June 2011 - Visit to Pathways To Housing, New York

In May, while on a personal trip to New York, our Director Alison Cadman visited a couple of housing projects. A highlight was her visit to Pathways to Housing in Harlem, NYC. Pathways to Housing was founded by Dr Sam Tsemberis in 1992 and is widely credited as being the originator of the revolutionary "Housing First" model of addressing homelessness among people with mental illnesses and addictions.

The Pathways Housing First model is simple: provide housing first, and then combine that housing with supportive treatment services in the areas of mental and physical health, substance abuse, education and employment.

Alison met with Juliana Walker, pictured below, who is Pathways' Director of Training. Juliana is now training agencies and their staff in the Housing First model all over the US and Canada and starting to work in Europe and Australia.

Research shows that the cost of providing a home and support services to someone who is homeless and mentally ill is significantly less than the expense incurred by people cycling in and out of emergency services, shelters, psychiatric hospitals and jails. Pathways provides the dignity of a home and so much more, but costs less.

"What Pathways achieves is inspiring. It was such a privilege to meet Juliana. I visited one of their wellness centres and met some of the people they work with. The difference this model has made to the people I met was very moving and an experience I won't forget," said Alison.

"I was fascinated by how the issues of funding, housing markets and market rentals were so similar in NY to those in NZ. Of course the scale is completely different. However the provision of housing and housing services by non-government organisations is so much more advanced in NY than in NZ. The innovation, creativity and flexibility that non-profits have is so refreshing and inspirational."

More information on the Pathways to Housing project can be found at www.pathwaystohousing.org

"Housing first ends homelessness. It's that simple." Dr Sam Tsemberis, CEO and Founder Pathways to Housing