Housing First

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Advancing Homelessness Solutions

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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! Check out the webinar recaps, including the links to the recording and presentation slides.

Recap of 4/9 Advancing Homelessness Solutions Webinar

NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (The Alliance), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) hosted a webinar, “The Supreme Court and the Criminalization of Homelessness,” on April 9. 

On the webinar, leading experts from the National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC), the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), and the Housing Narrative Lab discussed the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, the most significant court case about the rights of people experiencing homelessness in decades.

Steve Berg, chief policy officer at The Alliance, moderated the webinar. He shared a short video from NHLC emphasizing the human impact of the Supreme Court case.

Jesse Rabinowitz, campaign and communications director at NHLC, provided an overview of the Supreme Court case, highlighted the importance of long-term solutions, and addressed how advocates can get involved.

Donald Whitehead, executive director of NCH, shared about events happening on April 22 – the day on which oral arguments will be heard. He discussed how his organization is engaging and centering people with lived experience and highlighted a new toolkit on local action organizing.

Brooke Schipporeit, NLIHC’s field manager, discussed how advocates can use this moment to advance real solutions to homelessness and housing instability. She encouraged attendees to use a new advocacy toolkit to plan an event during the week of April 22 in their local communities.

Marisol Bello, executive director of the Housing Narrative Lab, shared how advocates can discuss the Grants Pass v. Johnson case when speaking to those who are not as familiar with the causes of and solutions to homelessness. She discussed do’s and don’ts and shared the Housing Narrative Lab’s messaging guidance on the court case.

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Resources Discussed on the Webinar:

Recap of 9/11 Homelessness & Housing First Webinar

More than 13,400 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (the Alliance), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on September 11. The webinar, “Getting the Message Right: Reevaluating How We Talk about Housing First,” was the final one in the series and examined the challenges involved in messaging about the success of Housing First. We were joined by Jen Butler, vice president of external affairs at NLIHC; Tom Murphy, senior director of communications at the Alliance; Marisol Bello, executive director of Housing Narrative Lab; Lindsay Knotts, managing director of impact strategies at TheCaseMade; and Mark Horvath, founder of Invisible People.

In recent years, widespread misinformation about the Housing First model – what it is, how it works, and what it entails – has sown confusion and misunderstanding about the model among lawmakers, the media, and members of the public. The panelists offered their perspectives on how to reorient messaging to illustrate the model’s benefits more effectively.

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Resources discussed on the webinar:

Recap of 8/14 Homelessness & Housing First Webinar

More than 12,700 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (the Alliance), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on August 14! The webinar, “Keeping Faith with Housing First in Turbulent Times: Findings from Recent Research,” examined how we can build support for humane, evidence-based practices and policies despite the unrelenting nature of the affordable housing crisis and growing calls for ineffective and punitive measures for addressing homelessness. The panelists addressed the affordable housing crisis, efforts undertaken by HUD and local homelessness systems to house people experiencing homelessness, and recent research from the field.

Nicole DuBois, senior research analyst and coordinator at the Alliance, moderated the webinar. In her opening remarks, Nicole highlighted the record numbers of people housed by homeless service providers across the country in the past several years and urged advocates not to lose sight of these successes. She explained that while our country’s homelessness response systems are effective, we are experiencing new influxes of people falling into homelessness due to underlying structural causes and an inadequate social safety net.

NLIHC Senior Research Analyst Dan Emmanuel provided an overview of the nation’s affordable housing crisis, highlighting research from NLIHC’s The Gap and Out of Reach reports. He explained that housing is central to a structural explanation of homelessness and emphasized that addressing the housing affordability crisis is key to ending homelessness. Dan discussed the federal, state, and local interventions needed to establish a housing safety net and address the structural housing issues underlying the affordable housing and homelessness crises.

Dr. David Gonzalez Rice, policy advisor in HUD’s Office of the Secretary, shared recent HUD data on the state of homelessness in the U.S. and discussed how pandemic-era resources and safety net enhancements play a key role in reducing homelessness. He explained that despite the effectiveness of the Housing First model, Housing First programs are under-resourced and not widely available. Dr. Gonzalez Rice called for increased resources for Housing First, a stronger safety net, and robust tenant protections.

Dr. Tiana Moore, policy director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at the University of California San Francisco, provided an overview of the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness, the largest representative sample of homelessness in the U.S. since the 1990s. She addressed several key findings from the report, including information about participants’ entrances and trajectories to homelessness, mental health and substance use challenges, barriers to exiting homelessness, and more. Dr. Moore cited the rigorous evidence supporting the effectiveness of Housing First across multiple populations, including individuals with severe behavioral disabilities.

Tasha Gray, executive director of the Homeless Action Network of Detroit, the lead agency for the Detroit Continuum of Care, discussed how the trends identified by the other panelists are playing out in her community. She explained how an influx of resources and the mobilization of partnerships during the pandemic helped reduce homelessness in Detroit but that homelessness is now increasing again as these emergency resources are depleted. Tasha described the vital role Housing First plays in addressing homelessness in her community, including for people with greater barriers and higher needs. She stressed the importance of investing in Housing First and ensuring that providers maintain fidelity to the model.

