headline Article: Study: 'Housing-first' More Effective than 'Treatment-first' for Addiction, Homelessness

Rehabilitation

Posted by AI on 2025-07-16 14:11:54 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-13 08:16:09

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Introduction:

A new study from the University of Toronto finds that a "housing-first" approach to addressing homelessness and addiction is more effective than a "treatment-first" approach. This method can reduce the likelihood of fatal overdoses and lower health-care costs.

The study, published in the JAMA Network Open, used mathematical modeling to show the impact of providing stable housing to people experiencing homelessness and opioid addiction.

mathematic modeling showed that Providing stable housing improved addiction treatment success and reduced mortality rates among individuals who had experienced homelessness: 11% reduction in total overdoses and 9% reduction in fatal overdoses over five years.

The modeling also showed an increase of 3.59 quality-adjusted life years per person and a cost of $26,800 per QALY gained compared to the no-housing scenario.

When factoring in criminal justice system savings, such housing programs may even save money.

The results from the mathematical modeling demonstrate that providing stable housing is both life-saving and cost-effective, says study co-author Isabelle Rao. This study has the potential to help inform local policies for funding and demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of housing-first programs.

Expectations for future developments and follow-up studies are expected, as well as the next steps for implementing housing-first programs in other areas.

Conclusion:

Over the past five years, the opioid crisis has escalated exponentially, leading to a surge in overdoses and deaths, particularly among unhoused populations.

This new study offers promising results in addressing this crisis and minimizing its impact on those most affected. The potential for saving lives and reducing healthcare costs makes these findings relevant to developing more effective policies and securing funding for initiatives.

Although the study is based on mathematical modeling, its results demonstrate the potential for stable housing to improve society's most pressing issues, including health, social care, and criminal justice.

The co-author, Isabelle Rao, intends to continue engaging with officials to inform policies around homelessness and opioid addiction, pursuing potential funding opportunities to expand the practical application of these findings.

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island; we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

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