Cities across Europe face a growing homelessness problem. Homeless people can be vulnerable to violence, exploitation, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health problems, which can make maintaining a tenancy difficult once rehoused. The usual approach when tackling homelessness is to address these issues first, before a permanent home is found.
Housing First turns this model on its head by providing clients with a safe and secure home first. In Amsterdam, Discus Housing First has taken this approach a step further to create an innovative, adaptive programme that puts clients in complete control of the process, allowing them to make fundamental decisions, including the home’s location and the type of support they receive. Clients also choose their caseworker to create a unique – but voluntary – support programme that evolves with their changing needs. Since April 2006, Discus has successfully housed more than 600 people using this highly tailored approach to social work.
The €10 million ($11.2 million USD) Discus programme is funded by the municipality of Amsterdam, which was so impressed by the results it adopted Housing First as official homelessness policy in 2017. The method has also been implemented in dozens of other Dutch and European cities, helping to transform the way homelessness is tackled across the Netherlands and beyond.
