Housing First
"Housing First" refers to programs or approaches that aim to reduce the length of time that households spend being homeless or in shelter and prevent homelessness for at risk populations such as "doubled-up" families with children. The National Alliance to End Homelessness website recites the following "Housing First" principles:
- Homelessness is first and foremost a housing problem and should be treated as such
- Housing is a right to which all are entitled
- People who are homeless or on the verge of homelessness should be returned to or stabilized in permanent housing as quickly as possible and connected to resources necessary to sustain that housing
- Issues that contributed to a household's homelessness can best be addressed after housing is in place
"Housing First" approaches aim to:
- reduce the length of time that households spend homeless or prevent homelessness for households at imminent risk
- increase the number of households who obtain permanent housing or the rate households obtain permanent housing
- increase the number of households who obtain needed supports to maintain their housing
- increase the number of households stabilized in permanent housing over time
Foundation for the Homeless' Housing First Collaborations
During 2009 and 2010, Foundation for the Homeless became a working partner in several new "Housing First" collaborations. These collaborations are aimed at keeping persons at 50% of the Median Family Income for Austin housed and rapidly re-housing those who do become homeless in fair market permanent housing, using a combination of short-term or shallow subsidies, case management and a housing locator:
- The City of Austin's Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration Project (RRDP)
- The Austin Travis County Housing Stability Collaboration Demonstration Project
- The Right At Home Pilot Project