MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Changes in federal funding for the homeless could impact who receives help getting off the streets as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers a major policy shift. HUD wants to change the current “Housing First” criteria to a “Treatment First” method, which would require people to go through treatment for issues like drug abuse or mental health before receiving permanent housing. In Martin County, where the housing crisis is growing, it could take much longer for those in need to find permanent homes. A legal battle is taking place right now as Treasure Coast homeless agencies fight to keep the Housing First initiative going.
The Treasure Coast housing crisis may gain another barrier as HUD looks to change the rules for housing assistance grants. Instead of helping people find housing first and treatment second, the new criteria would prioritize treatment as a prerequisite for housing. Michelle Miller, the Human Services Director for Martin County, explained how this would change their funding process.
“They would have to enter with certain stipulations of receiving treatment. How often they would have to receive that treatment, and then certain steps in the process as it goes forward, and enter into more of a transitional style housing style as opposed to a permanent housing,” Miller said…