The Housing First model, which prioritises giving individuals a permanent residence before addressing other life issues, has seen impressive results. The model’s principles are being integrated into England’s new approach for tackling rough sleeping.
In 2022, Michael became homeless in Plymouth and lacked the necessary support. He impulsively moved to London, spending his initial week sleeping on the streets. Eventually, he heard about The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields, a homeless charity in London where he found temporary shelter before securing a place through the UK government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme.
However, the accommodation was limited, leaving Michael anxious about his future as his tenancy came to an end. He then discovered Solo Homes, a project by The Connection. This project implements the Housing First approach, providing Michael with a permanent home and ongoing care support, including mental health services, all covered by the charity.
In August, the government announced a £442m program to tackle rough sleeping, aiming to get everyone off the streets before Christmas. Over the next three years, this program is anticipated to provide more than 1,000 settled homes, with intensive support for those who have spent extended periods homeless.
The Housing First model challenges traditional ideas about homelessness. Instead of requiring someone to progress through transitional accommodations while resolving other life issues before qualifying for a permanent home, the Housing First approach starts with housing. Individuals are provided a settled home while a support worker helps them access necessary services – from mental healthcare to benefits advice.
The principle behind this model is that recovery becomes more feasible when someone no longer has to worry about where they’re going to sleep. The approach has proven to be particularly effective for people who have experienced long-term rough sleeping alongside mental health problems, substance dependency, trauma, or prior contact with the criminal justice system.
Since 2018, Housing First pilots supported by the government in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, and the West Midlands have supported more than 1,000 people. Of those tracked for a year, 84% were in long-term accommodations after six months, a figure rising to 92% after 12 months.
While stable housing does not instantly resolve all issues, Housing First is built around long-term support rather than believing that simply giving someone a key will undo years of trauma, ill health, or addiction. The early results from The Connection’s Solo Homes programme are promising; since February 2025, the charity has assisted eight long-term rough sleepers into their own tenancies, all of whom have maintained their homes.
However, one of the major challenges to expanding programmes like Solo Homes is finding enough suitable accommodations. Housing shortages have already impeded Housing First schemes in London, and the government’s evaluation recognised housing availability, long-term funding, and access to specialist mental health services as key barriers.
In response to the government’s new programme, London Councils’ executive member for housing and homelessness, Cllr Anthony Okereke, emphasised the need for a sustained focus on prevention and housing supply alongside the welcome financing. Notably, the government has allocated £178m of the new programme specifically for settled accommodation.
While Housing First is not the solution for everyone experiencing homelessness, its focus is on those whose homelessness has become entrenched, often complicated by several overlapping problems. For people like Michael, the Housing First approach has provided a stable home and the assistance needed, transforming their lives.
