Nate’s Corner: Why Housing First policy is failing Snohomish County

For decades, governments at the local, state, and federal levels have approached homelessness and addiction with good intentions. At this point, billions of dollars have been poured into programs, outreach efforts, and services intended to help our struggling neighbors escape the throes of addiction. But today, it is clear that what we are doing is […]

Beyond the False Binaries: A Pragmatic Path Out of Homelessness and Addiction

Forced rehabilitation rarely delivers better long-term results than voluntary approaches, but the opposite extreme—unconditional support without any expectations—fares no better. Housing First has proven effective at one critical task: keeping people housed. Studies consistently show one- to two-year retention rates of 70 to 90 percent, far exceeding traditional treatment-first models. A stable, lockable home can […]