John Threlkeld, senior congressional affairs manager at the Alliance, discussed Representative Andy Barr’s (R-KY) “Housing Promotes Livelihood and Ultimate Success Act” (H.R.3405), legislation that would undermine federal investments in proven solutions to homelessness. John encouraged advocates to speak with their members of Congress about how Housing First is working in their community and reviewed common arguments advocates might hear when educating their lawmakers about Housing First.

During the moderated discussion, panelists expanded on the intersections between homelessness and affordable housing, how Housing First supports different populations among people experiencing homelessness, solutions to the housing and homelessness crises, and more.

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Resources Discussed on the Webinar:

Recap of 6/12 Homelessness & Housing First Webinar

More than 11,400 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on June 12!

The webinar, “Housing First Supports People Impacted by the Criminal Legal System,” examined the relationship between homelessness and mass incarceration, highlighted federal efforts to remove unnecessary barriers to housing for people with criminal records, and delved into state and local efforts to connect individuals impacted by the criminal legal system to housing and voluntary services using a Housing First approach.

NLIHC Policy Manager Kim Johnson moderated the webinar. In her opening remarks, Kim highlighted the vital importance of providing people exiting incarceration and those with conviction histories a safe, affordable home to return to. She emphasized that housing is fundamental to public safety and to the successful reentry of those exiting incarceration.

Representative Nanette Barragán (D-CA), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness, explained that Housing First programs are critical to successful reentry because they quickly meet an individual’s basic human need for a safe place to call home and then provide them with an opportunity to choose to participate in life-changing services. Representative Barragán recently introduced the “Returning Home Act” (H.R.2994), which provides funding to government and community organizations dedicated to breaking down barriers to housing for people who were formerly incarcerated through a Housing First approach.

Anna Bailey, senior policy analyst with CBPP, provided a brief overview of incarceration trends from a national perspective, highlighting that people impacted by the criminal legal system are more likely to experience homelessness than the general public. Anna emphasized that the dramatic racial disparities in incarceration rates are driven by systemic racism and noted the wide-ranging collateral consequences of incarceration. She also discussed how an increasing number of studies demonstrate that Housing First strategies can be highly effective in keeping people who were formerly incarcerated stably housed and helping them avoid future interaction with the criminal legal system.

Victoria Jennings, supportive housing analyst with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), spoke about two IHCDA Housing First programs that serve individuals who have been incarcerated: the HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program and a permanent supportive housing program currently in the planning stages. IHCDA’s Housing First program, which began about 15 years ago, has resulted in the development of about 52 projects and more than 1,500 units that end homelessness for about 275 Hoosiers each year.

Richard Cho, senior advisor for housing and services at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), discussed actions the Biden administration is taking to prioritize the housing needs of people impacted by the criminal legal system. HUD is in the process of developing a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in which it proposes to change its regulations governing public housing agencies and HUD-subsidized housing providers to prevent unnecessary denials of housing assistance to people with criminal history records. The new guidance will send a clear message that nobody should be automatically denied access to HUD programs simply because they have a criminal record.

Veronica Lewis, director of the Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System (HOPICS) – one of the largest housing and homeless service providers in Los Angeles County – discussed HOPICS’ reentry housing programs. She explained how HOPICS operates in three major systems of care: reentry services, substance use disorder and other outpatient behavioral health services, and housing and homeless services. Veronica emphasized that Housing First is not “housing only” and spoke about the strategic partnerships HOPICS has developed to provide wraparound supports to clients.

Taylar Nuevelle, founder and executive director of Who Speaks for Me? (WSFM), spoke about her organization’s Housing for All pilot project, which provides housing, a weekly stipend, and connection to wraparound services to five returning citizens that identify as women and/or LGBTQ people. Taylar shared a video of Mary, the first participant in the Housing for All program, and discussed how WSFM applied for a housing voucher from the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs and is now using the funds that would have been spent on rent to provide Mary with guaranteed income.

During the moderated discussion, panelists expanded on how their programs meet the unique needs of each individual, connect clients to voluntary wraparound services, and leverage partnerships to implement a coordinated reentry system.

In her closing remarks, NLIHC’s Kim Johnson shared how the “Housing Promotes Livelihood and Ultimate Success (PLUS) Act” (H.R.3405), which was recently reintroduced by Representative Andy Barr (R-KY), would undermine efforts to end homelessness.

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Resources Discussed on the Webinar:

Upcoming Webinar:

Register for the next Homelessness & Housing First webinar taking place on Monday, July 10 from 2:30 to 4:00 pm ET.Register at: https://bit.ly/3vIbn5o

—

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. Housing First recognizes that affordable and accessible homes are the foundation on which people thrive, and by combining housing with access to supportive services, Housing First can help people exit homelessness and live stably in their communities. 

In communities across the nation, however, some misguided policymakers are responding to this crisis by advancing dangerous rhetoric and harmful, dehumanizing measures that will make it even harder for people to exit homelessness. It is critical that advocates nationwide are unified in pushing back against stigmatizing and counterproductive efforts that seek to criminalize homelessness, impose punitive requirements, and even prevent the development of affordable housing.

As our communities struggle with exorbitant rents, increased evictions, and, in many cases, more homelessness, it is more important than ever that advocates work together to advance the bold policies and anti-racist reforms needed to ensure stable, affordable, and accessible homes for all people experiencing and at risk of homelessness.

Learn more about Housing First at: https://bit.ly/3ViLyU6

Recap of 5/15 Homelessness & Housing First Webinar

More than 11,000 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on May 15!

