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Housing First

An Effective Practice

Description

Housing First is a housing program that seeks to quickly move homeless individuals and families from shelters to permanent housing. After a family enters a shelter or another homeless service program, the family is assigned to a housing search specialist, case manager, or a team of staff that may include an employment specialist, a stabilization worker, and a financial manager. Housing First staff also work to assess barriers and develop individual service plans.

After a family is placed in housing, case management services are provided to enhance the stabilization process and increase the family's chances of maintaining their housing.

Goal / Mission

The goal of Housing First is to move families into stable and affordable housing.

Results / Accomplishments

In its first three years of operation, Housing First placed over 1,000 families in permanent housing. In addition, over 400 families received financial education/counseling, over 250 families succeeded in increase their income, and over 80% of families established a working budget. By providing permanent housing to families and individuals, rather than shelters and motel rooms, there is a $9,000 reduction in housing costs per person.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
Primary Contact
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
51 Sleeper St
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 624-8000
info@supportunitedway.org
http://supportunitedway.org/housing/housing-first
Topics
Economy / Housing & Homes
Organization(s)
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
Date of publication
Aug 2010
Date of implementation
2007
Location
New Hampshire and Massachusetts
For more details
http://supportunitedway.org/files/YEAR%203%20UW%20...
Target Audience
Families

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  6. Home Again: A Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Portland and Multnomah County

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Related Content for: Housing First

An Effective Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success and/or promise in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures of improvement in outcome of interest (i.e. increase in voter registration, not just delivery of voter registration drive) and/ or the outcome measure is increased or improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant.