Housing First

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.

The research is irrefutable: Housing First is the most effective approach for ending homelessness for most individuals and families. Housing First is a bipartisan, evidence-based practice backed by multiple, national studies. The Housing First approach has garnered strong bipartisan support for decades. It has been embraced by the George W. Bush, Obama, and Biden administrations, including the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). It has also been adopted by many state and local elected officials who have seen Housing First work in their communities.

Learn more about Housing First:

• Why Housing First is a critical strategy for ending homelessness
• The Evidence Is Clear: Housing First Works.
• Research on the effectiveness of Housing First
• How Housing First cut veteran homelessness in half
• How Housing First supports recovery from substance use disorders
• How Housing First supports people with mental health conditions
• Key facts about Housing First
• Q&A on Housing First
• Responding to Unsheltered Homelessness

Misguided efforts to undermine Housing First, criminalize homelessness, impose punitive requirements, and prevent the development of affordable housing are counterproductive and will make it even harder for people to exit homelessness. Learn more about:

• Why you should oppose the Housing PLUS Act
• Why you should oppose harmful, draft legislation from the Cicero Institute

NLIHC coordinates a Housing First Working Group, focused on building congressional support for using Housing First strategies to end homelessness. Members include: Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Bazelon Center for Mental Health, Catholic Charities USA, Church World Service, Community Solutions, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Funders Together to End Homelessness, Justice in Aging, Lutheran Services in America, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, RESULTS, Salvation Army, The Kelsey, and Youth Collaboratory.

Housing First Webinar Series Recaps

NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities hosted a monthly webinar series on homelessness and Housing First. Check out the webinar recaps, including the links to the recording and presentation slides.

Advancing Homelessness Solutions Webinar Series

NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is hosting a new webinar series on advancing solutions to the homelessness crisis. On the webinars, we will share more about proven strategies to successfully end homelessness, best practices for state and local advocacy, and actions advocates can take to advance solutions. Register for the series!

NLIHC, CBPP, and NAEH Webinar Series Recaps

Did you miss one of the NLIHC/NAEH/CBPP homelessness webinars? Check out the recaps, including the links to the recording and presentation slides.