Home is… Foundational

The Role of Housing First in Rebuilding Lives and Communities

Housing First is a transformative approach that recognizes housing as the foundation for personal growth, stability, and community well-being. Unlike traditional models that often require individuals to meet specific conditions—such as completing treatment or maintaining sobriety—before receiving housing, Housing First provides immediate, permanent housing without prerequisites. This philosophy sees stable housing as an essential starting point for addressing challenges, not as a reward for overcoming them.

At its core, Housing First is about offering people autonomy and flexibility. It connects individuals to supportive services tailored to their unique needs like mental health care, substance use treatment, or reconnections with family and community networks. Services are voluntary, ensuring that individuals retain agency over their journey to stability. By focusing on immediate housing and offering individualized support, Housing First challenges the "one-size-fits-all" approach often seen in other housing interventions, creating a system that is better equipped to meet people where they uniquely are.

Housing First has also been found to strengthen communities. By addressing chronic homelessness and providing long-term stability, this approach reduces the strain on emergency shelters, healthcare systems, and other public resources. Research shows that Housing First policies are not only effective at keeping people housed, but also cost-efficient by saving taxpayers money by decreasing reliance on emergency services. Beyond the economic benefits, Housing First also fosters healthier, more resilient communities by helping individuals rebuild their lives and contribute to society in meaningful ways. This approach lays the groundwork for a future where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive.

Testimonials: Transforming Lives Through Housing First

James’ journey vividly illustrates the transformative power of the Housing First approach. Before accessing stable housing, James recounts facing the brutal realities of homelessness, relying on extreme measures like huddling for warmth during harsh winters. His first apartment was a sanctuary—an experience he likened to paradise, offering him safety, warmth, and dignity. With the support of a compassionate Housing First team, James reports being able to learn essential life skills, from budgeting and grocery shopping to accessing food assistance programs. Beyond meeting his immediate needs, the team provided unwavering encouragement and reliable support, creating a safety net that empowered James to rebuild his life, find work, and maintain stability: “It was like going from being adrift in the ocean to finding a port and a support network,” James says, underscoring the profound impact of this approach.

Similarly, international programs like Sacred Heart Mission’s Journey to Social Inclusion (J2SI) in Australia confirm the long-term benefits of combining housing with intensive, relationship-based support. Over three years, J2SI participants receive wraparound services tailored to their needs, resulting in stable housing for 90% of individuals even years after completing the program. Participants like Terri shared how the program provided them the time and trust needed to heal from trauma, reconnect with loved ones, and reintegrate into their communities: “Investing three years may seem like a lot, but it’s nothing to turn around a life. It’s better for me, my family, and the community.”

These first-hand testimonials align with broader research showing that Housing First and similarly aligned housing focused approaches secure stable housing and deliver measurable health outcomes. By addressing interconnected challenges like substance use disorder and mental health through harm reduction and community-based care, programs across the U.S., like those in New Jersey, prove the value of holistic ecosystems of support. Together, these stories and data highlight that housing is much more than just a roof over one’s head — it is the foundation for safety, recovery, and thriving communities.

Data Showing Reductions in Homelessness Through Housing First Policies

Housing First programs have demonstrated success in reducing homelessness, especially among populations that traditionally encounter barriers to obtaining housing. By prioritizing permanent housing without preconditions such as sobriety or mandatory participation in services, Housing First creates a foundation of stability. This stability has been shown to reduce substance use, increase access to mental health and substance use services, and decrease involvement with the criminal justice system. A 2004 study found that 79% of individuals placed in Housing First programs remained stably housed after six months, compared to only 27% in traditional programs requiring sobriety or treatment compliance. The model underscores housing as a stabilizing factor, enabling individuals to address other challenges more effectively once their basic need for shelter is met.

Beyond improving individual outcomes, Housing First generates substantial public cost savings, particularly in healthcare. Recent research analyzing chronically homeless Medicaid enrollees in Massachusetts found that Housing First participants experienced significantly greater reductions in healthcare utilization and costs compared to a control group. These reductions included fewer emergency room visits, mental health encounters, and other healthcare services, resulting in average savings of $10,470 per person annually. While both groups saw some cost reductions, the study confirmed that the savings for Housing First participants were not merely due to regression to the mean but reflected the program’s direct impact. By providing stable housing, Housing First reduces reliance on costly emergency care, yielding benefits for individuals and communities alike.

To fully realize the potential of Housing First, however, it must be implemented at scale with adequate funding for deeply affordable housing and supportive services. Policymakers’ reluctance to commit sufficient resources has hindered the expansion of these proven solutions. Evidence from Houston illustrates what is possible with sustained investment: the city achieved a 53% reduction in overall homelessness between 2011 and 2015 through a Housing First strategy, effectively ending veteran homelessness. Comprehensive approaches like Houston’s that integrate outreach, housing placement, and ongoing support highlight the transformative power of Housing First when it is implemented with fidelity and provided adequate resources. By scaling Housing First alongside accessible services, communities can make significant strides toward ending homelessness.

How You Can Help

Expanding the Housing First model and ensuring access to affordable housing and supportive services are critical steps toward ending homelessness and creating stronger, healthier communities. The evidence is clear: when people have stable housing, they can access the resources they need to thrive, and public systems save money. Visit our affordable housing advocacy page at https://endhomelessnesschesco.org/affordable-housing-advocacy to learn how you can help advance policies that close the gap between incomes and housing costs.