Abstract

Housing First (HF) represents a significant shift in the way that the problem of homelessness and co-occuring challenges including problem substance use, is addressed. HF interventions have been the focus of much research. Quantitative studies have consistently shown positive findings regarding housing outcomes, with results regarding health and well-being outcomes more mixed. To date, limited attention has been paid to the experiences and perspectives of HF service providers, and few studies have explored the views of those HF recipients. In enabling providers and recipients to share their professional and personal experiences of HF, qualitative insights can help inform, and improve, service provision and practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven HF staff members and 11 clients in a single third sector service in Scotland. Overall, clients experienced HF positively and described how involvement in HF had enabled positive changes in their lives. Service providers reported positive views on HF alongside ways to maximize the effectiveness of the model. While our findings provide support for current efforts to promote HF as an approach to help end homelessness, a number of challenges exist. To address these, we propose a set of recommendations for those planning and implementing HF services.

摘要

住房优先 (HF) 代表了解决无家可归问题和包括问题物质使用在内的共同挑战的方式的重大转变。HF 干预一直是许多研究的重点。定量研究一直显示出关于住房结果的积极发现，而关于健康和福祉结果的结果则更为复杂。迄今为止，对 HF 服务提供者的经验和观点的关注有限，很少有研究探讨这些 HF 接受者的观点。在使提供者和接受者能够分享他们的 HF 专业和个人经验时，定性见解可以帮助告知和改进服务提供和实践。对苏格兰单一第三部门服务的 7 名 HF 工作人员和 11 名客户进行了半结构化访谈。总体而言，客户对 HF 有积极的体验，并描述了参与 HF 如何使他们的生活发生积极变化。服务提供商报告了对 HF 的积极看法以及最大限度地提高模型有效性的方法。虽然我们的研究结果为当前推广 HF 作为帮助结束无家可归的方法的努力提供了支持，但仍存在许多挑战。为了解决这些问题，我们为那些规划和实施 HF 服务的人提出了一系列建议。