The Housing First Philosophy

The Housing First model has been in use in the United States since the late 1980s, yet many still regard it as a radical and high-risk intervention. Common misconceptions of Housing First as an “anything goes” approach have prevented more widespread adoption of this proven successful innovation in addressing homelessness for those with psychiatric disabilities and substance use disorders. In this session, attendees will learn about the philosophy and guiding principles of the Housing First model and compare success rates of Housing First against those in traditional linear-residential treatment models. Attendees will explore the both benefits and challenges of working from a Housing First approach, and discuss the vital role of harm reduction in working with Housing First program participants.

Schedule

11:45 – 12:00 PM   | Virtual training room opens 
12:00 – 12:10 PM   | Welcome, introductions, check-in activity 
12:10 – 12:40 PM   | The history of Housing First, 5 key principles 
12:40 – 12:55 PM   | Benefits and challenges 
12:55 – 1:05 PM     | Break 
1:05 – 1:25 PM       | Comparison to traditional housing models 
1:25 – 1:55 PM       | Overlap with harm reduction and other evidence-based practices 
1:55 – 2:15 PM       | Review, closing remarks, Q&A

Learning objectives
When attendees return to the workplace, they will be able to:

• Identify the five key principles of the Housing First model
• Explain the benefits of Housing First vs. traditional recovery-based housing models
• Recognize barriers to housing stability for individuals with disabilities

Target Audience: Social service providers and helping professionals working in homeless services, governmental bodies, community groups, agency administrators, policy-makers, and anyone invested in ending homelessness in their community.
Social Work Practice Level: This course is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, and advanced BSW/ MSW learners.
Course Delivery Format: Live webinar
Interactivity: This course will offer real-time polling, group discussion prompts, and 15 minutes of Q&A time.
Social Work Continuing Education Credit: 2 CE Credits*
Fees: $25 general registration; additional $5 for registration with social work CE credit

Registration includes access to the live event and recording, PDF of slides, and relevant training tip sheets/resources.

Session Facilitators:

Renée Frink-Boyd, CPS (she/her), is a Training Specialist with Pathways to Housing PA’s training and educational initiative, Housing First University. Renee first came to Pathways in 2015 and served as a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) on a non-fidelity Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, where she focused on building meaningful connections with program participants with chronic health conditions. Later, she joined the Pathways’ Center of Excellence as a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Care Manager, where she assisted individuals with accessing MAT and MOUD services. Renee received her Peer Specialist certification in 2013. Her 10+ years of experience in the field includes working as an Employee Specialist at the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, and as a CPS at Philadelphia area agencies including Horizon House and JFK Behavioral Health. Renee is passionate about building supportive peer relationships with individuals experiencing homelessness and managing co-occurring disorders.

Ryan Villagran, MSW, LSW (they/them), joined Housing First University in June 2021 as a Training Specialist. Ryan holds a Master of Social Work from Temple University with a concentration in Communities & Policy. Their clinical background includes delivering psychiatric rehabilitation services in the mental health recovery model at a Community Integrated Recovery Center. Ryan also developed and coordinated a training program in a university setting for social workers serving transitional-aged youth and later taught a Human Behavior in the Social Environment course for graduate social work students. Ryan believes in the power of our collective imagination to dream of a better future centered around those on the margins.
 

ACE approval statement: Housing First University: a program of Pathways to Housing PA, provider #1759, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 01/12/2022 - 01/12/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.

*Housing First University, a program of Pathways to Housing PA, can provide continuing education credits to licensed social workers in 48 of the 50 U.S. states and 10 Canadian provinces. Due to current regulations, CE credits cannot be offered to social workers in the states of New Jersey or New York. If you are not a Licensed Social Worker, please check with your board of accreditation to ensure this training meets your licensing needs.

To request an accessibility accommodation, please email: training@pthpa.org

For questions or comments, please contact: 
Ryan Villagran, LSW 
Continuing Education Director 
Housing First University, a program of Pathways to Housing PA
rvillagran@pthpa.org (215) 390-1500, ext. 1430