When housing first lasts: What residents experiences can teach us about housing longevity “S/A”

Background: Housing First [HF] programs provide low-barrier, nonabstinence-contigent housing for chronically homeless individuals. A Seattle-based HF intervention targeting individuals with severe alcohol problems has been shown to promote residents' health and reduce public costs; however, resident turnover has presented a challenge. Maintaining residents in housing is important from a social justice perspective and provides practical benefits to residents and the larger community. More research is thus needed to clarify how HF programs can best support housing longevity. Methods: We used semi-structured, qualitative interviews to document the lived experiences of transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing among 10 former and current residents of a Seattle-based HF program. Participants were asked about various aspects of their experience in the HF project to elicit perspectives on how program factors influenced their own tenure in housing. Results: We used an iterative, inductive approach to understand the key phenomenological aspects (themes) of residents and former residents' experiences at the HF program. Comparison of residents' experiences based on their housing outcomes helped identify program factors associated with retention in or departure from housing. Conclusion: HF is a promising approach to addressing homelessness that incorporates principles of public health and social justice. Findings are expected to assist policy-makers to more effectively support housing longevity for this vulnerable population.