Housingfirst

Housing First is a homelessness policy approach that prioritizes providing immediate, permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, with no preconditions regarding sobriety, treatment participation, or income. Once housed, individuals receive optional, flexible supports to help address health, substance use, employment, and housing stability.

The approach originated in the United States in the 1990s, notably with Pathways to Housing in New York led by Sam Tsemberis. It spread to Canada, Europe, and other regions. Core principles include housing as a human right, consumer choice and self-determination, a recovery orientation, social and community integration, and the provision of flexible, voluntary supports rather than mandatory services. Access is designed to be low-threshold and rapid; clients are not required to participate in treatment or demonstrate readiness for housing.

In practice, Housing First is often implemented as Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), combining long-term housing with intensive case management and supportive services. A related model, Rapid Re-Housing (RRH), emphasizes short-term rental assistance to rapidly exit homelessness. Housing First emphasizes diverse housing options (scattered-site or project-based), harm-reduction approaches, and tailored supports; services are designed to be optional and non-coercive.

Evidence indicates that Housing First improves housing stability and reduces episodes of homelessness, with mixed results on overall cost savings depending on local costs and service intensity. It is widely adopted in many jurisdictions as part of broader homelessness strategies, but challenges include ensuring an adequate supply of affordable housing, financing, and coordinating housing with health and social services; critics argue about long-term subsidies and dependence, though proponents emphasize autonomy and dignity.