More than 10,600 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on April 17. The webinar, “Housing First Supports Income Security,” examined the ways Housing First supports income security, including cash assistance and employment. The speakers shared strategies for leveraging community resources to increase program participants’ incomes in ways that are tailored to each individual’s goals.
Peggy Bailey, vice president for housing and income security at CBPP, moderated the webinar. In her opening remarks, Peggy addressed the false narratives about people who are unhoused and reminded advocates that the root cause of homelessness is the inability to afford housing. “Oftentimes, people who are unhoused get blamed for being unhoused because of their mental health condition, substance use challenge, or other issues, when really, not having a place to live is an income issue to begin with,” stated Peggy.
Erik Gartland, research analyst at CBPP, provided an overview of research on the housing affordability crisis in the U.S. He presented data demonstrating the widening gap between renters’ incomes and housing costs, the severe housing cost burdens faced by low-income renters, and homelessness trends. Erik explained that the unprecedented resources and protections enacted in federal COVID-19 relief legislation played a critical role in keeping millions of families housed during the pandemic, underscoring the importance of increasing renters’ incomes and expanding rental assistance to help close the gap between housing costs and what people can afford. In response to a question from Peggy, Erik discussed how HUD’s new Fair Market Rent policy can better reflect housing costs in local communities, making it easier for families to find housing with their vouchers.
Hannah Maharrey, executive director of the Mississippi Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC), spoke about the range of strategies her CoC deploys to increase earned and unearned income among people experiencing homelessness in rural communities. She emphasized that Housing First is not “housing only”; instead, Housing First includes a range of supportive services, including those related to workforce and income. Hannah discussed the importance of housing in helping individuals increase their income and enter the workforce, emphasizing “it is much easier to get someone back into the workforce from a housed situation.”
Kelly Green-Bloomfield, director of program operations at Flagler Housing and Homeless Services, discussed how her organization uses the Housing First model to quickly get individuals into housing and then provide services to help address each person’s needs and goals. “Once you get people into housing and take care of that basic need, you can take a deep breath and work on the other barriers that are stopping them from increasing their income or being successful in their housing endeavors,” explained Kelly. She emphasized that her organization operates from the core principle that every member of their community deserves a safe and stable place to call home.
Aubrey Wilde, advocacy program director at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, spoke about the Denver Basic Income Project, which provides direct cash payments to individuals experiencing homelessness. “This program is based in trust, strong partnerships, and the belief that people know how to take care of themselves and their families, and if we give them the opportunity to do that in the form of direct, unrestricted cash, they will make those smart choices for themselves,” explained Aubrey. She emphasized the importance of helping individuals understand the potential impacts of the direct cash assistance program on other public benefits and giving them the agency to decide if they want to participate in the program.
During the moderated Q&A discussion, the panelists addressed the importance of community partnerships in the successful implementation of Housing First and discussed the role of choice in their programs as it relates to income and employment.
We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.
Resources Discussed on the Webinar:
- Housing First Resources (NLIHC)
- Housing First Fact Sheet and Tools (NAEH)
- Take Action! (NAEH)
- Sign NAEH’s statement of principles against the criminalization of homelessness!
- NLIHC’s Out of Reach Report
- CBPP Report: “New HUD ‘Fair Market Rent’ Policy Can Help Local Agencies Reduce Homelessness and Expand Housing Choice”
- CBPP Report: “More Housing Vouchers Needed to Help People with Disabilities Afford Stable Homes in the Community”
- Technical Assistance Collaborative: Priced Out – The Housing Crisis for People with Disabilities
- Denver Basic Income Project
- Denver Supportive Housing Impact Bond Initiative
- SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR)
Upcoming Webinar:
Register for the next Homelessness and Housing First webinar, which will take place on Monday, May 15, from 2:30 to 4 pm ET. Register at: https://bit.ly/3vIbn5o
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Homelessness is a crisis in many communities – one that demands urgent action. To end homelessness once and for all, federal, state, and local governments must invest in proven solutions at the scale necessary to address the problem. The Housing First model is one of the best strategies for ending homelessness. Housing First recognizes that affordable and accessible homes are the foundation on which people thrive, and by combining housing with access to supportive services, Housing First can help people exit homelessness and live stably in their communities.
In communities across the nation, however, some misguided policymakers are responding to this crisis by advancing dangerous rhetoric and harmful, dehumanizing measures that will make it even harder for people to exit homelessness. It is critical that advocates nationwide are unified in pushing back against stigmatizing and counterproductive efforts that seek to criminalize homelessness, impose punitive requirements, and even prevent the development of affordable housing.
As our communities struggle with soaring inflation, high rents, increased evictions, and, in many cases, more homelessness, it is more important than ever that advocates work together to advance the bold policies and anti-racist reforms needed to ensure stable, affordable, and accessible homes for all people experiencing and at risk of homelessness.
Learn more about Housing First at: https://bit.ly/3ViLyU6