Housing First – vegen til permanent bustad?

Abstract

This Bachelor assignment details the housing situation for people with substance abuse and / or mental disorders in Norway. The exercise is based on a literature study, the aim of which is to examine how the Housing First model could be a solution to enhance the work with people with substance abuse and / or mental disorders in Norway. The main findings from the Norwegian context is that successful housing of such individuals plays a key role for good health and participation in social settings. Furthermore, it’s interesting to distinguish between structural and individual explanations why such individuals do not benefit from permanent housing, as the structural explanation refers to the huge shortage of suitable accommodation, however general stigma in society towards such groups is an influential factor that acts as a barrier to accessing housing on the private market. Evaluation of the Housing First model does demonstrate positive results, such as the fact that the majority of individuals do obtain permanent housing and as such this acts as a cost saving for the State. The good results are derived partly due to the way the model stimulates the participants to have freedom of choice and focuses on a spread settlement, whereas the model must additionally be based on closer collaboration with the private housing market. It is essential in the Housing First model that the access to accommodation should not be earned, as is presently the case in the existing support system. Housing is a human right, and as such the focus is that successful housing must be in place before people are in any position to receive treatment. The model appears to have great potential in the Norwegian context and may contribute to the reduction of certain issues in the current housing and support services in Norway.