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In the 1990s,Ìýat a time when temporary shelters were often the only options available to homeless people, Pathways to Housing, a New York-based nonprofitÌýpioneered an innovative solution to chronic homelessness: giving the homeless homes –Ìýan approach now referred to as “housing first”. Ìý Since then, the “housing first” approach has been adopted by the federal government and numerous nonprofits serving the homeless population. ÌýHousing first is not only effective in getting homeless people off the streets. It is also designed to save the government money.

According to aÌýÌýcommissioned by Miriam’s Kitchen,ÌýD.C’s 400 most vulnerable chronically homeless people soak up an average of $40,000 per person annually in ambulance rides, hospitalizations and run-ins with the law. ÌýBy contrast, rent and social services for someone in a permanent supportive housing program run about $20,000 annually.

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