Housing-First Approach: A Case Study

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Recognizing that “one of the most powerful tools for changing behavior is changing incentives” (wheelan), the District, and other cities across the nation, have adopted a “Housing-First” approach which seeks to place individuals and families experiencing homelessness into permanent housing without conditions for entry while offering optional supportive social services to maximize stability and prevent returns to homelessness (USICH webinar). This approach is based on the principle that improved quality of life, health, mental health and employment can be achieved through housing. Several studies have shown this model yields higher housing retention rates, lower returns to homelessness and significantly reduces the use of crisis services and institutions …show more content…
2015-2020 plan seeks to transform the homeless service system into an effective crisis response system that utilizes housing as a way to prevent other burdensome costs on taxpayers. The plan was designed to be an “evolving roadmap,” built upon efforts of the past by “tweaking the system,” and serving to inform incremental policy changes with feedback mechanisms that will expose where data exists that is needed to make sound policy decisions and investment choices, and of where there gaps in policy and knowledge bases. This incremental approach has allowed policy makers and administrators to recognize that system change does not happen overnight, and because all of the needed components cannot be funded or implemented in full at once, on-going implementation of new program models is, and will continue to be, a work in progress. As new or additional information is captured, assumptions will be refined, which will help sharpen the path forward. Ultimately, the goal of the District’s homeless service system is “to provide the right intervention to the right person at the right time to facilitate a connection back to permanent housing as quickly as possible.” (Homeward D.C., 2015 and