Housing First is an innovative program that places chronically homeless individuals, with mental health and/or substance abuse addictions, into permanent supportive housing. The rent and utilities are paid by the City of High Point through a HUD grant. Open Door Ministries’ staff coordinates the supportive services component of the program through a variety of agencies, including the Mental Health Association, the Guilford Center, ACT teams, Community Support teams, Alcohol & Drug Services, Triad Health Project, and Home to Home.

By definition, chronically homeless individuals have been living on the streets for more than a year, or have been homeless four times in the past three years. Typically, the individuals that Housing First will place into housing will have been homeless in High Point between 5 – 20 years.

The goal of Open Door Ministries’ Housing First program is to work towards the 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Guilford County. Our first step is to have 10 chronically homeless individuals living in their own apartments by November 2007.