The results are in. Housing Firsts effectiveness is indisputable. The benefits of addressing chronic street homelessness for people with significant mental health and addiction issues immediately saves taxpayers 2.1 times as much money in reduced tertiary health care and policing costs, as it costs to invest in their housing. For people with only moderate issues almost the full amount (0.96) of the investment is recovered in immediate reduced costs - while creating significant improvement in long-term outcomes. Read the full report here: mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/node/24376 I think its important to note that the timeline of this study is relatively short - most of the effects are within the timeframe of only a handful of years. Essentially, we now know that Housing First, especially for people with complex mental health and addictions needs, pays for itself and then some in reduced costs almost immediately. Long-term, we have a pretty good idea that the benefits for our society will only expand as we move marginalized people suffering from precarious situations into a life of security, support and inclusion.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 22:36:45 +0000
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