Housing is the starting point, not the finish line

When communities talk about addressing homelessness, “Housing First” becomes a shorthand phrase; sometimes praised, sometimes misunderstood. At its core, Housing First is a simple idea: people need a safe, stable place to live before they can effectively address other challenges in their lives. But it is not, and has never been, a “housing only” solution.

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One common misconception is that people experiencing homelessness choose to be homeless or refuse housing when it is offered. Local homeless service providers track this closely, and the data tells a different story. When appropriate housing is offered, fewer than 10% of individuals decline placement. The overwhelming majority want a place of their own; a door that locks, a space that is safe, and the stability most of us take for granted.

People experience homelessness for many reasons. Some are fleeing domestic violence. Some lose housing due to job loss, medical debt, rising rents, or fixed incomes that no longer keep pace with the cost of living. Others live with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or disabilities, but these challenges are not universal, nor are they moral failings. They are part of the human experience and deserve practical, compassionate responses.

Housing First recognizes this complexity. It does not assume everyone needs the same services, nor does it require participation in treatment as a condition of housing. Instead, it pairs housing with individualized supports, such as case management, health care access, employment assistance, and life-skills coaching that are based on each person’s goals and needs. For some, light-touch support is enough. For others, ongoing and intensive services are essential to maintaining long-term stability.

At the same time, Housing First does not suggest that housing alone will “solve” homelessness. Homeless service providers are often expected to address a systemic issue largely on their own, despite homelessness being shaped by housing supply, wages, health care access, and public policy decisions far beyond any single organization’s control. Without adequate supports, landlord partnerships, and sustained community-wide investment, people can fall back into crisis. Housing is the starting point, not the finish line.

If we want real progress, we must move past stereotypes and the assumption that people choose homelessness. Housing First works because it combines stability with support. Solving homelessness requires a shared commitment across many systems, not just the efforts of those closest to the crisis.

Alicia Faust is executive director of Willis Dady Homeless Services.