Potential Changes in US Homelessness by Ending Federal Support for Housing First Programs
This JAMA Health Forum research letter estimates how ending federal support for Housing First programs could affect homelessness in the United States.
Programs incorporating a Housing First approach, provide people experiencing homelessness with housing without first requiring sobriety or treatment for substance use or mental health disorders. These programs, which the federal government began funding in 2003 improve housing stability and decrease health care utilization.
This analysis focuses on permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing, two major housing models that use Housing First principles.
The authors estimate that eliminating federal funding for both permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing could result in 44,590 additional people experiencing homelessness within one year. Ending federal support for only one program type would still have substantial effects: the model estimates 13,210 additional people experiencing homelessness if permanent supportive housing funding ended and 38,890 additional people if rapid rehousing funding ended.
The findings underscore the role federal housing investments play in helping people exit homelessness and remain housed. They also provide policymakers with an estimate of the potential consequences of reducing support for Housing First programs at a time when homelessness is already increasing.
Authors: Kirk B. Fetters, MD; Pranav Padmanabhan, MPH; Ashley A. Meehan, MPH; Margot Kushel, MD; Joshua A. Barocas, MD.