The webinar, “Housing First and Faith-Based Organizations,” examined how faith-based organizations play a vital role in local homelessness response systems by establishing and operating rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing programs consistent with Housing First. The panelists emphasized that Housing First and faith-based traditions are not incompatible; in fact, Housing First principles – such as the belief in the dignity and autonomy of the individual person and the idea that all people deserve to have their basic needs met – are important tenets of their faith.

Dr. Bambie Hayes-Brown – president and CEO of Georgia Advancing Communities Together (ACT) and a member of NLIHC’s Board of Directors – moderated the webinar. In her opening remarks, Dr. Hayes-Brown shared that she is a person with lived experience of housing insecurity, a former public housing resident, and a licensed and ordained minister.

Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) – ranking member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance – explained how, having served as pastor of one of Kansas City’s largest churches for more than 38 years, he has witnessed the unique and critical role that faith-based groups play in addressing homelessness. “Housing provides every person with a sense of safety and a place to call their own, giving them purpose and great opportunity to fulfill their potential. As someone who spent their formative years in a shack and then in public housing, I understand completely how vital it is for housing programs to reach those most in need, and to do so with compassion, understanding, and in a way that puts the individual’s safety and security first,” stated Rep. Cleaver.

Kim Boudreaux, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities of Acadiana, discussed how her organization discontinued their transitional housing programs in favor of Housing First after seeing how the approach reduced homelessness in her community. She explained that as a faith-based organization, Catholic Charities of Acadiana recognizes the inherent dignity of the human person and works to meet individuals’ basic needs for food, shelter, clothing, sleep, and safety before discussing other goals. During the panel discussion, Kim spoke about the importance of sheltering people according to the gender they identify with, noting that doing so is “the most respectful and dignified way of offering shelter.”

Jesse Rabinowitz, senior manager for policy and advocacy at Miriam’s Kitchen in Washington, DC., described how his organization – which has been serving people experiencing homelessness for many years – witnessed firsthand that high barrier, “housing last” programs are not effective. He discussed how D.C. is using Housing First to end homelessness, highlighting that between 95% and 97% of residents in permanent supportive housing stay housed after their first year. Additionally, Jesse spoke to the importance of engaging faith leaders in campaigns advocating for increased housing and homelessness funding.

Bonnie Harper, a HUD grant housing specialist with Partners Health Management in North Carolina, discussed her role managing the permanent supportive housing grant for her organization. She spoke about how she partners with faith-based organizations to connect individuals to housing and voluntary wraparound services, highlighting the vital role that Housing First plays in addressing homelessness. Bonnie emphasized that many faiths, including her own, teach the importance of meeting individuals where they are and walking alongside of them without condemnation or judgment.  

During the moderated panel discussion, the panelists addressed how their organizations meet the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness, including LGBTQ people and individuals with substance use challenges, and highlighted how Housing First has reduced homelessness in their communities. The panelists emphasized that faith-based communities support Housing First and have a key role to play in pushing back against harmful narratives that the model is ineffective.

Steve Berg, chief policy officer at NAEH, wrapped up the call by providing an update from Capitol Hill and sharing how advocates can take action and urge their members of Congress to increase funding for homelessness programs in FY 2024.

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Resources Discussed on the Webinar:

Upcoming Webinar:

Register for the next Homelessness & Housing First webinar taking place on Monday, June 12 from 2:30 to 4:00 pm ET. Register at: https://bit.ly/3vIbn5o

—

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. Housing First recognizes that affordable and accessible homes are the foundation on which people thrive, and by combining housing with access to supportive services, Housing First can help people exit homelessness and live stably in their communities. 

In communities across the nation, however, some misguided policymakers are responding to this crisis by advancing dangerous rhetoric and harmful, dehumanizing measures that will make it even harder for people to exit homelessness. It is critical that advocates nationwide are unified in pushing back against stigmatizing and counterproductive efforts that seek to criminalize homelessness, impose punitive requirements, and even prevent the development of affordable housing.

As our communities struggle with exorbitant rents, increased evictions, and, in many cases, more homelessness, it is more important than ever that advocates work together to advance the bold policies and anti-racist reforms needed to ensure stable, affordable, and accessible homes for all people experiencing and at risk of homelessness.

Learn more about Housing First at: https://bit.ly/3ViLyU6

Recap of 4/17 Homelessness and Housing First Webinar

More than 10,600 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on April 17. The webinar, “Housing First Supports Income Security,” examined the ways Housing First supports income security, including cash assistance and employment. The speakers shared strategies for leveraging community resources to increase program participants’ incomes in ways that are tailored to each individual’s goals. 

Peggy Bailey, vice president for housing and income security at CBPP, moderated the webinar. In her opening remarks, Peggy addressed the false narratives about people who are unhoused and reminded advocates that the root cause of homelessness is the inability to afford housing. “Oftentimes, people who are unhoused get blamed for being unhoused because of their mental health condition, substance use challenge, or other issues, when really, not having a place to live is an income issue to begin with,” stated Peggy.

Erik Gartland, research analyst at CBPP, provided an overview of research on the housing affordability crisis in the U.S. He presented data demonstrating the widening gap between renters’ incomes and housing costs, the severe housing cost burdens faced by low-income renters, and homelessness trends. Erik explained that the unprecedented resources and protections enacted in federal COVID-19 relief legislation played a critical role in keeping millions of families housed during the pandemic, underscoring the importance of increasing renters’ incomes and expanding rental assistance to help close the gap between housing costs and what people can afford. In response to a question from Peggy, Erik discussed how HUD’s new Fair Market Rent policy can better reflect housing costs in local communities, making it easier for families to find housing with their vouchers.

