Housing First

What is Housing First?

It is a philosophy that, with some help, most homeless families are capable of maintaining their own housing and can best work on their issues once in their own housing.

Why Housing First?

The Homeless Families Foundation has found that families need stability first in order to focus on addressing the issues that may have led to their homeless state.  If parents have to worry about finding a safe place to sleep, or where to find the next meal for their family, they will be unable to focus on other issues of major importance, e.g., finding employment, improving their education, addressing addiction or domestic violence.

The HFF rapid re-housing model assists each family in finding housing and getting settled.  The Case Managers meet with the family to assess their situation, and together, they write up a goal plan to achieve stability and maintain their permanent housing.  Once a family is in permanent housing, the Case Manager assists the family in sustaining connections with services in the community to help the family maintain housing.