5 Things You Should Know About Housing First

By Anat Leonard-Wookey, LifeMoves Vice President of Programs and Services

When you’re sleeping on the streets or crashing on a friend’s couch, every day is about survival. Where will I sleep tonight? Are my belongings safe? How do I stay warm or dry? In that constant scramble, it’s almost impossible to focus on health, work, or family.

That’s why Housing First is so powerful. Housing First is an approach that helps people experiencing homelessness move into stable housing without preconditions — no requirement to be sober, employed, or enrolled in services first. Once people have a safe place to live, they are in the best position to address health, employment, and other challenges.

It’s not a cure-all for homelessness, but it is one of the strongest, most proven approaches we have. 

Here’s what you should know:

1. Housing First isn’t “giving away” homes.

Critics sometimes say Housing First lets people skip the hard work of getting sober or finding a job. In reality, it creates the conditions for that hard work to finally stick. When someone has a safe place to sleep and a door they can lock, they can start tackling challenges like addiction, health, or employment.

2. The results speak for themselves.

• 65–80% of Housing First participants remain stably housed after two years, compared to only 23–39% in “treatment-first” programs.
• Participants are 95% less likely to face jail time within 18 months, reducing strain on the justice system.
• ER visits drop by 41%, improving health and cutting costs.
• For every dollar invested, the public saves $1.44.

Housing First is first and foremost, changing lives, but as a byproduct it’s also saving communities money.

3. It’s more than a set of keys.

At LifeMoves, housing is just the start. We pair it with case management, medical and behavioral health care, workforce development, and other wraparound services. Housing provides the foundation; services provide the supports that make long-term stability possible.

4. Clients tell us the shift is transformative.

When survival mode ends, possibilities open up. Clients begin to attend counseling consistently, pursue training opportunities, reunite with loved ones, and simply rest in a safe space. Stability is what makes all of that possible.

5. It’s worth defending.

The debate over Housing First isn’t just theoretical—it shapes how resources are spent and how quickly people can move from homelessness to stability. While critics focus on myths, the evidence and lived experience are clear: Housing First works. And it deserves our full support.