Supportive housing best practices in a mid‐sized US urban community

Abstract

Purpose

Housing First has been upheld as an evidence‐based best practice for transitioning homeless individuals into permanent housing in a maximally cost‐effective and humane manner. However, there is much variance in the implementation and structure of Housing First programming in the USA. This paper aims to focus on a collaborative, interdisciplinary Housing First effort to house and provide case management and ancillary services to chronically homeless individuals in The City of San Mateo, California.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a case study in which the philosophy, structure, and impact of San Mateo's outreach and housing team are discussed. To explore the project's impact, data concerning arrests and other criminal justice contacts, as well as health costs associated with these clients, both prior to and post housing and services, were collected and analyzed. These are corroborated with qualitative data on client outcomes.

Findings

After participants received housing and wrap‐around supportive services provided through the collaboration of police, local stakeholders, and non‐profits, the cost of medical care and criminal justice interventions were dramatically reduced. While challenges such as the availability of housing units remain, the findings of this study strongly support the interdisciplinary outreach team as a model for Housing First programming.

Research limitations/implications

This is an in‐depth study, derived from a particularly innovative project; and therefore the sample size is limited by the size of the project.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in its analysis of a Housing First model which incorporates an interdisciplinary outreach team designed to provide highly individualized care for clients. The San Mateo permanent supportive housing pilot project is itself unique in that it incorporates a Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) comprised of the police, other government entities, local stakeholders, and other non‐profits engaged with homelessness.

Citation

Greenberg, B., Korb, S., Cronon, K. and Anderson, R. (2013), "Supportive housing best practices in a mid‐sized US urban community", Housing, Care and Support, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 6-15. https://doi.org/10.1108/14608791311310465