Housing First

Housing First differs from other homelessness services because it immediately provides homeless people with either secure independent or communal housing. This means that Housing First gives homeless people ‘housing first’ before it does anything else. Housing First ‘separates’ housing and support. This ‘separation’ means that homeless people are immediately given secure housing without being required to enter psychiatric treatment or becoming abstinent from drugs and alcohol. In addition, homeless people can remain in the secure housing provided by a Housing First service without there being any expectation that they comply with psychiatric treatment or stop drinking alcohol or using drugs. Housing First services use a ‘harm reduction’ approach that attempts to stabilise and reduce mental health problems, problematic drug and alcohol use. Housing First services also have ‘recovery orientation’ that aims to encourage homeless people away from behaviour that is causing them harm.