Housing is a human right and a key determinant of health and well-being (24). The Urban Institute Housing Justice Hub defines Housing Justice as “Ensuring everyone has affordable housing that promotes health, well-being, and upward mobility by confronting historical and ongoing harms and disparities caused by structural racism and other systems of oppression” (25). Housing Justice requires “the transformation of institutions and systems that have driven racialized dispossession of land, displacement from home, and exclusion from access to safety and stability in the form of housing, both historically and in the present day” (24). Housing First is an evidence-based strategy that prioritizes rapid placement and housing stabilization without the need to comply with preconditions (e.g., sobriety or a minimum income threshold). This approach is based on the principle that youth are ready for housing. Housing First approaches are low barrier, work to quickly move people into permanent housing, and do not require participation in supportive services or compliance with preconditions. However, evidence shows that this approach works best when accompanied by supportive services such as case management. This dual approach is known as Housing First (not Housing Only) (26–28). There isa growing body of evidence that demonstrates that this approach is effective in accessing housing faster and that youth are more likely to remain stably housed. Other studies, among people experiencing homelessness, have shown that Housing First approaches have a positive
impact on increased perceived levels of autonomy, choice, and control, as well as greater housing stability. People participating in Housing First approaches are also more likely to participate in paid job training programs, attend school, and discontinue substance use, amongst other outcomes. Housing First has also been shown to be cost-effective compared to other housing approaches. For example, a study found that a Housing First program costs up to $23,000.00 less per consumer per year than a shelter program (27).
Toolkits and resources for Housing First and Housing Justice:
