Housing First in Practice
In a Housing First program, this is the very first thing a person experiencing homelessness receives — before any treatment, sobriety requirements, or program compliance.
What is permanent housing?
This best practice policy states that a consumer's participation in mental health treatment, substance use counseling, or sobriety cannot be used as a condition to obtain or keep their housing.
What is a no-preconditions (or harm reduction) housing policy?
This core Housing First principle holds that stable housing is a basic human right — not something a person must earn by demonstrating sobriety, compliance, or treatment readiness.
What is housing as a basic right (or right to housing)?
Unlike traditional 'treatment-first' models, Housing First programs use this service delivery approach — meaning tenants can accept or decline support services without risking their housing.
What is voluntary (or opt-in) services?
Under best practice Housing First procedures, staff complete this document with the consumer during intake — outlining the consumer's own goals, preferences, and chosen level of service involvement.
What is an individualized service plan (or person-centered plan)?
This principle recognizes that people are better able to address mental health, substance use, and other life challenges once this fundamental need is met first.
What is the principle that housing stability is the foundation for recovery?
Research shows that Housing First programs achieve housing retention rates in this range — consistently higher than traditional staircase or treatment-first models.
What is approximately 80% or higher?
This eviction-prevention procedure requires staff to make multiple documented attempts to contact a consumer and offer support before any lease violation escalates — recognizing that housing loss is a clinical crisis, not just a compliance issue.
What is an early intervention or eviction diversion protocol?
Housing First is rooted in this principle, which means staff respect that consumers are the experts on their own lives and support their right to set their own goals — even when staff might disagree with their choices.
What is self-determination (or consumer choice and autonomy)?
This evidence-based Housing First model pairs permanent supportive housing with an interdisciplinary team that delivers mental health, medical, and social services directly in the community — often called by this acronym.
What is ACT (Assertive Community Treatment)?
Best practice policy requires that staff use this approach when a consumer engages in high-risk behavior — focusing on reducing harm and maintaining the housing relationship rather than issuing immediate consequences or exit from the program.
What is a harm reduction policy?
This principle underpins the Housing First commitment to serving people regardless of their past — including histories of eviction, incarceration, or chronic substance use — because no one is considered 'too difficult' to house.
What is the principle of no barriers to entry (or universal access)?
This term describes the Housing First philosophy that people experiencing homelessness are capable of making their own life decisions — and that providers should respect those choices rather than imposing conditions for housing eligibility.
What is self-determination (or consumer choice)?
This Housing First procedural best practice requires that when a consumer is at risk of losing housing, the team convenes within a set timeframe — often 24 to 72 hours — to develop a coordinated stabilization plan with the consumer's input.
What is a housing crisis or tenancy stabilization meeting (or rapid response protocol)?
This Housing First principle describes the obligation of providers to actively and persistently reach out to consumers who disengage from services — rather than closing their case — because maintaining the relationship is considered part of the housing support.
What is progressive and/or intentional engagement (or never giving up on the consumer)?