Hannah Maharrey, executive director of the Mississippi Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC), spoke about the range of strategies her CoC deploys to increase earned and unearned income among people experiencing homelessness in rural communities. She emphasized that Housing First is not “housing only”; instead, Housing First includes a range of supportive services, including those related to workforce and income. Hannah discussed the importance of housing in helping individuals increase their income and enter the workforce, emphasizing “it is much easier to get someone back into the workforce from a housed situation.”

Kelly Green-Bloomfield, director of program operations at Flagler Housing and Homeless Services, discussed how her organization uses the Housing First model to quickly get individuals into housing and then provide services to help address each person’s needs and goals. “Once you get people into housing and take care of that basic need, you can take a deep breath and work on the other barriers that are stopping them from increasing their income or being successful in their housing endeavors,” explained Kelly. She emphasized that her organization operates from the core principle that every member of their community deserves a safe and stable place to call home.

Aubrey Wilde, advocacy program director at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, spoke about the Denver Basic Income Project, which provides direct cash payments to individuals experiencing homelessness. “This program is based in trust, strong partnerships, and the belief that people know how to take care of themselves and their families, and if we give them the opportunity to do that in the form of direct, unrestricted cash, they will make those smart choices for themselves,” explained Aubrey. She emphasized the importance of helping individuals understand the potential impacts of the direct cash assistance program on other public benefits and giving them the agency to decide if they want to participate in the program.

During the moderated Q&A discussion, the panelists addressed the importance of community partnerships in the successful implementation of Housing First and discussed the role of choice in their programs as it relates to income and employment.

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Resources Discussed on the Webinar:

Upcoming Webinar:

Register for the next Homelessness and Housing First webinar, which will take place on Monday, May 15, from 2:30 to 4 pm ET. Register at: https://bit.ly/3vIbn5o

—

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. Housing First recognizes that affordable and accessible homes are the foundation on which people thrive, and by combining housing with access to supportive services, Housing First can help people exit homelessness and live stably in their communities. 

In communities across the nation, however, some misguided policymakers are responding to this crisis by advancing dangerous rhetoric and harmful, dehumanizing measures that will make it even harder for people to exit homelessness. It is critical that advocates nationwide are unified in pushing back against stigmatizing and counterproductive efforts that seek to criminalize homelessness, impose punitive requirements, and even prevent the development of affordable housing.

As our communities struggle with soaring inflation, high rents, increased evictions, and, in many cases, more homelessness, it is more important than ever that advocates work together to advance the bold policies and anti-racist reforms needed to ensure stable, affordable, and accessible homes for all people experiencing and at risk of homelessness.

Learn more about Housing First at: https://bit.ly/3ViLyU6

Homelessness and Housing First Webinar Recap: 3/20

More than 10,000 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on March 20! The webinar, “Housing First Serves Veterans and Promotes Recovery,” provided an overview of how the Housing First approach has resulted in deep reductions in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness across our nation and how Recovery Housing fits into the Housing First approach. NAEH CEO Ann Oliva moderated the webinar.

Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), chairman of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, expressed his support for the Housing First approach, which has been credited with reducing veteran homelessness by 11% since 2020 and by over 55% since 2010. “We have had a lot of success getting more veterans into permanent housing over the last decade, and these numbers make clear the Housing First approach works,” said Chairman Tester. “Veterans have the best chance of getting back on their feet when they have a safe place to call home.”

Representative Mike Bost (R-IL), chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, highlighted the success of federal veteran homelessness programs, including HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) and Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), which are based on the Housing First model. These programs have been instrumental in reducing veteran homelessness over the past decade. “This Congress, we will continue working to not only get veterans housed but keep them housed and provide them with the support they need to keep them from falling back into homelessness,” said Chairman Bost.

Representative Mark Takano (D-CA), ranking member of the House’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, stated that committee Democrats are committed to protecting U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) resources and services. “This includes taking the necessary steps to preserve evidence-based Housing First principles, a key tool in the fight to prevent and end veteran homelessness,” said Ranking Member Takano. He noted that Housing First does not mean “housing only.” Rather, Housing First empowers the VA and its partners to quickly house veterans experiencing homelessness and then provide the wraparound services they need to remain housed.

Ann Oliva noted that, as evidenced by the recorded remarks from members of Congress, support for the Housing First approach in veterans’ programs is strong and bipartisan. She encouraged advocates to remind lawmakers that Housing First has been critical to reducing veteran homelessness over the last decade when speaking with them about the need to preserve Housing First.

Monica Diaz, executive director of the VA’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Homeless Programs Office, highlighted the department’s success in reducing veteran homelessness over the last decade and described the key components that have led to this success: Housing First, federal resources, and the VA’s comprehensive portfolio of services. “We practice, believe, reinforce, advocate and say proudly that Housing First is at the cornerstone of every action, program, and initiative because we know that it works,” said Monica Diaz.

