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Model Program - Housing First

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Front Page / Issue Briefs / Poverty / Chronic Homelessness / Model Program: Housing First

 

Model Program

 

Housing First

 

Summary    one paragraph description 

Although this definition focuses on family homelessness, it is applicable to chronic homelessness in that it delves into the idea that the first thing chronically homeless people need to get on their feet is housing.

  • "'Housing first', or rapid re-housing as it is also known, is an alternative to the current system of emergency shelter/transitional housing, which tends to prolong the length of time that families remain homeless. The methodology is premised on the belief that vulnerable and at-risk homeless families are more responsive to interventions and social services support after they are in their own housing, rather than while living in temporary/transitional facilities or housing programs. With permanent housing, these families can begin to regain the self-confidence and control over their lives they lost when they became homeless."[1] 

 

 

Goal    short description of the policy or program goal  

  • To provide the chronically homeless with housing so that they can better attain social services such as mental health services, substance abuse services and medical needs. Further, for those who are chronically homeless, having stable housing is a good way to find jobs. Thus, the overarching philosophy behind this method is that the first step to alleviating chronic homelessness is to provide those who fall into the category with housing.[2][3] 

 

 

Cost    total policy or program cost; also include per person cost if available 

  •  Denver, for example, saved $4,475 per person over a two year period for people they put into the program. The cost of their housing and treatment was $13,800 per year, but way less than the cost of keeping a chronically homeless person in a shelter for an average of 274 nights per year.[4]
  • For FY 2009, HUD allocated $3,297,167,487 for Public and Indian Housing.[5]
  • In Pathways to Housing's 2007 Annual Report, they compared the cost of their Housing First plan with that of NYC Jail, NY State Psychiatric Hospital, NYC Psychiatric Hospital and NY City Shelter, which all amounted to $1,889/night compared to their Housing First model which costs $57 per night.[6]

 

 

Implementation    describe how the policy or program is implemented (esp. who, how) 

  • In Denver, the Housing First approach as gotten chronically homeless individuals out of shelters and into permanent housing.

    • Denver’s success with chronically homeless people—those who have a disability and are homeless for long periods or repeatedly—demonstrates the city’s effectiveness in helping people who have been on the streets or in shelter for long periods access permanent housing. Denver’s plan focuses on adopting a Housing First approach, which emphasizes moving people who are homeless into permanent affordable housing linked to 

      supportive services as quickly as possible, minimizing stays in shelter or other temporary housing.[7]  

 

Evaluation    summarize any evaluation findings that policy or program effectiveness

  • "A four-year study indicates that putting up homeless people in subsidized housing, even without focusing on other medical or behavioral problems first, saves the public money and reduces chronic homelessness."[8]  
    • "Housing First clients suffer much less illness than previously -- as much as an 83% decrease in hospitalization. In one study, 43% of individuals reported improved mental health. Quality of life improvements can also be seen by increased income – as much as 133% -- and by decreased time spent in jail or in sobering-up facilities."[9] 
    • "There have been only a few studies of Housing First for families. In San Francisco’s Beyond Shelter program, Housing First families overwhelmingly retain their housing (89.5%, even after eight years)."[10]
    • Many cities are saving money from initiatives such as Housing First. Denver saved over $4,000 every two years per person.[11] 
  • From 2002 to 2005, San Francisco saw a 41 percent decrease in homelessness due to the Housing First initiative.[12] 

  • The survey (in Denver for Housing First)  found that once in the program the average use of emergency roomsdeclined by 34 percent, overnight stays in the hospital fell by 80 percent, trips to detox centers dropped by 81 percent and nights in jail fell by 76 percent.[13]

  •  In 2005, Mayor Hickenlooper outlined Denver’s Road Home, an ambitious plan to end homelessness in 10 years. The plan has shown early results. Homelessness declined 13 percent from 4,444 in 2005 to 3,954 in 2007, while the number of people who experienced chronic homelessness dropped from 942 in 2005 to 602 in 2007.[14]  

 

 

Status    indicate whether this policy or program has been adopted in more locations or remains a proposal 

 

Point of View    quotations from those in support or opposition to this policy or program 

  • "Once we take someone off the streets, we get them stabilized in housing and into treatment," said John Parvensky, president of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. "This has a cost benefit to the state in reducing overall costs."[15]  

 

Contact     contact information for sponsor of this policy or program 

 

 

 

Bibliography    link to any additional readings or websites related to this policy or program 

 

 

 

 

Footnotes

  1. "Housing First: Ending Family Homelessness-The Problem: Ending and Preventing Family Homelessness", Beyondshelter.org,http://www.beyondshelter.org/aaa_initiatives/ending_homelessness.shtml?gclid=CL2QnbPu1ZsCFRJM5QodCmN-KQ ▲
  2. Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness, http://merceralliance.org/hfdi.htm ▲
  3. "Housing First", Trenton Times: Friday, Feb 1st, 2008. ▲
  4. "Housing First effort pays off for Denver: Getting homeless off streets can save millions, study says", Stuart Steers, Rocky Mountain News, Dec. 11, 2006 ▲
  5. http://www.usaspending.gov/faads/faads.php?datype=T&detail=-1&database=faads&fiscal_year=2009&maj_agency_cat=86 ▲
  6. Pathways to Housing Annual Report, 2007. http://www.pathwaystohousing.org/Articles/PTHPublications/FINAL_AnnualReport_2007.pdf ▲
  7. National Alliance to End Homelessness (2007), Denver’s Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness reduces chronically homeless population by 36 percent. Denver’s success follows similar results in Portland, San Francisco. ▲
  8. Homeless Study Looks at 'Housing First': Shifting Policies to Get Chronically Ill in Homes May Save Lives, Money, Wall Street Journal, March 6, 2008;  http://www.aegis.com/news/wsj/2008/WJ080302.html ▲
  9. Mercer County Alliance to End Homelessness, http://merceralliance.org/hfdi.htm ▲
  10. San Fransisco Government Website, http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/site/mayor_page.asp?id=29925 ▲
  11. "Housing First effort pays off for Denver: Getting homeless off streets can save millions, study says", Stuart Steers, Rocky Mountain News: Dec. 11, 2006 ▲
  12. "NUMBER OF HOMELESS ON SAN FRANCISCO’S STREETS DECLINES 41%"http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/site/mayor_page.asp?id=29925 ▲
  13. Steers, Stuart, "Housing First effort pays off for Denver Getting homeless off streets can save millions, study says", Rocky Mountain News, Dec. 11, 2006 ▲
  14. National Alliance to End Homelessness (2007), Denver’s Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness reduces chronically homeless population by 36 percent. Denver’s success follows similar results in Portland, San Francisco. ▲
  15. Housing First effort pays off for Denver Getting homeless off streets can save millions, study says By Stuart Steers, Rocky Mountain News December 11, 2006 ▲

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