Housing First: its application in Catalonia

Abstract

The issue of homelessness has traditionally been dealt with using the Continuum of Care Model, but it has only been proved to be efficient with a certain profile of the homeless population. Since the nineties, a model has been developed in the US known as the Housing First Model which has proven more efficient in interventions with the most chronic homeless population. In this article it is intended to compare how the Housing First Model, understood as the theoretical model created in the US, has been applied in Catalonia. We will also take a look at what the current situation of the Catalan Housing First Model is. Firstly, it is analyzed the main bibliographic resources reporting on the Housing First Model in order to extract the basic characteristics of the theoretical model. Secondly, it is tried to show how the model is being implemented in Catalonia by way of experiences such as the Arrels Foundation in Barcelona and Sant Joan de Déu Social Services in order
to see if the features that comprise the Housing First Model can be found there and what difficulties they may be encountering while applying the model. Finally the author explains the positive aspects of applying the Housing First Model, the aspects which need to be defined and the weaknesses of the catalan context.