"Through Bremen's model project, 33 formerly homeless individuals have successfully secured apartments"
The "Housing First" project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at providing housing for homeless individuals with complex issues, has housed 42 previously homeless people in the city of Bremen by the end of 2023/2024. However, the success of the project is considered "relatively uncertain," with some participants experiencing worsened mental health issues, addictions, or social conflicts.
Dr. Claudia Schilling, Senator for Social Affairs, is set to present the project on September 26. The project, run by associations "Wohnungshilfe Bremen e.V." and "Hoppenbank e.V.," began in 2021 and is designed for homeless individuals with complex problems who have been living on the streets for a long time and have not engaged with previous support offers.
The project's philosophy emphasizes housing as a basic right, separate from any requirements to prove "housing readiness." It allows for a trusting relationship to develop without the threat of sanctions, and the living situations of some participants have shown improvement. By the end of 2023, 33 of the housed individuals held a lease for their own accommodation.
However, the future of the project remains uncertain as the regular funding is currently being debated nationwide. The current federal appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) shows differing proposals between the House and Senate.
The House Appropriations Committee proposed $67.8 billion for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a decrease of $939 million compared to FY25. This reduced funding level challenges the maintenance of critical investments in affordable housing and homelessness programs. On the other hand, the Senate Appropriations Committee has put forward a more generous budget, proposing $73.3 billion for HUD, an increase of about $3.3 billion from the previous fiscal year's continuing resolution.
A bipartisan "ROAD to Housing Act of 2025," which recently passed out of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously, includes several provisions aimed at improving housing affordability and supporting homeless populations, potentially impacting funding and program structure relevant to Housing First strategies.
In summary, while there is no direct reference to Dr. Schilling’s final report or specific funding updates on the "Housing First" project, the overall status as of mid-2025 shows an active but polarized federal funding discussion. The House proposes cuts and flat funding that constrain homelessness program investments, whereas the Senate advocates increased funding levels supporting these efforts. The final funding outcome for "Housing First" will depend on reconciliation between these legislative priorities and appropriations decisions later in the FY26 budget process.
It is worth noting that the success of the "Housing First" project is considered "relatively uncertain" in some cases, with one participant returning to homelessness. A report commissioned by the State of Berlin is expected by the end of 2024, which may provide more insight into the project's effectiveness and future prospects.
Dr. Claudia Schilling, Senator for Social Affairs, is planning to discuss the "Housing First" project, which aims to provide housing for homeless individuals with complex issues, during her presentation on September 26. The project's uncertain future stems from the ongoing debate about regular funding at the national level, with proposals varying between a decrease in funding by the House Appropriations Committee and an increase by the Senate Appropriations Committee for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The final funding outcome for "Housing First" will depend on reconciliation between these legislative priorities and appropriations decisions later in the FY26 budget process, and a report commissioned by the State of Berlin, expected by the end of 2024, may offer additional insights into the project's effectiveness and future prospects.
In the realm of finance and investing, the proposed budget levels significantly impact the "Housing First" project's ability to secure investments in affordable housing and homelessness programs. As the funding situation becomes clearer, investors might be more inclined to support initiatives like the "Housing First" project, recognizing its potential to make a meaningful impact on the housing-market and real-estate sector.
