City of Topeka adopts Housing First approach to homelessness

More than a dozen people Monday received vouchers for housing after the city of Topeka changed course and began embracing the Housing First model.

The approach, first conceived around 1990, connects those experiencing homelessness to housing without preconditions.

Along with several people, most of whom have been living outside, Nichole Deal filled out paperwork for the Shelter Plus Care program on Monday.

“What do we put for address?” she asked.

Deal has been living unsheltered for three years.

“I left a domestic violence relationship,” she said, “and lost everything. I didn’t have a support team.”

The Topekan said living outside was miserable.

“I’m trying not to cry,” she said of the prospect of gaining permanent housing.

Mental health practitioner Russell Burton proposed the Housing First model to Corrie Wright, the city’s director of housing services.

“This should hopefully have an impact on these people’s lives for the rest of their lives,” Burton said. “We are housing people first and then dealing with their underlying issues,” Wright said. “That’s a little different than how we’ve done it in the past so that’s kind of exciting.”