Article on Housing First approach to homelessness praised

Re “This program gets homeless people into housing fast. Will it be one of the last?” (Dec. 28): Thank you for Blake Nelson’s article on the threats to the Housing First approach to homelessness and Dalen Harrison’s search for housing. All too often discussions on homelessness dehumanize the homeless and ignore the research on the subject. Housing First doesn’t work for everyone, but it is more effective than other approaches. The causes of homelessness are complex; thus, a one-size-fits-all “solution” isn’t the answer.

Coincidentally, in comparison with studies of Housing First, there are fewer research studies on the effectiveness of Treatment First programs.

—  Karen Kinney, Talmadge

This is one of the most accurate and informative articles I’ve read to date. Provide housing first, then real case management in place every day — the kind that shows up with a computer, working phone and transportation. It takes time to rebuild a life. Housing is only the first crucial step. Then the work begins.

— Angie Ringer, La Mesa