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:
- Housing First Resources
- Fact Sheet: Housing First Works
- Learn more about the “Housing PLUS Act”
- NLIHC’s The Gap
- NLIHC’s Out of Reach
- HUD 2021 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR), Part 2
- HUD’s 2022 Special Notice of Funding Opportunity
- HUD Spring/Summer “Evidence Matters” Quarterly on Housing First
- Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Protect Renters
- UCSF California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness
- Santa Clara Project Welcome Home
Upcoming Webinar:
Register for the next Homelessness and Housing First webinar, which will take place on Monday, September 11, from 2:30 to 4 pm ET. The webinar will address the challenges involved in messaging about the success of Housing First.
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Background:
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