housing-focused approach to explore creative, safe, and cost-effective solutions to quickly resolve a housing crisis.
Housing Problem-Solving seeks to empower households by having unwavering respect for their dreams, strengths, goals, and preferences.
Housing Problem-Solving Conversations
Housing Problem-Solving should be attempted with everyone interacting with the homelessness services system, often more than once. It is a conversation; not an assessment
Identify the household's strengths and existing support networks
Explore safe housing options outside the homelessness services system
Connect the household to community supports and services
Increase equity and reduce trauma experiences
Support community efforts to end homelessness while ensuring housing assistance is prioritized for the most vulnerable
Housing Problem-Solving Key Concepts
The goal of Housing Problem-Solving is to help the household regain a sense of control by focusing on their strengths and resiliency. Rapport building is key in supporting a two-way dialogue which allows the client to offer greater insight.
Effective Housing Problem-Solving is carried out by skilled, trained, and flexible staff who engage in open-ended, exploratory conversations to understand a household's strengths and existing support networks.
Adopting Housing Problem-Solving techniques system-wide is a critical strategy for building and strengthening a diverse array of resources needed to prevent housing loss and help people exit homelessness.
Examples of common Housing Problem-Solving services, activities, and skills could include: active listening, coaching, motivational interviewing, mediation and conflict resolution with families/friends and/or landlords, connections to mainstream resources, housing search assistance, housing stabilization planning, family reunification, tenant legal services, credit repairs, and minimal financial assistance.
