The City and County of Honolulu’s Housing First initiative launched in 2015 has demonstrated sustained positive outcomes through its second year, according to a new evaluation prepared by the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa College of Social Sciences. The study of the city’s Housing First contract with the Institute for Human Services show an overall housing retention rate of 89 percent. Formerly homeless individuals showed increased general health and significant decreases in alcohol and drug use, arrests, and medical expenses after entering the Housing First program.
The University of Hawai‘i evaluation found:
- 92 percent of clients reported never or rarely using drugs after one year in Housing First
- 80 percent of clients reported never or rarely using alcohol after one year in Housing First
- Clients were 64 percent less likely to visit the emergency room
- Clients were 74 percent less likely to be admitted to a hospital
- Clients had a 21 percent improvement in general health
- Clients were 55 percent less likely to be arrested after one year
- Clients were 61 percent less likely to be arrested after two years
- Clients had a 96 percent increase in connections to a community group
- Clients reported having a 38 percent improvement in hope for the future
After two years, Housing First served 214 people in 135 households, including 48 children. The majority of clients were single men and the average age of a client at intake was 45. Only 18 program participants were no longer stably housed after two years, including five people who were incarcerated. As of January 2017, there were 177 people enrolled in program. The Housing First model places people experiencing homelessness directly into permanent housing and provides supportive services necessary to help each individual remain housed. There are low barriers to entry and sobriety is not required in order to obtain housing, but clients must follow house rules in their apartments like any other tenant. Case managers are available 24/7 to help clients and landlords resolve any issues. Households participating in the city’s Housing First program were all experiencing chronic homelessness prior to placement, which means they were experiencing homelessness for a year or more and have a disability.
