In collaboration with the Urban Institute, Strategies for Preventing Homelessness will identify communities that have implemented successful community-wide approaches to homeless prevention and document their approaches in a way that would benefit other communities as they strive to implement their own prevention strategies.

The Applicability of Housing First Models to Homeless Persons with Serious Mental Illness will, with Abt Associates as a subcontractor, explore the features of permanent supportive housing programs that have adopted a Housing First approach to working with homeless people with severe mental illness. The key features of a Housing First approach are a commitment to immediate placement of clients in permanent housing; use of assertive outreach to engage and follow up with homeless people who have been reluctant to enter shelters or engage in services; and availability of supportive services without requirements that clients participate as a condition to receiving housing. Program proponents believe the Housing First model is an effective approach to serve (among others) some of the most difficult segments of the homeless population: chronically homeless individuals with disabilities, particularly severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance abuse.