The Facts.
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Psychologically, The Logic shows that physiological needs such as housing must be met before one can even comprehend self betterment. Which is why Housing First aims to provide housing before things like drug addiction and mental illness betterment is met.
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“Without stable shelter, every higher aspiration collapses under the weight of survival. You can’t self-actualize when you don’t know where you’ll sleep tonight.”
The Evolution Of Housing First Solutions
When Housing First Solutions originally were brought up as a topic of conversations it was largely made to be pushed as an activist movement. Once Housing First became more mainstream and was being put into actual government mandates the meaning shifted alot.
In the early 1990s, Housing First was pioneered by activists and service innovators such as Pathways to Housing (Sam Tsemberis) in New York.
​2013–present: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) adopted Housing First as an official standard.
Risk Factors for Homelessness
Something that is often overlooked when referring to homelessness are the risk factors that are often out of their control. Childhood Trauma, Socioeconomical Standing, and Post Incarceration are very common factors that contribute to homelessness.
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“People fall into homelessness not because they failed, but because the systems around them offered no cushion when crisis struck.”
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“Homelessness happens where structural inequity meets personal vulnerability. Remove either side of the equation, and the outcome shifts.”
Housing FIRST
The Principle of Housing First is just that. Supplying housing before there is a chance to discriminate on any other ideologies such as; mental illness, drug addiction, or any other characteristics that could contribute. And this all lead back to the psychological evidence we have that supports basic human needs being met to facilitate growth.
