Housing First
- Issue Areas
- Housing and community development
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help facilitate investments in housing and support healthy living environments. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve these outcomes are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
- Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program overview
Immediate housing for those who need it: Housing First programs provide individuals experiencing homelessness with rapid and unconditional access to housing. By taking a holistic approach to promoting individuals’ physical, mental, and financial well-being, Housing First programs aim to reduce homelessness in a given community.
Reducing the financial burden of housing: Participants in Housing First programs are initially provided with housing free of charge. After a set period, participants may be required to contribute to rent payments, though programs generally work with participants to prepare for this transition (e.g., creating a payment plan, assisting them in applying for housing vouchers). These housing units may be owned by the local government, a nonprofit partner, or private landlords.
Providing access to additional services: Housing First initiatives provide participants with access to additional support services, such as crisis intervention, needs assessments, community-building activities, information about employment and vocational school, case management, and more. Participants are not required to access services to continue their tenancy.
Targeted aid for the most vulnerable residents: Housing First programs generally seek to target the most high-risk residents who are experiencing homelessness. Though definitions of risk differ by program, many initiatives have sought to prioritize housing for those experiencing chronic homelessness (defined as being unhoused for over one year), residents with mental or physical disabilities, or residents with the most frequent interactions with the justice system.
- Strategies
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Permanent supportive housing
- Cost per Participant
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Estimated $6,314 per participant per year
Multiple studies with rigorous designs demonstrate that Housing First is a well-supported strategy for reducing homelessness.
A 2019 systematic review identified Housing First as a scientifically supported strategy for reducing homelessness, increasing housing stability, and reducing hospital utilization.
In-Person Outreach: To successfully target the most at-risk unhoused population, Housing First programs should sponsor in-person outreach initiatives, in which program staff directly approach residents experiencing homelessness to offer information about the program. Vulnerable populations are often in less-visible public areas and lack information about aid initiatives, meaning in-person outreach often determine whether these individuals find housing.
Prioritize the use of data: Successful Housing First initiatives should collect extensive, person-specific data on the local unhoused population and use these data to identify residents most in need of or most appropriate for the program. Data should also be used to track program performance, as it can be used to demonstrate effectiveness to decision makers and the public.
Build strong partnerships: Implementing jurisdictions should seek to build strong partnerships with property owners and neighborhood residents to encourage support for Housing First programs. Community-building activities and positive community engagement from participants can build sustained public support, which is influential in determining program success in the long term.
Encourage uptake of support services: Participants in Housing First programs are generally not required to use support services. However, participants who use support services are more likely to remain stably housed. As such, programs should provide participants with clear and repeated information on service availability and address any barriers to accessing them (e.g., transportation to services that are offered off-site).