Housing is the key
More than 100,000 adults in the United States experience chronic homelessness. These individuals and sometimes families have serious disabling conditions and histories of homelessness that last one year or longer. Chronic homelessness carries a heavy cost both for individuals and for society. The mortality rate for these men and women is four to nine times higher than for the general population. A single individual who experiences chronic homelessness can cost taxpayers millions of dollars for emergency room visits and other crisis services. Fortunately, a decade’s worth of research has shown that there is a solution to this problem. When people are able to live independently in their own apartment or house with access to case management and medical care, they are able to stabilize their housing and manage their medical conditions. Permanent Supportive Housing extends and improves lives while reducing the costs of homelessness for society. Local United Ways can support this effort.
Fund supportive housing programs for the people experiencing chronic homelessness using clear and measurable criteria.
Greater United Way of Los Angeles’ Home for Good Funders Collaborative Request for Proposals
United Way of King County Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness Brochure
United Way Australia's 90 Homes for 90 Lives Coalition
Collaborate with crisis service providers (e.g., hospitals, Emergency Medical Technicians) to house chronically homeless frequent users of emergency services.
United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta ‘s Hospital to Home Initiative
San Diego Union-Tribune series on the United Way of San Diego’s Project 25 Initiative to house frequent users of emergency medical services
To learn more, visit the other pages from our toolkit:
State Resources
