The surprisingly simple way Utah solved chronic homelessness and saved millions, By Terrence McCoy, April 17, 2015, Washington Post: “The story of how Utah solved chronic homelessness begins in 2003, inside a cavernous Las Vegas banquet hall populated by droves of suits. The problem at hand was seemingly intractable. The number of chronic homeless had surged since the early 1970s. And related costs were soaring. A University of Pennsylvania study had just showed New York City was dropping a staggering $40,500 in annual costs on every homeless person with mental problems, who account for many of the chronically homeless. So that day, as officials spit-balled ideas, a social researcher named Sam Tsemberis stood to deliver what he framed as a surprisingly simple, cost-effective method of ending chronic homelessness. Give homes to the homeless…”
Tag: Housing First
Housing First – Wyoming
Casper officials tout early successes of year-old Housing First program, By Tom Dixon, March 10, 2015, Casper Star-Tribune: “Samantha Ludvigson often leaves food outside her house for people who live on the streets. Last fall, she cooked Thanksgiving dinner and invited homeless people to her Casper residence to eat. Ludvigson does what she can for them because she knows what it’s like. Until a year ago, she was homeless, too. Ludvigson was the first person selected for a pilot program started by Casper Housing Authority in March 2014. It’s called Housing First, and the idea is to shelter people before tackling the underlying issues that lead to homelessness, such as substance abuse and mental illness. Proponents say the program will help reduce a growing problem in Casper and save taxpayer money…”
Housing First
“Housing first” approach works for homeless, study says, By Fredrick Kunkle, March 4, 2015, Washington Post: “A new Canadian study lends backing for a commonsense approach to moving people off the street that has been used in the District and other U.S. cities since the 1990s: Ensure that the homeless receive permanent shelter first, and their chances of achieving stability will increase. Known as the ‘housing first’ approach, the program offers social support as well. But it emphasizes finding secure shelter in the community first, in contrast to homeless programs that insist on preconditions such as sobriety or psychiatric care and moving through transitional housing.