In an ongoing effort to roll back support for America’s most vulnerable, the Trump administration has already begun dismantling Housing First programs. On July 24, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets”. Central to this EO was the announcement of the end of federal support for the Housing First approach and a call for the forced institutionalization of unhoused people living with a mental illness. Since Trump came into office, we have seen how he has used homelessness and crime to justify the federal occupation of DC and other Democratic cities. Months later, so-called attempts to “clean up” the streets of DC have done little beyond displacing people experiencing homelessness. 

The consequences of Trump’s anti-homelessness policies are becoming increasingly clear. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is planning to make significant funding cuts next year to permanent supportive housing programs (PSH) across the country, a decision that could put 170,000 people at risk of becoming homeless. Housing Up is a Housing First organization that provides PSH and other housing programs to 900 low-income and formerly homeless families. Because of the planned funding cuts at HUD, nearly 500 individuals we serve could lose access to stable housing and critical support services. Although Housing First has received considerable attention in the news recently, the immense impact this approach has had on contemporary homelessness is not well known outside of the affordable housing and homelessness arenas. So what does Housing First really mean, and why is its protection vital to ending homelessness? 

Letting the Data Speak: Housing First vs. Treatment First 

Housing First is an approach to ending homelessness that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness before addressing issues such as unemployment, mental health, or substance use. In 2004, President George W. Bush officially adopted Housing First as a national, bipartisan-backed strategy to end homelessness. The results spoke for themselves: from 2005 to 2007, homelessness in the US decreased by 30 percent. Prior to Housing First, the dominant approach to homelessness was the Treatment First approach. Unlike Housing First, the Treatment First approach requires people experiencing homelessness to meet certain criteria (i.e. sobriety, employment, mental health treatment) to receive housing. This model gained popularity in the 1990s during a push from policymakers to reduce federal funding and support to vulnerable populations. 

However, the Treatment First model proved relatively ineffective at reducing homelessness, especially for those experiencing chronic homelessness, mental health issues, and substance use disorder. A review of 26 studies demonstrated that Housing First programs decreased homelessness by 88 percent compared to only 47 percent in Treatment First programs. In addition to its demonstrated efficacy, the Housing First approach is also more cost-efficient; for every dollar invested in Housing First programs, there is $1.44 in savings. Many of these economic benefits are derived from savings on healthcare, welfare, and judicial services, which are utilized less when people have access to safe and affordable housing. 

Another key component of Housing First is that participants are given the freedom of choice. While the Treatment First approach imposes strict guidelines that participants must adhere to in order to receive housing, Housing First programs allow people to choose whether or not they will engage in support services. Research shows that people who participate in Housing First programs are far less likely to misuse substances and more likely to adhere to medical and mental health treatment compared to people in forced treatment programs. The power of choice is essential not only in empowering people throughout their housing journey but also in ensuring long-term success. 

Conclusion 

The Housing First approach goes far beyond providing housing; it opens the door to personal agency and transformation. The client-centered model acknowledges the true complexity and reality of homelessness. If the basic need of housing is not met first, the barriers to treatment, employment, and other services are astronomically higher. Once you have a safe place to rest your head, you can then take the necessary steps to heal and meet your goals. The Trump administration’s push to strip federal funding from Housing First will cause extensive harm to thousands of people, many of whom live with disabilities, who live in PSH. In the face of great uncertainty and challenge, the families we serve at Housing Up need your support more than ever this holiday season. Donate to Housing Up’s End of Year Campaign and help provide essentials for our families, including groceries, resident services programming, and emergency rent and utility assistance. While these times can feel helpless and discouraging, we can make a real impact when we come together as a community. Remember to stay loud, stay connected, and stay informed: our unity drives change.