Exploring the Effectiveness of Housing First Through the Perspectives of Front-Line Staff: A Qualitative Case Study

This qualitative case study explores the effectiveness of the Housing First (HF) philosophy as an approach when intervening with people who are experiencing homelessness by employing a structural social work and an intersectionality theoretical framework. Four semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with front-line staff for the purpose of examining how HF is being implemented, including an exploration of whether HF addresses the inequitable social structures that can influence one’s housing status. In using a cross-case analysis, several common and isolated themes emerged that ultimately unveiled many gaps in both the philosophy and practice of HF. These gaps necessitated a further interrogation of neoliberalism, capitalism and Eurocentrism, and their domination over the HF philosophy and its effectiveness. Through the voices of front-line staff, several suggestions are made for a more successful HF implementation.