Shawn Liu, director of communications for the VHA Homeless Programs Office, defined Housing First and explained the guiding principles of the approach. He emphasized that Housing First includes wraparound services but does not determine who is “housing ready” or demand treatment prior to housing. He discussed the VA’s 2023 goals for preventing and ending homelessness and highlighted how 83 communities and three states have achieved an effective end to veteran homelessness.

Ann Oliva commented on the lessons learned from the successes in reducing veteran homelessness. “This shows that when we have leadership at the federal level, leadership at the state and local level, resources to scale, and good policy and program design, we can actually make the progress that we need to make on veterans, and take what we’ve learned with veterans and apply that to other groups,” she said.

William E. Higgins, Jr. – executive director of Homeless Advocacy for All, at-large officer with lived experience on the Maine Continuum of Care (CoC) Board, and board member of the National Coalition for the Homeless – shared his experience as a veteran who was formerly unhoused. He described how Housing First helped him obtain and maintain housing, emphasized the importance of robust funding for supportive services, and discussed his homeless advocacy work.

Dr. LaMont Green – director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) – shared his personal story of being a veteran who experienced homelessness and addressed how Housing First combined with culturally responsive interventions can help support people experiencing homelessness with substance use disorders. Dr. Green spoke about the effectiveness of the Housing First model and how combining the approach with interventions like supportive housing, harm reduction, recovery supports, and on-demand substance use disorder treatment can help address overdose deaths.

“Often, critics of Housing First complain that it does not accommodate people who want to pursue recovery from substance use, but in fact, as an approach, Housing First is usually tailored to the needs and choices of people who are experiencing homelessness, so it does in fact support the choice to pursue recovery,” explained Ann Oliva. “Housing First supports choice, and choice is incredibly important for folks who are in recovery from homelessness or want to be in recovery from substance use or other challenges in their life.” The Housing First model is premised on choice and provides people in recovery with several options – including supportive housing and recovery housing – to address their health and housing needs. When recovery housing is operated to center individual choice, Housing First and recovery housing can be complementary, not in conflict.

NAEH Chief Policy Officer Steve Berg wrapped up the call by sharing how advocates can take action in support of Housing First and against criminalization. Steve encouraged advocates to urge their members of Congress to support robust homelessness funding, Housing First, and a cost-of-living pay increase for frontline homeless service workers.

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Resources Discussed on the Webinar:

Homelessness and Housing First Webinar Recap: 2/21

More than 9,700 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on February 21! The webinar, “Housing First Promotes Health,” provided an overview of the research on Housing First and health, the important role state governments can have in bringing housing and supportive services together, and the opportunities and challenges for implementing Housing First for people with significant health challenges. The next webinar will be held on Monday, March 20, from 2:30 to 4 pm ET. Register for the series at: https://bit.ly/3vIbn5o

CBPP Vice President for Housing and Income Security Peggy Bailey provided opening remarks, stating that the webinar aims to reset the narrative about housing and health improvements for people who are unhoused. She noted that the webinar will provide advocates with tools to explain how any intervention strategy that perpetuates barriers to housing further harms people physically and mentally, making it even harder for them to exit homelessness. “Housing First, when done properly, which means centering the person who is unhoused and their ability to self-determine their own needs, is a first step towards improving people’s health and stabilizing their lives,” said Peggy.

Dr. Margot Kushel, director of the University of California San Francisco Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, described how housing is foundational to good health and outlined evidence demonstrating that Housing First effectively keeps people housed. She explained that pushbacks against Housing First tend to blame the approach for the root cause of the homelessness crisis: the extreme shortage of homes affordable to people with the lowest incomes. She urged advocates, providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to be clear about the comparison between Housing First – an evidence-based approach – and the alternative approach, Treatment First, which provides neither housing nor treatment. Dr. Kushel discussed the substantial evidence base supporting the Housing First approach, highlighting the fact that all rigorous studies favor Housing First over alternative strategies.

Whitney Joy Howard, housing team unit manager with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, spoke about the implementation of the state’s Medicaid coverage of supportive housing services. She discussed Washington State’s Housing First programs, including the supportive housing services provided by the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA). Whitney shared how ALTSA has developed a collaborative relationship among community partners, providers, and state funders to administer Housing First programs and support service providers.

Christy Respress, president and CEO of Pathways to Housing DC, shared how her organization leverages Housing First to provide housing and services to people with significant health challenges. Sharing her critical perspective as a provider, Christy emphasized that Housing First without services is not Housing First. Christy discussed how Pathways to Housing DC provides customized services based on what people need and what they are asking for, and she described how Pathways layers primary physical health and mental health care into their services.

During a discussion following the presentations, the panelists elaborated on the importance of collaboration among the healthcare, homeless services, and housing systems. Whitney shared how Washington State officials have broken down silos among these systems by building relationships and working together more intentionally to identify how to “consciously couple” resources. She stressed the need to work across federal, state, and local partners and funding resources to ensure there are robust funding streams for housing and services. Whitney added that systems must ensure that the people who are providing services – the people who are making Housing First a reality – are compensated fairly and supported by their supervisors.

Dr. Kushel emphasized earlier points that Housing First is not housing only, and she urged providers to leverage all resources, including Medicaid and other sources of funding, to provide personalized services that match an individual’s needs. She further addressed critiques against Housing First, explaining that while we desperately need to increase the supply of affordable housing for the lowest-income renters, our failure to do so does not suggest that we should revert to ineffective, high-barrier strategies. “Housing First is the best way to use the units that we have while we fight to increase the availability of those units to decrease the insidious effects of racism, income inequality, and the lack of planning and building of affordable housing,” said Dr. Kushel.

