What is Housing First?
There is no health without housing. Every day spent on the streets impacts the physical and mental well-being of children and adults. Housing First is a research-proven solution that houses people experiencing homelessness as quickly as possible. Once the lease is signed and the key is turned, we provide intensive supportive services to maintain family stability and strength.
Once our families have stable homes, our interventions and supports like job placement and counseling become more effective. How do we know? According to a national study, only 16% of people living in shelters are in an independent home one year later.
80% of CATCH families are financially independent in their homes one year after placement.
Why Does Language Matter?
Language impacts people. The way we choose to talk about solutions directly impacts our ability to be effective. At CATCH, we know our families and children find greater success when we speak with:
- Strength-based language: a language of empowerment that helps families see their own talents and power to reclaim independence after an episode of homelessness.
- Trauma-informed language: a language that actively resists re-traumatization for people through empowerment, hope, and recognition of healing trauma.
- Person-first language: a language that grammatically places a person first in the sentence to show that homelessness is a temporary experience and never a reflection of personal value or character. People experiencing homelessness.
Non-Discrimination Policy: CATCH does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, disability, or veteran’s status.
