Housing First A Means To Reduce Homelessness

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How Housing First puts an end to homelessness


Housing First is a relatively new approach to ending homelessness.  Based on the belief that housing should be a right, not an option, the goal of Housing First is to rapidly permanent housing individuals and/or families experiencing homelessness without preconditioned barriers   This allows individuals to receive permanent housing before entering treatment, finding employment, or receiving mental health services.  Years of research have shown that individuals are better able to address their individual problems when basic needs such as housing, food, and healthcare are in place. (Jenson, Ryan, Jones, & Ackley, 2020)

Main Principles

Housing First principles into practice




According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (2016), The Housing First Approach follows these main principles
  • Access is not limited to sobriety, poverty, completion of treatment, criminal record, or participating in services.
  • Programs do not reject individuals based on poor rental history, financial history, poor credit, or lack of rental history
  • Individuals with disabilities can request reasonable accommodation.
  • When programs can't serve someone they work to connect them with housing services elsewhere.
  • Supportive services are individualized and promote problem-solving.  These services are not required but are frequently offered as resources.
  • Services are harm reduction based.

Coordinated Care System

Housing First is a coordinated system.  Providing stable permanent housing is only the first step in the process.  There is a coordinated care approach and support system that is individualized to the needs of each individual. Once the basic needs of housing are addressed clients are supported by providing resources in individualized areas of need.  Although not mandatory clients accept resources to receive housing, they are offered.  These resources can vary from individual to individual, in intensity, and duration based on the needs of each client.   Some of the samples of individual support systems that may be provided include
  • alcohol/addiction recovery
  • mental health services
  • healthcare
  • education
  • job skills
  • career development

Housing First success

Pathways to housing PA- The success of Housing First


  • In 2011 Houston had approximately 8,400 individuals without stable housing.  By 2020 that number had dropped 55% to 3800 individuals.  (Jenson, Ryan, Jones, & Ackley, 2020)

  • As of 2015 Utah had dramatically reduced its chronically homeless down from 2000 in 2005 to only fewer than 200 individuals now.  (McEvers, 2015)

  • San Diego saw a 19% drop in its homeless population between the years 2011 to 2020.  Although not as successful as Houston, this is still viewed as a success.  (Jenson, Ryan, Jones, & Ackley, 2020)

References

Gazette,B.. (2024, January 25). Why it’s so hard to end homelessness in America. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/01/why-its-so-hard-to-end-homelessness-in-america/#:~:text=Scholars%2C%20healthcare%20workers%2C%20and%20homeless%20advocates%20agree%20that,and%20substance-use%20disorders%20also%20often%20underlie%20chronic%20homelessness

Jenson, Ryan, Jones, & Ackley. (2020). Two cities tried to fix homelessness, only one succeeded. - Caring for COVID’s Invisible Victims. https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/howardcenter/caring-for-covid-homeless/stories/homeless-funding-housing-first.html

McEvers, K. (2015, December 10). Utah reduced chronic homelessness by 91 percent; here’s how. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2015/12/10/459100751/utah-reduced-chronic-homelessness-by-91-percent-heres-how

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. (2016). Housing First Checklist: Assessing projects and systems ... https://www.usich.gov/sites/default/files/document/Housing_First_Checklist_FINAL.pdf


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