Housing First is based on the belief that when an individual moves into a home of their own, they can begin to address the issue that initially led to the loss of housing. Once in a home, formerly homeless men and women receive supportive services such as case management and counseling to help them stabilize and remain in housing.

Special Report on Housing First

"This Place Gives Me Peace, Happiness, and Hope: The First Two Years of Housing First in Quincy, Massachusetts"

Tatjana Meschede, Ph.D., The Center for Social Policy McCormack Graduate School at UMass Boston, conducted an independent study over the course of two years on Father Bills & MainSpring's Housing First initiative*. Tatjana stook an in-depth look at Housing First through interviews and focus groups with Housing First residents and their case managers, and collected data on each resident.

The major findings of the study include: 

• Providing housing for those who were chronically homeless reduced chronic homelessness in the Quincy/Weymouth community by 19 percent between January 2006 and January 2007.
• Of all Housing First residents who moved during the first year of this program, 86% (56 out of 64) remained housed a year or more after their move.
• Overall quality of life improved dramatically for all Housing First residents after leaving the shelter, including increased sense of independence, control of their lives, and satisfaction with their housing.
• Hospital stays were dramatically reduced, when comparing the year before housing to the year after. Inpatient hospitalization decreased by 77 percent, and hospital emergency room visits by 83 percent.
• Their new homes helped Housing First residents to reunite with family members and build stronger relationships with each other. However, residents ranked the support they received from staff higher than any other. 

*Please note: the report refers to Father Bill's Place, as the report was undertaken before Father Bill's Place and MainSpring Coalition for the Homeless merged.