​What is the Housing First program?

The Housing First program has been a common tactic to reduce and combat homelessness. The program is to support homeless individuals to have a stable life in the community by providing permanent housing.

 

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, up to 91% of households remain housed a year after being rapidly re-housed. Meanwhile, the rates of returning to homelessness among single adults exiting emergency shelters are 46% [5]. This high retention rate under the program suggests the effectiveness of the Housing First program to be continued to help make substantial gains in preventing and ending homelessness. 

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However, when it comes to the retention rate among homeless people with mental illness, 23% of them returned to homelessness within two years due to risk factors such as psychiatric symptoms and substance abuse [6]. Mental illness gives individuals not only social disadvantages but also makes it more difficult for them to retain housing due to a lack of motivation for a stable life and limited access to services.  

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