Missouri Reverses The ‘Housing First’ Approach For Permanent Supportive Housing

Newly adopted legislation in Missouri changes the state’s approach to managing homeless encampments and shelters and reverses the “housing first” approach to permanent supportive housing. Instead, the state will focus on short-term housing plus wraparound mental health services. The legislation, House Bill 1606, was signed on June 29, 2022, and goes into effect January 1, 2023. The provisions will not apply to shelters for domestic violence victims.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) manages the state's homelessness funding streams and is responsible for implementing the changes directed by House Bill 1606. A DED spokesperson said that . . .