Housing first ; a winning approach

The At home/chez soi housing first approach was given a 110,000,000$ - 5 year budget by the federal mental health agency.  5 teams were deployed : in Moncton, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.  The 1158 patients selected for the program were assigned to assertive community treatment(those with the highest needs) or intensive case management (those with more moderate needs).  All had a mental health need and 90% of them had another physical health need.  A good presentation of the project is available by the NFB "Here at home" movie.  Costs are estimated at 22,000$ per person per year in ACT, and 14,000$ per person per year in ICM.
The usual model of treatment involves a gradual shift from the street to shelter to temporary housing to permanent housing.   With the housing first approach, we go from the street to an independent appartment with the Agency garanteeing the rent.  If that doesn't work (maybe he invites his friends at drug parties at his place, for example) then a supervised appartment is the next step.
A training team has been established and now 61 communities are going ahead.  The Fraser valley has 6 or7 teams reporting great results.  Waterloo distributes rent subsidies.  Ontario and the United States federal government have had rent subsidies for the mentally ill for a long time.  In Montreal 2 of 3 teams were disbanded but one is still active.  The positive results of the project will justify its expanding out!