Housing First Opportunities and
Barriers
South Central Pennsylvania
Housing Recovery Summit
April 29, 2014
Presented by:
 Diana T. Myers, Diana T. Myers & Associates, Inc.
 Jennifer Johnson, Franklin/Fulton County MH/ID/EI
 Ben Laudermilch, Cumberland/Perry Housing and
Redevelopment Authority
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Purpose of the Session

To provide a brief overview of:
– the Housing First model;
– the experience of operating a Housing
First program;
– the pros/cons of housing first to
consider when deciding to implement
this approach.
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What is Housing First?
The Housing First Approach is to
move homeless individuals into
permanent affordable housing as
quickly as possible and to support
them with relevant services in
order to achieve long-term
stability.
3
“Housing is the Cure for
Homelessness. It’s that simple.”
Dr. Sam Tsemberis
Pathways to Housing
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Presumption:
Once housing stability is achieved,
clients are better prepared to
address mental health, substance
abuse and other issues.
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What are the Key Principles of
Housing First?
 Housing
is NOT the Next Step
after Jumping through Many
Hoops
6
What are the Key Principles of
Housing First?
 Housing
is a Basic Human Right
 Housing is Not Contingent Upon
Compliance with Services
 The Focus is on Accessing Housing as
Quickly as Possible
 Housing is Not Time Limited; it is
Permanent and Affordable
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What are the Key Principles of
Housing First?
A
Variety of Services are Delivered to
Promote Housing and Income
Stability, and to Promote SelfSufficiency and Well-Being
 Services are Provided Only as Long as
Needed Following Housing Placement
 Services Can be Minimal or Intensive
Depending on the Individual
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Housing First Evidence Based
Practice Model
Pathways to Housing, New York, New York
 Target Population
– Sheltered and Unsheltered Homeless
Families and Individuals who were
Difficult to House or Had Difficulty
Maintaining Housing
– Chronically Homeless Individuals (with
Disabilities, Generally Serious Mental
Illness and Often Co-occurring Disorders)

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Pathways to Housing
New York, New York

Strong Outreach and Engagement

Services Community-Based & Client-Driven
- Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), PACT,
CTT Team Approach for Chronic/Hard to Serve
– ACT teams meet homeless where they are (jails,
hospitals, street), when ready, move them directly to
permanent homes
- Wraparound Case Management, Services Customized
to Individual, Delivered by a Team of Practitioners
and Available 24-7.

Permanent Housing Options ‘Available
– Section 8 vouchers, S+C
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Other Housing First Models

2008 McKinney Rapid Rehousing for
Families Demonstration Program
– Expanded Housing First Concept to Families
with Children
 Households with Dependent Children Residing on
the Streets or in Shelter
 Households with Moderate Barriers
 Centralized Intake
 Supportive Services including Housing Placement
Example: Beyond Shelter in Los Angeles
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Other Housing First Models

Franklin/Fulton County MH/ID/EI
– Hybrid Model

Cumberland and Perry Housing and
Redevelopment Authority
– Pilot Program
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2014 HUD Policy

HUD set a goal for 75% of the permanent
supportive housing (PSH) programs in
each Continuum of Care to use a “Housing
First Approach:”
Goal: To ensure people in greatest need
of PSH are not screened out from
participation
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Key Elements of New
Housing First Approach
1. No barriers to entry (sobriety, income,
rental, credit or criminal histories)
2. Simple application process to house
eligible households as quickly as
possible (even those with greatest
barriers)
3. Project participation requirements do
not include service participation,
sobriety or medication compliance
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What are Key Components?
 Drug
Tolerance Policy
 Providing Housing that Clients Like
 Diverse Funding Streams for Housing
and Services
 Strategies to Overcome Loneliness
and Isolation
 Staffing that Provides Responsive
Service Delivery
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What are Possible Pitfalls?
Inconsistent Outreach and Engagement
 Absence of Qualified/Committed
Staff/Service Providers
 Inflexible Rules and Policies
 Lack of Housing Options
 Insufficient Support/Integration
into the Community
 Lack of R-e-s-p-e-c-t

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