The Netherlands

Housing First was started on a programme level in the Netherlands by HVO-Querido in 2006. Since then, several enthusiastic municipalities, NGOs and housing corporations in the country have started projects and pilot programmes. Today, Housing First is mostly used as an addition to the range of shelter options (often next to the staircase model).  

Thanks to the positive approach to implementing Housing First, the Netherlands now has more than 10 years of experience using Housing First as a model. 

Nowadays there is a growing awareness that the homelessness sector will not be transformed by organising Housing First as an addition to existing facilities, and a more systemic approach is needed to end homelessness completely. To achieve this, there is a movement towards advocating towards systems change, whereby Housing First principles would become more integrated into the overall national system and form the basis of (government) policy. 

Nationally, there is increasing homelessness and an increasing housing shortage. More and more people are becoming homeless, the shelters are at full occupancy, and the relapse into homelessness is high. The government has now released a national strategy to to reduce homelessness, with increasing recognition that Housing First should be the leading approach. 

However, a lack of housing and funding still poses a challenge and despite the establishment of Housing First programmes in more than 20 Dutch cities, Housing First still struggles to expand into the mainstream.