HOW follows the Housing First model for assisting individuals and families experiencing homelessness. But Housing First isn't just a tagline, it's a guiding philosophy for empowering people as they rebuild their lives.
Housing First is the belief that people need basic necessities, like a safe home and food, before they can attend to other needs, like getting a job, budgeting, making healthcare appointments, or entering a substance abuse recovery program. Housing First doesn't require clients to solve their problems before they can get a home, because people are more likely to achieve their goals and gain stability
after they have safe shelter.
Studies have shown that Permanent Supportive Housing programs like HOW's have a long-term housing retention rate (meaning that clients remain in secure housing over a period of years) of 98%. Another study found an average cost savings on emergency services of $31,545 per person housed in a Housing First program over the course of two years.
|