Christy acknowledged that services are not funded in many communities, and while this is a challenge, it does not mean that these communities cannot implement Housing First. Instead, they must work harder and more closely with their cross-sector partners to develop creative solutions to serve people who are unhoused. She emphasized the importance of working for long-term policy change to ensure that every community has access to resources while ensuring that every available resource is leveraged to support individuals in need of housing and services. She added that a focus on prevention is key to stopping the pipeline of people entering the homeless system.

Peggy shared how state and local officials, providers, and advocates can make the case for Medicaid expansion by highlighting how Medicaid can cover housing-related services to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. She encouraged advocates to educate stakeholders about how Housing First supports health, including by building alliances with state and local health care providers and leaders, advocating for and helping implement Medicaid coverage of housing-related services, and educating local officials on homelessness and Housing First.

Peggy wrapped up the webinar by inviting attendees to share stories they have collected about how Housing First is benefiting the people they serve. We are hearing more and more from policymakers about the importance of uplifting positive stories about how Housing First is helping people obtain and maintain housing. Please share these stories with NLIHC Senior Policy Analyst Alayna Calabro by emailing [email protected]!

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Homelessness & Housing First Webinar Recap: 1/9

More than 9,040 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on January 9!

The webinar, “A World without Housing First,” addressed what life was like for people experiencing homelessness and homelessness programs before Housing First was widely adopted and what it would mean if our efforts to defend Housing First are unsuccessful. NAEH CEO Ann Oliva began the webinar by addressing anti-Housing First legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives during the last Congress, noting that the legislation’s sponsor will likely seek new opportunities to move the legislation forward during the next two years. She discussed how the rise in the criminalization of homelessness across the country is tied to the anti-Housing First approach and to the flawed assumption that homelessness is the result of personal failures and bad decisions. “We know that the roots of homelessness are systemic and not personal. The truth is that mandating participation in recovery programs or other types of services does not end a person’s homelessness – housing does. Passing a law that forbids someone from being unsheltered and outdoors does not solve homelessness – housing does,” explained Ann.

Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), the ranking member on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, thanked advocates for their commitment to ending homelessness and urged attendees to educate their members of Congress about the real solutions to homelessness and the importance of Housing First. “As the homelessness crisis continues to rise in our nation, it is more important than ever that we use our collective power to fight for affordable housing and promote the importance of Housing First policies. The simple truth is that the Housing First approach is a proven, bipartisan, and evidence-based solution to addressing homelessness,” said Ranking Member Waters.

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, thanked attendees for their dedication to addressing the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, noting that their “focus on Housing First is helping to reduce the number of people who are homeless.” Vice Chair Collins addressed the affordable housing crisis and urged advocates to take action. “The shortage of affordable housing is a growing crisis nationwide. No single entity can successfully resolve this challenge. It requires both commitment and collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels. It also requires strong partnerships between housing and service providers. Your engagement with your elected officials is critical to promoting better understanding of effective approaches, like Housing First,” said Vice Chair Collins.

Kelly King Horne, executive director of Homeward in Richmond, Virginia – one of the nation’s most successful homeless service programs – described what homeless services were like before Housing First and what would be lost if anti-Housing First legislation were enacted into law. Kelly shared how her organization embraced Housing First and shifted from a “first-come, first-served” approach to serving the individuals most in need of assistance. “When we adopted Housing First, the biggest impact that we saw was community clarity and accountability. We really began to understand that we could end homelessness. It didn’t mean that we had solved all of the world’s problems, but that more limited and more targeted goal had a huge impact on our community, on all of us, and on the neighbors we were working with to get into housing,” explained Kelly.

Dr. Sam Tsemberis, founder of the Housing First model and CEO of the Pathways Housing First Institute, addressed what homelessness was like before Housing First and explained how the implementation of Housing First has shifted the overall system of homeless services. Dr. Tsemberis described the world before Housing First as a world of homeless services that did not offer a direct exit out of homelessness, especially for people struggling with addiction or mental health problems. He argued that ending homelessness is an achievable and powerful goal. “I don’t want to improve the homeless service system; I want to end homelessness,” said Dr. Tsemberis.

Crissy Canganelli, executive director of Shelter House in Iowa City, shared how her organization shifted from a focus on transitional housing to fully embracing Housing First. She spoke about the paradigm shift that occurred as Shelter House undertook the “hard and necessary work to realign [its] culture, shift from managing homelessness to ending it, build new partnerships, and find new champions.” Crissy emphasized that unsheltered homelessness would increase if the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) were to back away from Housing First.

Donald Whitehead, Jr., executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, addressed the impact of criminalization and anti-Housing First legislation on people experiencing homelessness and reminded listeners about the importance of centering the voices of people with lived experience. Donald ended his remarks by emphasizing the underlying causes and solutions to homelessness: “Homelessness is solvable, it is a structural issue, and we need to address those issues. We need to produce more housing, and we can end homelessness in America.”

NAEH Chief Policy Officer Steve Berg wrapped up the call by sharing how advocates can engage with their members of Congress on Housing First and counter efforts to undermine proven solutions to homelessness. Steve encouraged advocates to educate their Congressional delegation on homelessness solutions and build local alliances to promote Housing First in their communities. He invited advocates to sign their organization on to a statement of values opposing criminalization.

