To solve things that have never been solved, we must try things that have never been tried

Homelessness in America is at the highest point ever recorded in our nation’s history.

Over the past decade, the nation’s system has been decimated under a one-size-fits-all approach to homelessness instituted in 2013—Housing First—that defunded services such as mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling and employment training, as well as transitional housing programs and shelters (initially). All resources were instead allocated to permanent housing vouchers with the promise that the seismic shift would end homelessness by 2023.

The federal government—the largest funder of homelessness—continues to stand behind the one-size-fits-all approach, despite the broken promise and devastation it has fueled in cities across America. The growing number of people living on the streets underscores the crisis's severity and the need for immediate care. 

While those immediate needs are crucial, the lack of a long-term strategy from other organizations and the government leaves a dangerous void. Temporary solutions risk becoming permanent without sustainable plans. The Free Up Foundation recognizes the need to fill this gap with a principles-based approach that we call "Human First." This strategy aims to restore public spaces and dignity for those experiencing homelessness at the same time. By focusing on long-term solutions and immediate relief efforts at the same time, we seek to do something that no organization has ever done before - build a new system that will serve as the case study for national policy change.