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Leon County Officials Consider 'Housing First' Approach To Homelessness

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/openlx/
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

Communities across the country are implementing a 'Housing First' model as a new approach to fight homelessness. Some local officials want to bring the program to Leon County.

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Credit https://www.flickr.com/photos/openlx/
/
The Florida Channel

The philosophy is simple: if someone has shelter, it’s easier for them to get back on their feet, regardless of conditions like unemployment or addiction. The county’s Lamarr Kemp pitched the idea at a housing committee meeting Wednesday.

“It has been proven that to take a homeless person and put them in a house first, the day you find them, regardless of condition, drugs, mental health, alcohol whatever it is. Put them in a house first. Then they are stabilized so they can get to services,” Kemp said.

Kemp says the approach is more effective, and more efficient.

"Housing first would cost the local government, the community $12,000 a year. And previously, without the person being housed, its $22,000. The cost on emergency services, hospitals, police, prisons. It's a little bit of everything where the homeless seem to end up one time or another. Because of the condition of being on the street," he said.

The National Alliance To End Homelessness says the approach helps people transition faster, and maintain stability. The housing department is currently determining how to roll out the program in Leon County.

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As a Tallahassee native, Kate Payne grew up listening to WFSU. She loves being part of a station that had such an impact on her. Kate is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts. With a background in documentary and narrative filmmaking, Kate has a broad range of multimedia experience. When she’s not working, you can find her rock climbing, cooking or hanging out with her cat.