direct to housing
encampment response
A new model for meaningfully responding to unsheltered homelessness that allows communities to address concerns around public safety and connect people experiencing homelessness to housing
Cities including Oklahoma City, OK, Hartford, CT, New Orleans, LA, Dallas, TX, and Houston, TX have successfully implemented the model. In the past six months, the Clutch team and client cities have housed 405 people by closing 18 encampments in three cities.
The model is anchored in high-level collaboration and coordination between Continuum of Care organizations and local government and emphasizes innovative, fast, and nimble service delivery. Rather than the temporary use of shelters or navigation centers, this model prioritizes the direct provision of housing by accessing rental units, paired with supportive services, via the private market.
WHY IT WORKS
The Direct to Housing Encampment Response method meets the needs of diverse constituents—creating political wins. The model empowers local jurisdictions to systematically reclaim and maintain public spaces for general use. At the same time, due to a rigorous commitment to Housing First principles, individuals experiencing homelessness are able to move directly into housing with the support services they need.
The model allows local government in partnership with law enforcement to protect and serve all citizens. Law enforcements’ role in many homelessness response systems is one of last resort, with few tools available to humanely respond to individuals experiencing homelessness. The Direct to Housing model includes law enforcement as a partner with a specific role to play within the larger rehousing system. As the homelessness response system prioritizes rehousing, law enforcement maintains closure of each former encampment site through regular patrols and proactive engagement—eliminating the need to resort to unnecessary and costly ticketing or arrests.
The model puts equity into action—activating systems to work for clients and meet equity goals. This method requires rehousing systems to eliminate barriers, reduce red tape, and work quickly to deliver stable housing and services to every person experiencing unsheltered homelessness. This approach can rapidly move communities and homelessness response systems towards a mindset of abundance, where everyone is afforded a safe and habitable home with the services they need.
This emerging model compels homelessness response systems to evolve into rehousing systems—strengthening system cohesion and morale, improving outcomes, minimizing cost, and meeting the political moment by demonstrating success.
How it works
Public Private Partnership
The model leverages public funds for rehousing activities and pairs with private funds from local philanthropy or other significant donors.
Intensive Focus on a Single Location
The model focuses creates a structure that strategically prioritze locations, allowing intense focus on a single location and group of people for an extended period of time.
Bring Rehousing Services to the Site
Bringing all staff, procedures, and paperwork into the field results in higher rates of completion and faster processing times.
Landlord Engagement Team and Flexible Fund
A landlord engagement team creates business relationships in the multi-family rental market to broker access and secure a portfolio of units to be used by the rehousing system. A Flex Fund is created from private resources that can be used to hold units until move-in day or for one-time expenses that stand in the way of ending someone’s homelessness.
City and Rehousing System Project Managers
The model’s organizational structure features two project managers that manage daily coordination of the teams and interdependencies, clearing the path for teams to do their work, and elevating needs and challenges to leadership.
Legal Notices
In addition to robust communication from outreach workers, legal notices are provided to residents 7 days, 3 days, and 24 hours prior to site closure and are effective in notifying both residents and visitors of the site.
Intentional Closure Maintenance Plan
New partnerships with City departments, management districts and property owners required for closure maintenance are established during this process. Both newly established and existing partnerships allow for faster communication, improved alignment, and ongoing maintenance.
Hear from Our Partners
learn more
Ready to dig deeper into the Direct to Housing Encampment work? Join us for a hour-long Q&A session where Clutch Managing Partner Mandy Chapman Semple will answer your question about how the model works and how you can implement it in your community.
The next hour-long session is on Monday, May 20 at 1pm CST
Press
SCOTUS Is Set To Make a Watershed Ruling on Homelessness. But Real Solutions Already Exist.
Op-ed: We designed homelessness programs in Houston and New Orleans that made a real, measurable impact. Your city can, too.
Oklahoma City clears homeless camp after program provided housing for 17 people living there
The city's new Key to Home program moved 17 people from living under a bridge near Interstate 44 and Pennsylvania Avenue into their own home.
Homeless Czar says homeless encampments in New Orleans have been closed
"One of the biggest challenges is to get people to believe in the work. There's a misconception that those experiencing homelessness don't want help."
Dallas housing staff closes the Meyers Jeffries homeless encampment
“The collaboration and teamwork were incredible, and words really cannot describe the impact of this humanistic solution.”
For media requests, reach out to Penny at media@clutchconsultinggroup.com
FAQs
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