Advantages of Housing First Rehousing Strategy for the Chronically Homeless

Abstract

Since the 1980s, chronic homelessness, a subset of homeless who have experienced long-term homelessness and suffer from a disability, has increased dramatically. The dominant methodology within the past few decades to house these individuals has been a treatment first Continuum of Care model. This model requires its clients to treat their health issues and become sober in order to obtain and maintain their housing. Another model, Housing First, has been increasing in popularity over the past few years. It prioritizes getting clients into housing before treatment, arguing that their health issues that plague them will become easier to treat after the stress of being homeless is eliminated. By examining the core methodologies and previous studies on the two methodologies, I argue that Housing First is superior to traditional Continuum of Care models because it has higher retention rates, is more cost effective, and is ethically superior.