Best Practice

Housing First Policy

A Housing First policy recognizes housing as the necessary first intervention for individuals experiencing homelessness - before any other assistance - because housing provides an individual the stability needed to receive additional services and to find work.

Cost

Supportive housing costs per individual experiencing homelessness average $12,800, but these are usually more than offset by the reduced costs to public services like emergency care.

Timeframe

Education, advocacy, and implementation of the policy could take 1-2 years; implementation is on-going.

Code

Collaboration / Partnerships, Education, Government, Homelessness, Housing Supply

Challenge

Affordable Housing

Practice Tool

Policy / Regulation

Population

Homeless

Setting

Urban and Rural