'Housing First' helps to reduce homelessness

Manual and DVD Author: Sam Tsemberis, Ph.D. Item: 4739 Publisher: Hazelden Published Year: 2010 Online Price: $265.00 Each Excerpts Breaking Free of Homelessness Author Sam Tsemberis outlines key tenets of his program and how it works. Separation of Housing and Services All clients have ready, reliable access to treatment and comprehensive support services, usually through a multidisciplinary team approach. Video clip:

The groundbreaking Pathways to Housing First model seeks to provide the homeless with independent housing as quickly as possible, followed by a team approach to bring other necessary support services. These services include psychiatric, addiction, and employment counseling.

Program leads to dramatic drop in homelessness

The Housing First program has been established in 100 U.S. cities and in locations in Canada and Europe. Studies of Pathways to Housing First indicate that the program has led to a dramatic drop in homelessness for participants, with one study showing an 85% retention rate after one year.

Written by the program's founder, Sam Tsemberis, Housing First provides step-by-step guidance on establishing the program in a community or integrating it into established programs. The comprehensive manual provides a historical and philosophical context for this model and details practical, actionable information about the program's functioning and administration, including:

• securing property and engaging landlords
• assisting clients in setting up their apartments
• establishing the composition, staffing, and day-to-day operations of the clinical and support services
• integrating evidence-based models, e.g., IDDT, IMR, and Supported Employment

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• Program builds roofs over homeless heads