Outreach Cooridinator 
Housing First refers to situations where the approach, designed to address homelessness by prioritizing providing permanent housing without preconditions.
Here are a few examples of what Housing First with out preconditions might look like:
1. Inability to Retain Housing
- One key measure of success in the Housing First model is the ability of participants to maintain their housing long-term. Failure would involve participants losing their housing after being placed, whether due to financial instability, issues with landlords, or behavioral concerns. For example:
- Individuals may struggle with substance use or mental health issues, leading to conflict with landlords or neighbors, evictions, or abandonment of housing.
- The housing provided might not meet the specific needs of the individual, leading to voluntary departures (e.g., feeling unsafe in a particular neighborhood).
2. Insufficient Support Services
- Housing First is not just about housing; it also involves providing supportive services such as mental health care, substance use treatment, and employment support. A failure scenario could occur if these services are underfunded, poorly coordinated, or simply unavailable.
- Individuals might not receive the treatment or support they need to stabilize their lives, leading to a return to homelessness.
- High caseloads for social workers or limited resources can mean that participants don’t receive adequate follow-up care.
3. Mismatch Between Housing and Individual Needs
- A critical component of Housing First is that the housing is meant to be permanent and appropriate for the person’s needs. If the housing offered is inappropriate, it may lead to failure:
- Housing may be located far from essential services like clinics, food sources, or job opportunities, leading to isolation or inability to access support.
- For people with mobility issues or other disabilities, if the housing isn’t fully accessible, it might not be sustainable long-term.
4. Community Pushback or NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard)
- Communities may resist the introduction of Housing First programs, especially if there is fear or stigma attached to homelessness. If local opposition leads to poor site selection or policies that undercut the program’s effectiveness, the project can fail.
- Local governments may impose restrictions or provide inadequate funding or support for these projects.
- Resistance from neighbors can create a hostile environment for Housing First participants.
5. Inadequate Long-Term Funding
- Housing First programs require sustainable funding for housing and support services. Failure could occur if long-term funding isn’t secured.
- Without continued financial support, individuals may lose their housing or essential services (mental health support, addiction services, etc.) could be scaled back or eliminated.
- Municipalities may start the program with short-term grants but struggle to maintain funding after initial phases.
6. Focus on Quantity Over Quality
- If the goal becomes primarily about housing large numbers of people without ensuring the housing is appropriate and the services are comprehensive, it could lead to participants being housed in unsuitable or unsustainable situations.
- Poorly maintained housing units, inadequate support networks, or unsafe environments can exacerbate issues rather than help resolve them.
7. Continued Cycles of Homelessness
- The ultimate failure would be if the Housing First model does not reduce long-term homelessness in a meaningful way. This could happen if:
- People cycle in and out of housing due to ongoing struggles with addiction, trauma, or economic instability.
- Chronic homelessness persists in the area despite Housing First initiatives, indicating that the root causes aren’t being effectively addressed.
In summary, a Housing First failure occurs when the program does not effectively meet the long-term housing, health, and social needs of participants, often due to systemic issues, inadequate support, or poor execution.
https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2023/07/90060/
New York
https://www.city-journal.org/article/housing-first-what-would-failure-look-like
California
https://www.supervisorjimdesmond.com/the_failures_of_housing_first
