Housing First
Housing First is a homelessness intervention model that provides permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness without preconditions such as sobriety, employment, or treatment compliance. The model is a key component of the prevention-based justice framework in the Sanctuary Protocol.
Core Principle
Stability precedes recovery.
You cannot address addiction, mental health, or employment while sleeping on concrete. Traditional approaches demanded compliance before providing shelter. Housing First reverses this: provide housing first, then address other issues from a position of stability.
The Finnish Model
Finland has virtually eliminated homelessness using Housing First principles since 2008.
Results
| Metric | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Homelessness reduction | 35% decrease since 2008 |
| Long-term homelessness | Reduced by over 50% |
| Emergency shelter closures | Multiple shelters converted to permanent housing |
| Cost savings | Reduced emergency services, hospitalization, policing costs |
How It Works in Finland
- Anyone experiencing homelessness can access permanent housing
- No requirements for sobriety or employment
- Support services are offered but not mandatory
- Tenants pay rent (often subsidized) and have full tenant rights
- If someone struggles, support is increased rather than housing withdrawn
Why It Works
Neuroscience of Stability
Chronic stress from housing insecurity impairs prefrontal cortex function—the brain region responsible for planning, impulse control, and decision-making. People cannot "make better choices" while their nervous system is in survival mode.
Stable housing reduces cortisol levels and restores executive function, making engagement with treatment and employment possible.
Economic Logic
Homelessness is expensive to manage:
- Emergency room visits for preventable conditions
- Police responses to public disorder
- Shelter operations (more expensive per night than housing)
- Court and incarceration costs for survival crimes
Multiple studies show Housing First costs less than managing homelessness.
Dignity and Agency
Having a home restores personhood. A mailing address enables job applications. A private space enables rest and recovery. A lease establishes citizenship in the community.
Contrast with Traditional Approaches
| Traditional (Treatment First) | Housing First |
|---|---|
| Must prove "housing readiness" | Housing is a right, not a reward |
| Sobriety required for shelter access | Sobriety supported but not required |
| Failure to comply means back to street | Struggles met with increased support |
| Sequential: treatment → transitional housing → permanent housing | Direct to permanent housing |
| High dropout rates | 80-90% housing retention |
Application to Justice
The prevention justice framework applies Housing First logic to crime:
Crimes of Poverty
Theft, trespass, drug possession—these often stem from survival needs. Incarceration doesn't address the underlying housing insecurity; it exacerbates it (criminal record makes housing harder to obtain).
Housing First approach: instead of prosecuting, provide stable housing. The crime disappears because its conditions disappear.
Post-Incarceration
People released from prison face immediate housing insecurity, which is a primary driver of recidivism. Housing First for formerly incarcerated individuals breaks this cycle.
Implementation Requirements
Housing Supply
Housing First requires sufficient affordable housing stock. In markets with severe housing shortages, supply-side interventions must accompany demand-side policy.
Scattered Site vs. Congregate
- Scattered site: Housing integrated throughout community (preferred—reduces stigma, normalizes recovery)
- Congregate: Dedicated buildings with on-site services (useful for high-need populations, but can create institutional environments)
Support Services
Housing alone isn't sufficient for everyone. Effective programs include:
- Mental health services (available, not mandatory)
- Addiction treatment (available, not mandatory)
- Employment support
- Case management for benefits navigation
Evidence Base
Research Support
- Tsemberis, S. (2010). Housing First: The Pathways Model to End Homelessness. Hazelden.
- Padgett, D., Henwood, B., & Tsemberis, S. (2016). Housing First: Ending Homelessness, Transforming Systems, and Changing Lives. Oxford University Press.
- Multiple randomized controlled trials showing housing retention rates of 80%+
Cost-Effectiveness
| Location | Finding |
|---|---|
| Denver, USA | Housing First saved $31,545 per person per year in emergency services |
| Calgary, Canada | $34,000 saved per person per year |
| Finland | Net savings after accounting for all program costs |
Objections and Responses
"This rewards bad behavior"
Housing isn't a reward—it's infrastructure for human functioning. We don't require people to prove they deserve roads before using them.
"People need to hit rock bottom"
This is empirically false. "Rock bottom" often means death. Housing First has better outcomes than approaches that allow continued deterioration.
"What about people who can't maintain housing?"
For the small percentage who struggle even with intensive support, the answer is more support, not less housing. Some may need permanent supportive housing with ongoing services.
See Also
- Justice as Prevention
- High-Comfort Containment
- Economic Rebalancing
- Crime Prevention Research
- Main Page
References
- Tsemberis, S. (2010). Housing First: The Pathways Model to End Homelessness. Hazelden.
- Y-Foundation (Finland). (2017). A Home of Your Own: Housing First and Ending Homelessness in Finland.
- Padgett, D., Henwood, B., & Tsemberis, S. (2016). Housing First: Ending Homelessness, Transforming Systems, and Changing Lives. Oxford University Press.