A recent research report shows some promising insights for the collective efforts to address homelessness in the community. A webinar was recorded on July 15^th and the video should be uploaded soon. Just stay posted for updates on when the recording is available. See the attached document for more information.

Below is an excerpt from the conclusion of the research report.

“The impacts shown in this report demonstrate the Denver SIB’s remarkable success. They disrupt the false narratives that homelessness is an unsolvable problem and that people who experience chronic homelessness choose to live on the street. The Denver SIB demonstrated that with the offer of housing first and the right supports, people can exit homelessness and remain housed, even after living on the streets or in shelters for years and grappling with mental health and substance use challenges. Furthermore, it showed that investment in supportive housing can decrease police interactions and arrests, disrupt jail cycling, and reduce the use of emergency detoxification facilities.

In the final year of the Denver SIB, against the backdrop of a pandemic and a racial justice reckoning spurred by the horror of systemic racism and the terrible consequences of excessive policing, these outcomes offer important lessons and an alternative to the status quo. Relying on police and emergency services to manage—not solve—the problem of homelessness produces bad outcomes for people and communities. But supportive housing, provided with a Housing First approach, can break the homelessness-jail cycle. Despite the replicated success of supportive housing models like the Denver SIB, hundreds of people remain chronically homeless on the streets of Denver and in other communities across the country. Expanding investments in supportive housing could end homelessness, break the jail cycle, and shift resources away from policing and other costly emergency services toward services that focus on housing, well-being, and the prevention of negative outcomes for residents and communities.”