Our Story

Housing First emerged in the early 1990s when Sam Tsemberis, collaborating closely with people experiencing homelessness and complex health needs in New York City, developed a new approach grounded in dignity, autonomy, and human rights. Instead of requiring treatment or sobriety before housing, the model offered people a home first, paired with robust support that honored their choices. The effectiveness of the Pathways to Housing program demonstrated a simple truth: having a safe place to live creates the conditions for recovery, and people thrive when they are met with respect and trusted to make their own decisions.

As Housing First expanded across the United States and internationally, the Pathways Housing First Institute was established in 2015 to help sustain, strengthen, and advance this work, supporting communities to launch Housing First programs and ensuring that communities expanded their programs while remaining grounded in the core principles of the original model. The Institute provides training, guidance, and implementation support for agencies, municipalities, and governments across the globe.

Today, our commitment remains the same: to help communities expand their Housing First practice, train and support the workforce delivering it, and build programs rooted in dignity, respect, and choice.