Housing First - Homeless Action Scotland

Housing First: Effective Solution

What is Housing First?  Significant departure from traditional ‘linear’ models of provision for homeless people with complex needs

 ‘Housing’ First as opposed to ‘Treatment’ First  Platform for Recovery

Essential Elements of the approach: Aim: To reduce re-occurring homelessness by supporting individuals with poor mental health or addiction issues

Underlying principles: Independent accommodation in scattered site housing No requirement for housing readiness Harm reduction approach Provision of permanent housing and holistic support Respect for service user choice re: apartment, levels of engagement, location and times of support 24/7 support from multidisciplinary team Targets most vulnerable – those that have difficulty coping with traditional services, resistant to service engagement

Platform for Recovery:

Making a Home

• Independent living skills, development of social network, engagement in employability

Getting a tenancy

• Gaining a tenancy, benefit maximisation, furniture, harm reduction, community integration

Assessment

• Develop a relationship. Gather relevant information, Support Planning/ Risk Assessment.

Ongoing Recovery

Self Actualisation

Self Esteem

Love/ Belonging

Safety/ Security

Physiological Needs

Housing First - Glasgow

Motivational Interviewing/ Assertive Outreach

Supporting Service Users in active addiction

Full tenancy rights, scatter site housing

Harm Reduction approach

Peer support workers

No need to be ‘Housing Ready’

No time limits – support or tenancy

Partnership working

Flexible, 24/7 support available

Tenancy Sustainment Outcomes: Length of Tenancy Sustainment

Number of Service Users

< 6 months

4

> 6 months

3

> 1 year

4

> 2 years

10

Total Number of Service Users Supported to gain a tenancy by Housing First

21

Tenancy Sustainment Outcomes No Evictions!  2 x supported to give up tenancy due to prison sentences over 13 weeks  1 x supported to move from tenancy due to harassment in local area

Service User Achievements to date: Supporting individuals who have never engaged with any service  7 service users involved in education and training – including a university course  5 service users regularly attending day services (including community based addiction programmes)  2 service users involved in voluntary work  1 service user gained full time employment since engaging with Housing First

Substance Misuse Outcomes:

Number of individuals now abstinent from their problematic substance of choice Substance

Number of Service Users

Alcohol

2

Illicit Substances

10

Housing First Europe

Housing First in Europe

Housing First Europe – test sites  5 different test sites and 5 different welfare regimes  Relatively high staff- client ratios 1:3-5 to 1:11  Mix of congregate housing and scattered housing in Copenhagen, all others used scatter site housing  Use of social housing in 3 cities, using allocation rights with priority for homeless people in social housing. (UK and Denmark)  Budapest is a special case

Each service reflects the city and culture that it resources:

Copenhagen Marseille/ Lisbon

Amsterdam Budapest

• Individuals from Greenland • Group tenancies

• Supports those with mental health issues • True to original Pathways model • Supports individuals with a ranges of need • ACT • Clear forest of rough sleeper/ homeless people • Negative regime – homelessness illegal

Helsinki Dublin

• There are differing views regarding whether or not these are Housing First models

• Focus upon long term rough sleepers – (alcohol use)

London/ Midlands

• Housing First now developing in England • London 5 sites aimed at rough sleeping • Midlands – homeless/ rough sleepers

Vienna

• Includes Housing First support to families

Housing retention rates in Housing First Europe Amsterdam

Copenhagen

Glasgow

Lisbon

Budapest

Total number of service users

165

80

16

74

90

Positive Outcome

138 (97.2%)

60 (93.8%)

13 (92.9%)

54 (79.4%)

29 (