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Take Action!

We encourage all advocates to educate your elected officials about the importance of Housing First and the need for robust investments in affordable housing and homelessness resources. Use this advocacy toolkit published by NLIHC. The toolkit includes everything you’ll need to engage your elected officials, including talking points, tips for scheduling in-district meetings and tours of affordable housing developments, social media messages, and more.

Resources Discussed on the Webinar:

Homelessness & Housing First Webinar Recap: 12/12

More than 7,800 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on December 12!

The webinar, “Threats to Housing First,” began with opening remarks from Sarah Saadian, NLIHC senior vice president of public policy and field organizing. Sarah provided an overview of federal, state, and local efforts to undermine Housing First and other proven solutions to homelessness. She discussed harmful statewide criminalization legislation promoted by the Cicero Institute and the “Housing PLUS Act” (H.R. 6018), introduced by Representative Andy Barr (R-KY), which would undermine HUD’s ability to prioritize evidence-based solutions like Housing First.

Marc Dones, CEO of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA), addressed the importance of Housing First and why it should be preserved. They highlighted that Housing First is the most effective – and cost-effective – approach to rapidly housing people experiencing homelessness and moving them into permanent housing. Marc noted that because King County’s efforts are oriented towards rapidly housing people, legislation that would divert federal homeless assistance funds to non-Housing First programs would defund most of KCRHA’s portfolio.

George Eklund, director of education and advocacy at the Coalition for the Homeless in Louisville, discussed emerging threats to Housing First in Kentucky. He explained how Representative Barr’s efforts to divert federal homeless assistance funds to high-barrier programs would decrease local homeless assistance funding; limit local innovation, self-control, and flexibility; and fundamentally change how local homelessness programs operate in Louisville.

Marqueia Watson, executive director of the Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness, addressed the criminalization of homelessness in Missouri, calling attention to a Cicero Institute bill passed in the state legislature this year. She discussed local advocacy efforts to fight back against the bill, including her ongoing conversations with state legislators and the Cicero Institute. Marqueia spoke about her participation in the NAEH-led convening of advocacy groups opposing similar harmful legislation in their states.

Shams DaBaron, a homeless advocate in New York City, shared about the impact of criminalization on people experiencing homelessness. Shams emphasized the role of systemic racism in our country’s homelessness crisis and in the criminalization of homelessness. He highlighted the need to incorporate the voices of people with lived experience in developing solutions.

NLIHC’s Sarah Saadian concluded the meeting by outlining opportunities for advocates to engage their members of Congress on the importance of Housing First. She highlighted resources advocates can use to push back against misguided efforts to undermine Housing First and criminalize homelessness.

We have uploaded the presentation slides from the call.

Take Action:

We encourage all advocates to educate your elected officials about the importance of Housing First and the need for robust investments in affordable housing and homelessness resources. Consider using this advocacy toolkit published by NLIHC. The toolkit includes everything you’ll need to engage your elected officials, including talking points, tips for scheduling in-district meetings and tours of affordable housing developments, social media messages, and more.

Resources Discussed on the Webinar:

Homelessness & Housing First Webinar Recap: 9/28

The fourth Homelessness and Housing First webinar – the last in a four-part series hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) – took place on September 28.

The webinar, “How to Address Unsheltered Homelessness,” began with opening remarks from Ann Oliva, CEO of NAEH. Debbie Thiele, managing director for the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) in the Western U.S., and Marcella Maguire, director for health systems integration at CSH, discussed addressing unsheltered homelessness as a public health issue and provided attendees with examples of how to better connect housing with services.

Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), provided an overview of USICH’s seven principles for addressing encampments.

Dr. Bambie Hayes-Brown, president and CEO of Georgia ACT, discussed emerging threats to Housing First in Georgia and explained how advocates have pushed back against harmful legislation. Attendees then heard from Marcella Middleton, executive director of A Way Home America, who overviewed how criminalizing homelessness harms youth experiencing homelessness and discussed A Way Home America’s New Deal to End Youth Homelessness.

Sarah Saadian, NLIHC senior vice president for public policy and field organizing, outlined opportunities for advocates to engage their members of Congress on the importance of Housing First and the need for robust investments in affordable housing and homelessness resources.

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Take Action:

Resources Discussed on the Webinar:

Homelessness & Housing First Webinar Recap: 9/12

More than 6,300 people registered for the third Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on September 12. Thank you to all who attended!

The webinar, “Long-Term Solutions and Successful Strategies,” began with opening remarks from Peggy Bailey, vice president for housing policy at CBPP. Peggy and NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel provided an overview of long-term solutions to end homelessness and discussed immediate legislative and administrative opportunities to advance these priorities.

Lisa Glow, CEO of the Central Arizona Shelter Services, discussed emerging threats in Arizona, calling attention to a Cicero Institute bill introduced in the state legislature this year. She discussed the importance of building relationships with lawmakers across the aisle and educating elected officials on the importance of Housing First.

Mindy Woods, a leader with the Resident Action Project, discussed the impact of harmful legislation on people with lived experience of homelessness. Mindy emphasized the need to educate the public and elected officials about homelessness and to incorporate the voices of people with lived experience in developing solutions.

Kathryn Monet, CEO of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, and John Meier, manager of the support services for veteran families program at the West Central Texas Council of Governments, discussed how Housing First has been used to end veteran homelessness.

