HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research’s (PD&R) Spring/Summer 2023 issue of Evidence Matters, a quarterly publication covering evidence-based policymaking, examines the role of the Housing First model in addressing homelessness. The issue reviews the evidence establishing Housing First as an effective method for ending homelessness, spotlights successful case studies from Boston and Chattanooga, and makes the case that homelessness can be solved if evidence-based practices are aligned with political will.
The lead article, “Housing First Works,” provides an overview of the Housing First model and counters common mischaracterizations about the model. Despite what some critics claim, Housing First is not a one-size-fits-all approach, nor is it a “housing only” approach. Housing First combines permanent housing with flexible services that can be adapted as clients’ needs change. Some critics claim that Housing First is ineffective because homelessness has increased in many communities. The article explains that the scarcity of affordable housing is the primary cause of homelessness and that rates of homelessness are increasing in areas where rental costs are rising and vacancy rates are decreasing.
According to HUD Senior Advisor Richard Cho, “the increase in homelessness from 2016 to 2020 is not because the Housing First approach is ineffective; in fact, more people were exiting homelessness into permanent housing during this period than ever before. Rather, it is because housing market conditions and other factors were leading more people to become newly homeless than were being exited from homelessness into housing in the prior years.”
The lead article notes that experts agree on the fact that homelessness is a solvable problem that requires helping people exit homelessness faster than people enter homelessness. To do this, policymakers must scale up the Housing First model to help those currently experiencing homelessness and invest in prevention strategies to help people stay in their homes. Increasing the supply of deeply affordable and accessible housing is key to accomplishing these goals. Additional eviction prevention initiatives, fair housing enforcement, and higher wages can also help stem the inflow into homelessness.
The “Research Spotlight” article examines research supporting the Housing First model. Overwhelming evidence from multiple rigorous studies demonstrates that Housing First programs decrease rates of homelessness and increase housing instability. Several studies have found that, compared with the “treatment first” model, Housing First offers greater long-term housing stability, particularly among people experiencing chronic homelessness. Research indicates that Housing First programs effectively house people with intersecting challenges, such as veterans, survivors of domestic violence, individuals experiencing mental health issues or substance use, and people with chronic medical conditions like HIV/AIDS. Additionally, some studies have found that Housing First programs may reduce public costs associated with emergency room visits and hospital stays, nursing homes, and prisons or jail.
The “In Practice” article, “Housing First in Action,” highlights two successful case studies from Boston and Chattanooga. Both cities have adopted a Housing First approach that has successfully reduced long-term, chronic, and veteran homelessness. The article explores how Boston and Chattanooga have developed low-barrier housing, streamlined data systems, and targeted action plans that contribute to their programs’ successes. Collaborating with service providers and housing navigators has helped both cities streamline the process of moving people experiencing homelessness into housing and ensuring that agencies meet the specific needs of each household. The article also highlights how both cities have established landlord incentive programs to increase the supply of housing available to people transitioning out of homelessness.
Read HUD’s Evidence Matters at: https://tinyurl.com/4dmjpzm5
Read more about Housing First at: https://bit.ly/3VOXI7K
Learn more about the evidence supporting Housing First at: https://tinyurl.com/5n8889jv