Archived Webinar: Core Principles of Housing First and Rapid Re-Housing

Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) hosted a webinar titled "Core Principles of Housing First and Rapid Re-Housing." The presentation provided participants - including service providers, policymakers, and other community stakeholders - the opportunity to learn about the Housing First approach and the Rapid Re-Housing Model and how they can be used together to reduce homelessness.

As the name implies, the Housing First approach focuses on helping individuals and families find affordable, permanent housing before connecting them with the social services and community supports they need to avoid becoming homeless again. Receipt of support services is voluntary and not a condition for getting or keeping housing. Housing First is not a specific program, but rather a "whole-system orientation."

Rapid Re-Housing refers to the practice of focusing resources on helping families to secure permanent, usually private market, housing. The types of services used to achieve this goal include short-term financial and rental assistance and housing search and landlord negotiation. This practice has proved particularly effective in reducing family homelessness.

The presenters on the webinar included:

• Ann Olivia, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Planning and Development Office of Special Needs Assistance Program;
• Richard Cho, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness;
• Lindsay Knotts, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

To check out the archived webinar, download the presentation slides, and learn more about the work of USICH, please go here.