The UK has a homelessness crisis.

The usual approach in the UK is to offer people experiencing homelessness a series of temporary accommodations and require them to secure employment and/or address (often complex) issues like poor mental health or addiction before offering them permanent housing.

This approach fails to appreciate that constantly worrying and searching for a safe place to sleep can be all-encompassing, making it difficult for people to tackle other issues. Temporary accommodation is not a solution for homelessness - and yet - the UK spent a record £2.3bn on temporary accommodation in 2023-2024. 

By contrast, a ‘Housing First’ approach reinforces the principle that shelter is a basic human right.  The first step is to provide homeless people with a permanent home.  The next step is offering appropriate support services.

The Government's cost-benefit analysis of UK trials indicates that Housing First can deliver benefits of £15,880 per person per year.

Housing First has the potential to reduce the strain on public resources while creating stability and safety for the homeless and a foundation on which to rebuild their lives. 

We believe it offers a humane, cost-effective solution to a critical societal issue. 

We call on our government and local leaders to work together to develop and implement a national Housing First strategy.