We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Take Action:

We encourage all advocates to educate your elected officials about the importance of Housing First and the need for robust investments in affordable housing and homelessness resources. You can take action by:

  • Participating in a Virtual Capitol Hill Day hosted by NAEH today (Wednesday, September 14). Contact Jerry Jones at [email protected] for more details.
  • Using a new advocacy toolkit published by NLIHC. The toolkit includes everything you’ll need to engage your elected officials, including talking points, tips for scheduling in-district meetings and tours of affordable housing developments, social media messages, and more.

Upcoming Webinar:

Register for the final webinar, “How to Address Unsheltered Homelessness,” taking place on Wednesday, September 28, from 2:30 to 4 pm ET. Register at: https://bit.ly/3vIbn5o 

Resources discussed on the call:

Homelessness & Housing First Webinar Recap: 8/29

More than 5,500 people registered for the Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on August 29! Thank you to all who attended!

The webinar, “Homelessness is a Housing Problem,” began with a presentation by Gregg Colburn, a professor at the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments. Professor Colburn shared research he conducted with data journalist Clayton Aldern that found that housing market conditions – not mental illness, drug use, poverty, weather, generosity of public assistance, or low income mobility – explain why some communities have higher rates of homelessness than others.
 
Ana Rausch and Jessica Preheim of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County shared how Houston has used Housing First to successfully house 25,000 people experiencing homelessness.
 
Dora Leong Gallo of A Community of Friends provided an overview of Housing First and explained how the strategy is fundamental to ending homelessness for people with disabilities and substance use disorders.
 
Sarah Owsley of Empower Missouri spoke about harmful legislation recently enacted in her state that criminalizes homelessness, undermines Housing First, and redirects funding that would have been used to address long-term housing needs to instead create encampments.
 
Bonnie Harper of Partners Behavioral Health Management and Michele Knapp of Diakonos/Fifth Street Ministries shared best practices identified during their recent roundtable discussion with elected officials, health experts, and the faith-based community on the importance of Housing First.
 
Steve Berg of NAEH also joined the call to share how advocates can take action to advance the bold policies and anti-racist reforms needed to ensure all people have safe, stable, affordable, and accessible places to call home.
 
We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

Take Action:

Advocates can participate in a Virtual Capitol Hill Day hosted by NAEH on Wednesday, September 14! Use this opportunity to speak with your members of Congress about the importance of Housing First and the need for robust investments in affordable housing and homelessness resources. If you have any questions or would like help setting up virtual meetings, please reach out to Jerry Jones at [email protected].

You can also use a new advocacy toolkit published by NLIHC. The toolkit includes everything you’ll need to engage your elected officials, including talking points, tips for scheduling in-district meetings and tours of affordable housing developments, social media messages, and more.

Upcoming Webinars:

  • Monday, September 12 - “Long-Term Solutions and Successful Strategies”
  • Wednesday, September 28 - “How to Address Unsheltered Homelessness”

Each webinar in the four-part series will take place from 2:30 to 4:00 pm ET. Register for the new series at: https://bit.ly/3vIbn5o

Resources discussed on the call:

Homelessness & Housing First Webinar Recap: 8/15 

Thank you to the over 4500 people who registered for the first Homelessness and Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) on August 15!

The webinar, “Emerging Threats Facing People Experiencing Homelessness,” began with remarks from NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel, NAEH CEO Ann Oliva, and CBPP Vice President for Housing Policy Peggy Bailey. Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, president and CEO of the St. Joseph Center in Los Angeles, California, provided an overview of Housing First and explained how its guiding insight – that prioritizing access to permanent, stable, accessible, and affordable housing is a prerequisite for effective psychiatric and substance use treatment and for improving quality of life – is fundamental to ending homelessness. Eric Tars, legal director of the National Homelessness Law Center, discussed emerging threats to Housing First, and Donald Whitehead, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, spoke about the impact of these threats on people experiencing homelessness. NLIHC Senior Vice President of Policy and Field Organizing Sarah Saadian, NAEH Vice President for Programs and Policy Steve Berg, and CBPP Manager of Government Affairs Alex Berger also joined the call to share how advocates can take action to advance the bold policies and anti-racist reforms needed to ensure all people have safe, stable, affordable, and accessible places to call home. We have uploaded a recording of the call, as well as the presentation slides.

We encourage all advocates to participate in a Virtual Capitol Hill Day hosted by NAEH on Wednesday, September 14! Advocates can use this opportunity to speak with their members of Congress about the importance of Housing First and the need for robust investments in affordable housing and homelessness resources. If you have any questions or would like help setting up virtual meetings, please reach out to Jerry Jones at [email protected].

You can also use a new advocacy toolkit published by NLIHC. The toolkit includes everything you’ll need to engage your elected officials, including talking points, tips for scheduling in-district meetings and tours of affordable housing developments, social media messages, and more.

Upcoming Webinars:

  • Monday, August 29 - “Homelessness is a Housing Problem”
  • Monday, September 12 - “Long-Term Solutions and Successful Strategies”
  • Wednesday, September 28 - “How to Address Unsheltered Homelessness”

Each webinar in the four-part series will take place from 2:30 to 4:00 pm ET. Register for the series at: https://bit.ly/3vIbn5o

Resources discussed on the 8/15 call: