Homelessness remains a visible challenge on the streets of Colorado Springs, and people have strong opinions about how best to respond. Some emphasize treatment and accountability first. Others support a housing first approach and believe that stability must come before lasting change. Since the housing first model is the subject of debate, it’s fair to ask where it fits into the community’s response to homelessness.

The housing first model is based on the assumption that people are better able to address addiction, mental health challenges, and employment barriers once they are no longer living outdoors. Anyone who has spent time doing outreach knows how quickly circumstances can change without housing — a lost ID, a stolen cellphone, a missed appointment, or a few nights spent outside in freezing weather can undo weeks of progress. That’s why housing first policies prioritize getting people into stable housing before requiring treatment, sobriety, or employment.

But housing alone isn’t enough. Once housed, people are connected to services that help them stay housed — employment assistance, budgeting support, health care, mental health treatment and substance-use recovery. Their long-term success almost always depends on that ongoing support.

Housing first is sometimes misunderstood as “free housing”. It is not. Once stabilized, participants typically contribute 30% or more of their income toward rent. As their earnings increase, many go on to pay the full cost of their housing. The goal is self-sufficiency, not dependence. Multiple national studies show that between 75% and 98% of participants remain housed after one year. 

These principles have been especially effective for veterans. Through the VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, veterans are connected to housing without preconditions and then provided with follow-up support. Cities such as Houston, New Orleans, Las Vegas and Philadelphia have made veteran homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Nationwide, veteran homelessness has declined by more than 50% since 2010.

Housing first is not the only approach, and it was never intended to be. Treatment-first models, which require individuals to demonstrate sobriety, complete treatment or secure employment before qualifying for housing, emphasize accountability and have helped many people rebuild their lives. Some programs also offer spiritual guidance or counseling, which can help participants who are seeking that support. For some people, these programs are the right fit.

Is there a single best approach to solving homelessness? Experience suggests the answer is no. On the front lines, the conversation is rarely about ideology. It’s about what will actually help this person right now.

Homelessness is not a single problem with a single cause. Some people need structure and treatment before they can succeed in housing. Others need immediate stability before they can address health, addiction or employment challenges. That’s why effective solutions rely on more than just one strategy.

That’s where housing first fits in: as one of several options that actually work. For those whose greatest barrier is the instability of living outdoors, rapid access to housing shortens their time on the street and makes follow-up services far more effective. Used appropriately, it reduces long-term public costs and helps people regain their footing.

One of Colorado Springs’ strengths is that it does not rely on a single approach to homelessness. Service providers may take different approaches, but they share a common goal: helping people move toward stable housing. Effective support strategies are guided by results, not by a particular ideology.

Homelessness should be temporary, not permanent. Communities are strongest when they use every effective tool available. Housing first, alongside treatment-first and other approaches, has demonstrated real value and has earned its place in Colorado Springs’ response.

Glenn Shellhouse, a volunteer with Rocky Mountain Human Services, does street-level outreach with veterans experiencing homelessness. The views expressed are his own.