1. Camden Housing First

2. Context – general
• Two main accommodation models exist for
rough sleepers and other single homeless
people with support needs:
– Staircase or Pathway model
– Housing First model
• Camden launched Hostel Pathway in 2007
• 700 beds, 19 services, 7 providers

3. Camden Hostel Pathway
• Assessment stage: Initial assessment of need
– up to 8 weeks
• Specialist support stage: Address specific
support needs (drug & alcohol (continued
use/recovery), ex-offender, domestic violence) –
12-18 months
• Engaging support stage: Period of stability to
consider housing options – 6-12 months
• Move through stage: Acquire skills and
knowledge to live independently – up to 12
months

4. Context – what was the problem?
• Pathway has been successful in vastly
improving service quality and throughput of
service users to independent living, working well
with individuals willing to engage but……
• Based on premise of ‘housing readiness’
• Hard core of service users with complex needs
and challenging behaviour not moving on but
instead ‘doing the rounds’ between services
and episodes of rough sleeping

5. How did project develop?
• In 2010, Council sought bids for time limited
pilots of ‘cheaper and better’ service models
• SHP proposed ‘Housing First’ service for 10
individuals with multiple and complex needs
unable to benefit from Pathway approach
• Agreed to fund for two years as felt it could offer
solution for long-stayers and generate savings
in medium-long term
• Hostel beds for this group: £20k per person pa
• Housing First: £10k per person pa

6. Who was involved in project
development?
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LB Camden Housing Commissioning
LB Camden Housing Needs
SHP
Safer Streets Team
Other Pathway providers and stakeholders
Pathway service users
Private landlords

7. Project design
• Housing First model was developed first in the USA
• The model or variants of it has been replicated in other
countries now including
– Canada
– Austria
– Japan
– Finland
– Netherlands
– Ireland
– and the UK

8. Project design
• As a model, Housing First works on the premise that:
– ‘housing readiness’ is not necessary in order to access and
sustain housing.
– by removing this requirement some of the most
entrenched and difficult individuals can be placed and
maintained in independent accommodation
– a high level of support is available and on offer and that
whilst there is a requirement to engage around tenancy
support there is no requirement around engagement with
‘treatment’

9. Housing First model – key elements
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Separation of need and treatment from housing
Provision of independent self contained accommodation
Harm reduction not abstinence approach
Respect for choice
Emphasis on inclusion and integration
Conditionality only in relation to housing management i.e.
must be willing to pay rent and be a good neighbour
• Wrap around support and coordination 24/7
• High quality staff

10. Camden Housing First – unique
design features
• Set up to complement Pathway model
• Aimed at people ‘stuck’ in pathway stage 2 for more
than 3 years but not in significant arrears
• Accommodation in private rented rather than social
housing sector
• Accommodation sourced by provider rather than
statutory body

11. Project output and impact
• September 2013 University of York evaluation
report
• Tenancies being sustained by individuals who would
never have been considered for independence
• Individuals are very willing to engage
• Very positive feedback
• Cost savings

12. Learning outcomes
• Levels of contact and skills of staff cannot be
skimped
• Need for diplomacy working with other
professionals who can see this by passing of systems
as a threat
• Sourcing properties very time consuming particularly
in the current climate

13. Contact Details
Brian Matthews
Housing Commissioning and Partnerships Manager
brian.matthews@camden.gov.uk
T: 020 7974 6371