls or stalled momentum.
When members feel stuck or ashamed for not following through, MI provides a way back in. A Care Guide might say:
“You don’t have to feel bad. Life gets complicated. Let’s break this down further so it feels more manageable.”
This tone of compassion and collaboration lowers defensiveness and renews trust. It shifts the dynamic from “fixing” to “partnering,” which is critical in housing work where long timelines and unexpected setbacks are the norm.
Unlike linear or one-size-fits-all models, Motivational Interviewing supports what many Care Guides describe as a “stair-step” approach to housing. Each win, no matter how small, is reinforced. Setbacks are treated as learning moments, not failures.
When a member loses momentum, they’re never as far back as they once were. They’ve practiced new skills, gained clarity, and had a voice in shaping their own path. That creates resilience, an essential ingredient for navigating long, often complex housing processes.
Care Guides use Motivational Interviewing not as a script, but as a mindset embedded across every conversation. Their approach includes:
This method has proven especially effective in supporting members through complex transitions like reapplying for housing, following up after an eviction, or rebuilding a plan after falling off track.
Motivational Interviewing allows Care Guides to do more than guide someone through a process it helps them partner in that person’s progress. By aligning with the individual’s readiness and honoring their voice, MI transforms housing navigation from a system-led directive to a member-led journey.
This is how stability becomes sustainable because it’s owned, not imposed.
Upside Corporate Headquarters
200 E Las Olas Blvd 14th Floor
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
