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 homeless service providers across the country have housed 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 the inflow of people into 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 participants’ entrances and trajectories to homelessness, mental health and substance use challenges, barriers to exiting homelessness, and more. Dr. Moore addressed 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 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. Learn more about the evidence supporting Housing First here.
During the moderated discussion, panelists explored 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.
Did you miss the previous webinars on homelessness and Housing First? Check out the webinar recaps, including links to the recordings and presentation slides.
The next webinar will be held on Monday, September 11, from 2:30 to 4 pm ET. Register for the series at: https://bit.ly/3vIbn5o
Read more about Housing First at: https://bit.ly/3vHf8YR