We Have To Be Nice
The way housing agencies work - there's invariably an "interview"; Though it's called different things, at different places. That's where the caseworker sizes you up - how you comport yourself, your literacy skills (or lack thereof), your physical appearance and general inclination to cooperate. It's a holdover from the 'old days', when housing was only given to people assessed by some arbitrary rating of 'housing ready', or 'in need of further services, before placement.' Those would more than likely get referred to 'transitional housing', as opposed to permanent. It's all judgment calls, based on a top-secret and random scale.
From the homeless person's perspective (which I can give, having been homeless several times, throughout my life); We could be having the worst day, gotten nothing but bad news, been insulted a number of different ways, several different times - that doesn't matter. Come time for the housing intake interview - we'd better suck it up, forget it - and walk in like we just won the lottery.
Shucking, jiving, smiling and being overly solicitous is always acceptable. If they deign to ask how you are - it's expected that you'll lie, and say: "Fine." If you break down and show any kind of frustration, anger or resistance - you'll be marked as 'uncooperative', and/or 'unprepared for permanent placement.'
Your worker is not your friend. So, don't even think about confiding such relevant information as - you're just at the end of your damn rope. You've shopped your voucher around, all over town, and gotten more than a few rejections, based on nothing but - air. Or, your ex is really excited about your new apartment, and you don't have the nerve to tell him/her they can't move in with you. That's most definitely your problem, not your workers.
By all means - do not indicate any problems with either your current or past landlord. That's an automatic 'no'; Because, no matter what the situation is/was - it'll invariably end up being your fault.
So, be nice. Smile, wear clean clothes, don't look or act tired, make sure you have everything in order, answers at the ready. Be courteous, efficient and exact. Most importantly - be honest, and be nice.
But, don't fool yourself; You can do everything right, all the time, and still not "qualify" for housing. See, the game is rigged. Housing managers aren't obligated to find you housing, or even help you find it, yourself. They're only obligated to get certain types of paperwork to fill their file(s), offer you the opportunity, then deftly disappear back into their woodwork.
It's an inefficient system, at best. But - as long as you're nice - you'll go far.
