The Housing First Model: Policy Evolution in Los Angeles and Steps Toward Housing the Homeless

The current qualitative policy analysis will examine city economics and group control of policy and spacial development at the local levels through inspection of Los Angeles's political evolution toward approving the Housing First (HF) Model. The paradigm shift in homeless policy toward the HF Model was not given proper dialogue before legislators passed funding measures for homeless housing. New York, Seattle and Los Angeles have assumed that simply housing the homeless will solve the crisis. Through better education of the HF Model, legislators can ensure the policies passed are successful and the homeless can be housed. The final recommendations for current and future policy endeavors will argue that the HF Model can be successful when stakeholders and legislators within each community are educated on the benefits of housing the homeless prior to treating needs, voters approve tax-funded permanent and temporary supportive housing, and actual implementation of those options are spread throughout the city.