Will Stone

But like with every Housing First project, treatment is not a requirement of living here. Maureen's lived here for more than two decades after spending some time homeless herself. Two years ago, Maureen had an encounter with a neighbor that she says almost killed her. Here's Maureen from the documentary.

But like with every Housing First project, treatment is not a requirement of living here. Maureen's lived here for more than two decades after spending some time homeless herself. Two years ago, Maureen had an encounter with a neighbor that she says almost killed her. Here's Maureen from the documentary.

The rise of fentanyl has sent a surge of overdose deaths through housing programs across Seattle. These deaths nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2023. Michelle Huckabee Virick is one of Maureen's neighbors. Michelle has struggled with fentanyl addiction herself and says after a wave of overdose deaths in their building, she started to hoard stuff in her apartment.

The rise of fentanyl has sent a surge of overdose deaths through housing programs across Seattle. These deaths nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2023. Michelle Huckabee Virick is one of Maureen's neighbors. Michelle has struggled with fentanyl addiction herself and says after a wave of overdose deaths in their building, she started to hoard stuff in her apartment.

The rise of fentanyl has sent a surge of overdose deaths through housing programs across Seattle. These deaths nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2023. Michelle Huckabee Virick is one of Maureen's neighbors. Michelle has struggled with fentanyl addiction herself and says after a wave of overdose deaths in their building, she started to hoard stuff in her apartment.

Yeah, that's right. And she was there until some outreach workers helped clean out her apartment and then move her back in. This story is just one of a few anecdotes I've heard over the years that have trickled out of buildings like this. These stories have fueled questions about whether Housing First, as we currently practice it, is working like it's supposed to.

Yeah, that's right. And she was there until some outreach workers helped clean out her apartment and then move her back in. This story is just one of a few anecdotes I've heard over the years that have trickled out of buildings like this. These stories have fueled questions about whether Housing First, as we currently practice it, is working like it's supposed to.

Yeah, that's right. And she was there until some outreach workers helped clean out her apartment and then move her back in. This story is just one of a few anecdotes I've heard over the years that have trickled out of buildings like this. These stories have fueled questions about whether Housing First, as we currently practice it, is working like it's supposed to.

A common perception I've heard from tenants and even occasionally from staffers who work in these buildings is that Housing First is taking people off the streets and sort of hiding their problems behind four walls and not doing enough to address those problems like substance use or mental illness.

A common perception I've heard from tenants and even occasionally from staffers who work in these buildings is that Housing First is taking people off the streets and sort of hiding their problems behind four walls and not doing enough to address those problems like substance use or mental illness.

A common perception I've heard from tenants and even occasionally from staffers who work in these buildings is that Housing First is taking people off the streets and sort of hiding their problems behind four walls and not doing enough to address those problems like substance use or mental illness.

Generally speaking, they want to change course and return to a philosophy called treatment first, right? This is the idea that people should follow a series of steps like treatment, sobriety, and employment that eventually end with permanent housing as the last step. And this idea of treatment first goes way back.

Generally speaking, they want to change course and return to a philosophy called treatment first, right? This is the idea that people should follow a series of steps like treatment, sobriety, and employment that eventually end with permanent housing as the last step. And this idea of treatment first goes way back.

Generally speaking, they want to change course and return to a philosophy called treatment first, right? This is the idea that people should follow a series of steps like treatment, sobriety, and employment that eventually end with permanent housing as the last step. And this idea of treatment first goes way back.

Before housing first took off, treatment first was the go-to approach for many, many years.

Before housing first took off, treatment first was the go-to approach for many, many years.

Before housing first took off, treatment first was the go-to approach for many, many years.

Yeah, that is a really important question. And I really wanted to understand this. So I dug back into the history of housing first. Back in the 90s, people working in the homelessness field realized that Treatment First wasn't working for a subsection of the homeless population. They called this group the hardest to serve population.

Yeah, that is a really important question. And I really wanted to understand this. So I dug back into the history of housing first. Back in the 90s, people working in the homelessness field realized that Treatment First wasn't working for a subsection of the homeless population. They called this group the hardest to serve population.

Yeah, that is a really important question. And I really wanted to understand this. So I dug back into the history of housing first. Back in the 90s, people working in the homelessness field realized that Treatment First wasn't working for a subsection of the homeless population. They called this group the hardest to serve population.