Housing First is a proven evidence-based approach to addressing homelessness. However, programs operating under the Housing First model do not receive the necessary funding to meet the needs of all people experiencing homelessness.
In 2022, homeless response systems only had the capacity to place 16.0% of households who were served in the nation’s shelters into permanent housing. Housing everyone who experiences sheltered homelessness during a given year would be a substantial step forward in ending homelessness.
In this study, we ask: What would it cost to provide a Housing First placement to every household staying in a homeless shelter throughout the United States?