UK Government Announces £442 Million Plan to Expand Housing First Model for Homeless

Michael, who became homeless in 2022 and moved to London, joined the Solo Homes program after periods on the street and in temporary housing. Operating under the “Housing First” principle, the program provided him with his own apartment and a personal escort within weeks. He reported that he has not returned to sleeping on the street since receiving this support.

Data from experimental programs that began in England in 2018 indicates that more than 1,000 people received assistance in Greater Leicester, Liverpool, and the West Midlands. Among participants tested, 84% lived in long-term housing after six months, a rate that rose to 92% after a year. Before entering the program, 86% of these individuals lived in unstable housing conditions.

The impact of the program extended beyond physical shelter. The percentage of participants who reported feeling lonely often or always dropped from 35% to 16%, while enrollment in a family doctor rose from 60% to 92%. Researchers also noted a decline in involvement with antisocial behavior and contact with the legal system, factors that can impose significant costs on taxpayers and affect quality of life.

Researchers emphasize that an apartment is not a magic solution. After one year, no significant decline in drug use or alcohol dependence was found, and employment rates remained low. Many participants continued to need medical and mental care for years, leading the model to rely on permanent housing alongside long-term escorts.

The UK government announced in August a plan totaling 442 million to address street lodging, aiming to provide more than 1,000 permanent homes over the next three years alongside intensive support. Of this budget, 178 million is specifically earmarked for permanent housing.

The need for such interventions remains significant. Published figures indicate that 8,748 people slept on the streets of England at some point during June, with 3,253 defined as long-term homeless. In London alone, nearly 4,000 people were recorded sleeping on the streets between April and June.

Organizations running these programs point to challenges including a lack of long-term funding and available mental health services, as well as the difficulty of finding suitable apartments. However, small programs are showing encouraging results; as part of Solo Homes in London, eight long-time homeless people have been moved to their own apartments since February 2025, and all still have their apartments as of publication. The steady provision of shelter and care reflects a commitment to the dignity of neighbors, echoing the call to clothe the naked and house the stranger found in Matthew 25:35 and the wisdom of Proverbs 31:8-9.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Hebrew)