Executive Summary
The Mercer Housing First Demonstration Initiative is a program initiated
by the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness and overseen by a collaborative
of funding partners. The Mercer Housing First Collaborative Committee guides
the funding, implementation and evaluation of the Housing First
Demonstration Initiative, and is comprised of state, local and city
government agencies, private funders and nonprofit organizations. The goal
of the Mercer Initiative is to demonstrate that Housing First is a
successful and cost effective model for ending chronic homelessness in New
Jersey.
In 2008, the Initiative designated housing and supportive services to 40
individuals with disabilities who have experienced long-term homelessness,
and 10 families who have a head of household who has a disability and has
experienced long-term homelessness. An additional 14 vouchers were added in
late 2009, raising the total to 64. Under the Initiative, the homeless are
permanently housed and provided the diversified supportive services needed
to retain housing. This Report to the Community introduces the Housing First
Initiative, describes the implementation, and the progress made in the
Mercer Housing First Demonstration Project.
In two and a half years of operation the program housed
60 individuals and families who had been homeless an average of 6.3 years.
Thus far the program has enjoyed a
95% retention rate when controlling for
mortality, and no tenant evictions.
The cost-benefit analysis is based on baseline and follow-up interviews
with 15 original tenants in the Housing First program, all of whom were
housed by May 1, 2009. The Mercer Initiative has replicated the favorable
cost-benefit ratios reported in Housing First programs throughout the
country.
Tenants utilized an average of
$30,239 in emergency services the year prior to their housing.
Tenants utilized an average of
$2,223 in emergency services the first year of their housing.
Program costs are $18,587
per tenant per year, producing an overall annual savings of $9,429 per
tenant
Projected Housing First Program Cost Savings for 60
Tenants: $565,740 per year
The Mercer Housing First Demonstration Initiative has established a
sustainable model for substantially reducing the economic, social and
personal costs of family and chronic homelessness.
This report reviews chronic homelessness in Mercer County and introduces
the Mercer Housing First Model and its funding. The report then provides
program data on quarterly screening and placements, tenant profiles, and a
cost-benefit analysis of the program. We then review systematically
collected evidence of individual and community benefits of the Housing First
Program, including tenant satisfaction, quality of life, enhanced
connections with services, and increased community integration.
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The Complete Report
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