The Success with Housing First

Author: C. Nealon

Lyod Pendelton, a director for Housing First based in Utah took on a project that would seem impossible to most. That is reducing the Chronic Homelessness* by 91% over the course of ten years.

The thought behind Housing First is that it’s much more cost effective to provide homes for the chronic homelessness rather than provide services that the homeless would otherwise need. This can range from the cost of emergency visits to the increase of law enforcement (sometimes small crimes as loitering to larger crimes as assault). These extra services, some not necessarily helping the homeless get on their feet, can cost twenty thousand dollars and sometimes  upwards to forty thousand dollars per person per year. The cost of providing housing on the other hand can cost around ten thousand dollars for a single person which is fraction of the price.

Besides having Housing First be more cost cost effective for the government, it provides a positive service for the  chronic homeless to get back on their feet. This gives them a sense of security and has also shown that this program is also effective to help reduce substance abuse. People in this program, such as Russel Flowers, now how the desire to find work and has the courage to do better things in the world. In his words, “Everyone needs a hand some time” and that’s exactly what this program does.

This is an astonishing program that is prove that providing homes does more than simply getting people physically off of the street. It builds self esteem, builds a support system and at times it even helps bring family members back together. 

*chornic homelessness by Housing First definition is being homeless for more than a year or being homesless three or more times in a four year span.

Please check out the links provided down below to learn more about Housing First:

Ted Talks: Housing First Approach

Daily Show Interview

NPR: Utah's Success with Housing First