The State of Massachusetts Office of Medicaid tracked the first 97 participants in the Home and HealthyFor Good pilot program, a “Housing First” initiative, and concluded that placing chronically homeless people in permanent housing savesmoney on institutional care. Housing First recognizes the wisdom, and maximizes the benefits, of placing homeless people in stable environments. The results from the Home and Healthy for Good program are impressive. Massachusetts concluded that Medicaid costs dropped 67 percent among program participants. Even when the evaluators factored in the costs of the HousingFirst program, including intensive supportive services to help participants achieve stability, care was less costly by nearly $9,000 per person. AsDr. Jesse Gaeta from the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance notes: “We can't afford not to house this group of people.” The Boston Globe, which praises the program, concludes: “Proponents of thehousing-first policy always knew it was compassionate. Now they can proveit is a bargain.”

Read more: Boston Globe Editorial of March 29, 2009.

Read the full report at the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance Website