Housing First: Harm Reduction at the Intersection of Homelessness and Substance Use

Despite a considerable overlap between people experiencing homelessness and people living with substance use disorder, there is a marked lack of integration between Hawai'i's systems of care for these populations. This gap in the current system of care often creates barriers to services for those living at the nexus of homelessness and substance use. This article describes Hawai'i's current homelessness and substance use systems of care, paying particular attention to the intersection between these two systems. With Hawai'i consistently ranking among the highest per capita rates of homelessness in the United States, this article argues that the intersection of homelessness and substance use is a pivotal site of intervention for addressing significant social problems. This article positions the Housing First paradigm as a critical model for bridging gaps and eliminating barriers in service provision through systems integration at the program level. Greater fidelity to the broader harm reduction principles underlying this model will effectively organize and equip programs to successfully address the needs of people experiencing homelessness and struggling with substance use.