COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE

This Community of Practice supports frontline workers and Housing First managers by focusing on practical challenges in service delivery and leadership. It provides a space to strengthen management skills, share strategies, and explore effective ways to support staff and participants.

Regular webinars cover current issues in Housing First management, offering useful tools and insights for those coordinating programmes on the ground. The group promotes collaboration between managers and frontline teams, ensuring services remain responsive and sustainable.

The group meets online three times a year, with occasional in-person sessions such as the gathering in Belfast in September 2025. These meetings offer opportunities to deepen peer connections and enhance Housing First management across contexts.

This Community of Practice is dedicated to the unique challenges faced by women experiencing homelessness. It brings together frontline workers, managers, and stakeholders to share strategies that make Housing First more responsive to women’s needs.

Key discussions explore gender-sensitive and trauma-informed approaches, safety and dignity in housing, and effective supports that help women build stable lives. By sharing experiences, members strengthen their capacity to design services that are inclusive and empowering.

The group meets online every month and also hosts themed webinars. The next meeting will take place in September after the summer break -date tbd.

This Community of Practice creates a space for those leading national Housing First coordination in their country. It offers peer support, exchange of good practices, and a forum to explore shared challenges in scaling Housing First nationally.

The group focuses on strengthening coordination mechanisms, aligning strategies with government priorities, and developing joint advocacy efforts. By building robust national networks, participants can promote more cohesive and effective responses to homelessness.

Meeting monthly, the group is currently collaborating on a joint advocacy statement highlighting the importance of national Housing First networks for governments and administrations.

This Community of Practice focuses on adapting Housing First for young people aged 13–24. It provides a space for frontline workers, managers, and others to share knowledge, strengthen skills, and explore youth-focused approaches to preventing and ending homelessness.

Discussions include topics such as rights-based support, transitions to adulthood, and best practices in creating safe, stable housing for young people. The group encourages collaborative problem-solving and collective learning.

The HF4Y CoP meets every fourth Monday of the month at 16:00 (Brussels time). The next session after the summer break will be held on 22 September during the annual HF4Y Train the Trainer programme in Brussels.

This Community of Practice addresses the central role of housing within the Housing First model. It brings together frontline workers, housing providers, and policymakers to exchange ideas and solutions for securing and sustaining homes for programme participants.

Topics include housing procurement, landlord engagement, tenancy support, and overcoming barriers to access. By sharing strategies and successful practices, members work towards improving housing stability and outcomes across Housing First initiatives.

The group meets regularly online, offering a collaborative space for participants to build knowledge, share resources, and strengthen partnerships that expand access to housing.