Housing First Philosophy Works

Downtown Community Ministry's Director Stephanie McIntyre writes that employing a housing first strategy is paramount to further success.

"My search for wet hostels took me to the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. It's the skid row of the city, situated slap bang up against the posh hotels.

I wanted to see the work that is happening in Single Room Occupancy hotels.

The organizations managing the SRO's don't require chronic alcoholics to stop drinking before they get a long term tenancy. They operate from a "housing first" philosophy meaning they get people into a tenancy, and from that stable base, they are able to provide support services to help the residents keep their tenancies.

Support comes primarily in the form of on-the-spot case managers whose offices are often located in the hotel lobby. Residents don't have to accept this support but, break the rules, and you will find the case manager in your face. Instant evictions are few and far between however, as the style and emphasis is all about assisting residents to be responsible neighbours and to stay housed.

Key to their success are the strict visitor rules. Visitors must check in with ID to the desk clerk and can only stay for limited hours. Numbers are restricted to one or two visitors at a time and overnight stays are permitted only once a week.

The Tenderloin Housing Clinic is one of the agencies providing this kind of housing for homeless people. Their largest building accommodates 250 people and the smallest 50.

Support Services Manager Melissa Blizzard prefers the smaller SRO hotels as support staff get to know all the residents. Ms Blizzard felt the optimum number would be between 35 and 40."

ENDS