You may be asking what is housing first, especially if you are rebuilding after prison or a hard stretch. It is an approach that gives people stable housing quickly, with no sobriety or treatment prerequisites, then offers voluntary support.
This guide is part of our wider coverage of affordable housing, where Housing First sits alongside other ways of getting and keeping a home.
| Key fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Stably housed after 6 months (Housing First vs control group) | 79% vs 27% |
| Still housed after five years (Pathways to Housing vs control group) | 88% vs 47% |
| Housed the whole two years in the Canada study (Housing First vs treatment before housing) | 62% vs 31% |
| Decrease in homelessness compared with Treatment First (review of 26 studies) | 88% |
| Reduction in arrests among Denver SIB participants | 40% |
These figures come from the NAEH and NLIHC research handout and the NAEH Housing First evidence sheet. Figures can change, so check the sources before you rely on them.
How Housing First works
Housing First puts permanent, stable housing at the front of the process. The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) and the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) explain the reasoning this way: stable housing is a prerequisite for effective psychiatric and substance abuse treatment and for improving quality of life.
Services come second, and they are voluntary. NAEH lists voluntary supportive services such as:
- Case management
- Mental health treatment
- Substance use services
- Supported employment services
Two program types commonly use the model. Rapid rehousing offers shorter-term rental assistance to people who can quickly become housing stable, while permanent supportive housing offers long-term housing assistance and services for people with chronic health conditions, according to the same NAEH evidence sheet.
The model grew out of programs such as Pathways to Housing, which the research handout calls one of the early versions of Housing First. NLIHC adds that it was first developed for people with serious psychiatric or substance use disorders who had been homeless for long periods, then extended to all homeless populations.
Housing First versus Treatment First
NAEH describes Treatment First programs as ones that create high barriers to housing by requiring people to meet health or employment goals before they receive housing. Housing First reverses that order.
According to NLIHC’s 2022 Advocates’ Guide, access to Housing First programs is not contingent upon any of the following:
- Minimum income requirements
- Sobriety
- Criminal history
- Successful completion of a treatment program
- Participation in supportive services
The criminal history point matters if you are coming home from incarceration. It describes how the model is designed, and individual programs can differ, so ask each one how it works.
What the research shows
Early evidence came from Pathways to Housing in New York City. In a random assignment study, 79% of participants remained stably housed at the end of 6 months, compared with 27% in the control group. After five years, 88% of Pathways participants remained housed, compared with 47% of the control group.
Canada then tested the model at scale. Its evaluation covered five cities and over 2,000 participants. After two years, 62 percent of Housing First participants were housed the whole time, compared with 31 percent of those required to take part in treatment before receiving housing.
A systematic review of 26 studies, cited by NAEH, found that Housing First programs decreased homelessness by 88% and improved housing stability by 41% compared with Treatment First programs. A meta-analysis cited by NLIHC found that 65-85% of people in Housing First programs stayed housed over the next two years, against 23-39% in programs emphasizing treatment first.
A common worry is that housing without conditions increases drug or alcohol use. The research handout reports little difference in substance use and psychiatric symptoms between Housing First and other models. NAEH says fears of increased use have not been supported by research.
Does Housing First help people leaving jail or prison?
Some evidence points that way, though it is not specific to every reentry situation. The Denver Supportive Housing Social Impact Bond Initiative, launched in 2016, found that supportive housing through a Housing First approach can help people exit homelessness, decrease incarceration and remain housed.
Among Denver SIB participants, the share still in stable housing was:
- 86% one year after entering housing
- 81% after two years
- 77% after three years
The same participants had fewer encounters with the justice system:
- 34% fewer police contacts
- 40% fewer arrests
- 30% fewer unique jail stays
- 27% fewer total jail days
These results concern people with long histories of homelessness. They do not promise the same outcome for everyone leaving prison.
Cost and federal backing
The Canada study included an economic analysis. Every $10 invested in Housing First services produced an average saving of $9.60 for high-needs participants and $3.42 for moderate-needs participants. For the 10 percent of participants with the highest costs at study entry, the saving was $21.72 per $10.
The handout also says studies show Housing First reduces hospital visits, admissions and the length of hospital stays among homeless individuals.
As of the NAEH and NLIHC handout dated January 2020, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and HUD cite Housing First as a best practice.
NLIHC’s Advocates’ Guide, as of its 2022 edition, says both agencies had endorsed it under Republican and Democratic administrations. It also says the Trump administration sought to replace Housing First models with programs requiring treatment or sobriety. Federal priorities have shifted between administrations, so check HUD’s latest guidance.
Questions to ask a local program
NAEH notes that people in programs with greater fidelity to Housing First principles are more likely to remain housed. Not every program that uses the label follows the model closely, so it helps to ask:
- Is there a minimum income requirement?
- Do I need to be sober or finish treatment before I move in?
- Does a criminal record affect eligibility?
- Are the support services voluntary?
Private landlords run their own checks, and the guide on tenant screening criminal background check explains how those work. Rent help is a separate piece, and our guide on how does a housing choice voucher work walks through that program.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Housing First for?
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It began with people who had been homeless for long periods and had serious psychiatric or substance use disorders. NLIHC says it was later extended to all homeless populations, and NAEH describes it as flexible enough to fit youth, older adults and others.
Does Housing First mean no support services?
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No. The model pairs housing with voluntary services such as case management and mental health treatment. NLIHC’s 2022 guide calls the claim that Housing First does not provide supportive services false.
Does Housing First increase substance use?
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The research cited by NAEH and NLIHC does not support that fear. One study found that participants reduced alcohol use and the likelihood of intoxication, even though they were not required to abstain to stay housed.
Can I get into a Housing First program with a criminal record?
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NLIHC says the model does not make access contingent on criminal history. Individual programs and funders can set their own rules, so ask the program directly before you apply.
