Housing First (HF) Model: Case Study

Intervention Brief and Description

The growing use of evidence base practices (EBP) take into account the efficacy of treatment. More than just relying on empirical data, the use of EBP, provides a more comprehensive base for intervention. By following clinical practice guidelines for treatment and relying on key ingredients, the Housing First (HF) model, is an approach to quickly and successfully connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing without preconditions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment or service participation requirements.

It is important to understand that the homeless epidemic is not unique to the Skid Row area as it 's important to also realize that the overall community approach

Although, HF models have worked in some parts of the country, lack of understanding at the organizational level in some places has rendered the diffusion of HF characteristics ineffective in other places. Understanding that the key ingredients are critical for success, goes along with promoting a culture that prioritized housing programs with greater fidelity to consumer participation components. Components outline in the case study; Understanding the Critical Ingredients for Facilitating Consumer Change in Housing First Programming, illustrate six ingredients that have proven to have great impact within such intervention (Watson, Wagner, Rivers, 2013). Amongst the ingredients that were identified were (1) a low-threshold admissions policy, (2) harm reduction, (3) eviction prevention, (4) reduced service requirements, (5) separation of housing and services, and (6) consumer education (Watson, Wagner, Rivers, 2013). Fully embracing the harm reduction component in a HF model is critical for success. Failure to understand and foster the principles of this step can stifle any meaningful impact and cripple consumer

By forming coalitions and courting investors both in the political spectrum and the private sector can also help raise funds for leasing new affordable housing or living spaces like the ones seen through out the inner city in where candidates for vacancy are those consider in direct need of housing and those with a history of chronic homelessness. Expenditures should be concentrated in the effort of preventing homelessness by developing a comprehensive system that provides coordinated services through outreach and case management. Already the city of Los Angeles has estimated spending 1.87 within the next decade in order to combat homelessness with much of the whopping cost associated with building (Jackson,