Sam Tsemberis on Housing First

"The first step was the realisation that what we knew in terms of us as experts was not sufficient to solve the problem," says Dr Sam Tsemberis, founder of the consumer-driven evidence-based Housing First model that provides immediate access to permanent supportive housing to individuals who are homeless and who have mental health and addiction problems.

"It’s Housing First, but it’s not housing only," says Dr Tsemberis. "It’s a lot of support in this programme and the support is in the form of a visit from one of the staff. 'How’re you doing?' 'Everything OK?' 'How’s it working out for you?'"

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