Housing First: Why the solution starts with a safe home

Let's think for a moment what it is like trying to solve your problems, find a job, or take care of your health, without having a safe place to sleep at night. Until now, the usual way of addressing homelessness followed a strict path: it required the individual to solve their problems first, passing through various stages of support and treatment. A home came at the end of this long journey, almost as a reward, only if the person "proved" they had succeeded.

The Housing First model completely overturns this logic. It recognizes something very simple: independent housing is not a prize to be won, but a fundamental human right. The idea is clear: first, we give the person the keys to a permanent home, without prerequisites. Then, within this environment of safety and peace, we provide all the individualized support they need to get back on their feet and reintegrate into society.

Our journey so far 

Emfasis Non-Profit is a member of FEANTSA (the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless), and Maria Karra, co-founder of Emfasis Non-Profit, is a member of the Administrative Council of FEANTSA, also representing FEANTSA in Greece. At the same time, Emfasis is an Associate Partner of the Housing First Europe Hub.

How we will make it happen: 

The 3 Stages To methodically transition from theory to practice, we have designed a three-step plan:

• Stage 1: Training. 

The first step was to build the right foundations. Two members of our team were trained and certified directly by the Housing First Europe Hub. Thus, today we have the only two certified trainers in Greece, creating a strong internal expertise.

• Stage 2: Learning from Europe. 

We are moving forward by working closely with at least three European organizations that have been implementing such programs for years. Their guidance and the transfer of their experience help us design our own program, avoiding mistakes and following best international practices.

• Stage 3: The First Implementation (Pilot Project). 

The next big step is the practical implementation of the first Housing First pilot project in Greece. Through this, we will see the model work in practice and we will collect true, documented data (hard data) for the first time regarding how effective it is in our country.

Our ultimate goal: Why is this data important? 

Because with this in our hands, we can prove that providing permanent housing is the most meaningful and efficient solution, both socially and economically.

Our ultimate goal is for these programs to serve as a guide, so that the State officially adopts Housing First as the primary method to permanently end homelessness, exactly as has been happening successfully in the rest of Europe.

Contact us: 

If you would like more information, technical details about our methodology, or are interested in our training programs, we are here to assist you.

Informational material: https://canva.link/158ct106tef7iay