The Principles of Housing First

Who are these documents for?

• People working in homelessness services
• Commissioners of homelessness services

Why are they relevant?

Studies have shown that the closer a Housing First service adheres to a certain set of principles, the more successful that service is in supporting people to achieve positive outcomes.

What are the key takeaways?

• The Principles for England, published by Homeless Link in November 2016, are based on evidence gathered by Pathways to Housing in the USA, and aligned with the core principles in the FEANTSA Housing First Guide Europe.
• They were developed with advice and support from the University of York, with feedback from Housing First providers and experts in the UK and internationally.
• It is recommended that commissioners and providers follow these principles as closely as possible when planning a Housing First service, and that those already delivering a project use them to review and refine their schemes on a regular basis.
• In 2019 we developed guidance on how to deliver services with high fidelity to the principles. Please download the Principles booklet and guidance below.