Housing First

Some of us are attending a virtual conference put on by the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)this week. One of the first sessions was on Housing First, something that we practice as an approach to homelessness here in Racine. NAEH vice president, Steve Berg, introduced the concept of housing first:

"This is what we mean by Housing First: that homelessness is a problem with a solution, and that the solution is housing. For everyone. Whether you follow the rules or not. Whether you are “compliant” with treatment or not. Whether you have a criminal record or not. Whether you have been on the streets for one day or ten years. Permanent housing is what ends homelessness. It is the platform from which people can continue to grow and thrive in their communities."

HOPES remains committed to the housing first approach to homelessness in Racine.