Opinion: New York Must Commit to a Housing First Model

“We must commit to a housing first model that focuses on workforce development and wraparound services. Why? Because we know it works and have for over a decade.”

New Yorkers who walk through Phoenix House’s doors aren’t looking for much: clean sheets, a warm shower, and a safe, supportive place to start their journey towards recovery. And when they’ve completed their time in its residential facilities, many go on to live in supportive housing —which is a game-changer.

We think about a former Phoenix House patient—now employee—who we’ll call Sarah, who transitioned into supportive housing on Long Island. At home, she has someone who checks in on her, connects her to social services, and encourages a substance-free lifestyle. She’s able to contribute towards rent with her salary, and visit her kids for the first time in years. She has something she had not previously felt stable enough for: independence.

New York should be prioritizing more developments like the one Sarah lives in. While countless organizations and recovery advocates work day and night to help New Yorkers suffering on the streets, they are often stretched too thin and those who need their help most fall through the cracks. They end up in a revolving door of hospitalization with limited evaluation and treatment just to be released back onto the street without adequate services or housing.

We must commit to a housing first model that focuses on workforce development and wraparound services. Why? Because we know it works and have for over a decade. 

As of December, there were over 100,000 homeless people in New York City. Of that population, homeless single adults have higher rates of serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and other severe health problems. This is a problem, and one that we can fix if we approach it with compassion. What these folks need is not the revolving door of the shelter system—they need long term care.

Just look at the data: of the 2,300+ homeless New Yorkers removed by sweeps in 2022, only 2 percent remained in shelter by January 2023 and only three individuals were connected to permanent housing. By contrast, between 70-90 percent of participants in NYC’s Housing First program remain stably housed two to three years after receiving services. 

If that’s not evidence enough, supportive housing continues to be the most cost effective solution for treating homeless individuals. According to the NYC Comptroller’s office, the average cost to keep someone in supportive housing for 30 days amounts to $2,040. But it’s $4,080 just to keep a New Yorker in a shelter and a whopping $108,270 to hospitalize them. 

New York City could take note from other cities. In Denver, homeless residents who were placed in supportive housing fared far better than individuals who simply received services on the street. Over the first year of a trial study, 86 percent of participants remained stably housed, while requiring 40 percent fewer emergency shelter stays, and 65 percent fewer detoxification services.

They also had much less interaction with law enforcement: participants saw a 34 percent reduction in police contacts, 40 percent reduction in arrests, and a 27 percent reduction in overall time spent in incarceration. This is a win-win for those who are suffering from substance use disorders and severe mental illness, those who care for them, and the communities who have burdened the negative externalities of our current failure to adequately address these crises.

Assemblymember Simone’s SUM NY report serves as a blueprint for where to start. While the report highlights that there is no single policy that will solve these crises, endorsing the housing first model was no mistake. It’s New York’s best shot. For decades, we’ve systematically failed to adequately invest in beds, services, and pay for providers—leaving thousands without lifesaving care.

But nothing is possible without a stable place to call home and services to start treating the root of a person’s substance use and mental illness challenges. While these crises have been simmering for a long time, the pot has simply boiled over in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. It is clear that housing must come first. It’s time for New York to put our money where our mouth is and invest in supportive housing to help our most vulnerable residents.

Budgets are moral documents. If we truly want to help those suffering on our streets and impacted communities across the state we must ensure that when Gov. Kathy Hochul signs our state budget in April, New York has allocated ample funding to build supportive housing and offer comprehensive wraparound services for residents in recovery.

Only then will we begin to adequately address residents’ mental health, substance use, and housing needs, and make a meaningful difference for all New Yorkers. 

Tony Simone represents the 75th Assembly District, covering Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown and part of the Lincoln Center area in Manhattan. He was elected to the Assembly in 2022.

Ann-Marie Foster, FACHE is the CEO & President of Phoenix House of New York & Long Island, which offers clinical services, residential and outpatient treatment for people with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. She sits on the New York State Bar Association’s Taskforce on Opioid Addiction.