Joe Finn is the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance, and he gave an inspiring and impassioned keynote address at the NC Affordable Housing Conference today about the effectiveness and power of low-threshold housing, otherwise known as housing first. It's controversial. It's also essential.
Without stable housing, life's complications can be overwhelming for even those of us who are best equipped to handle them. Add in mental illness and addiction, and the task becomes downright impossible.
People aren't perfect, and why should those among us with mental illness or addiction (or both) be further punished by the withholding of proper housing? Without housing, treatment and recovery are all but impossible. With housing--no strings attached-- such treatment and recovery can begin. But even for those for whom treatment is not successful--for whatever reason--deserve stable housing.
It's the least we can do and the first thing we should do. I thank Mr. Finn for his work and for reminding us of the reason for ours.
Without stable housing, life's complications can be overwhelming for even those of us who are best equipped to handle them. Add in mental illness and addiction, and the task becomes downright impossible.
People aren't perfect, and why should those among us with mental illness or addiction (or both) be further punished by the withholding of proper housing? Without housing, treatment and recovery are all but impossible. With housing--no strings attached-- such treatment and recovery can begin. But even for those for whom treatment is not successful--for whatever reason--deserve stable housing.
It's the least we can do and the first thing we should do. I thank Mr. Finn for his work and for reminding us of the reason for ours.
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