Homelessness prevention can be approached in two ways. One – the more enduring path to ending homelessness – is to fix the systemic problems that cause it: social inequalities of income, wealth, and opportunity, and a failure of the social safety net. These are broad social changes, and while they are not likely to happen soon, efforts to address them will certainly contribute to reducing homelessness.

The focus of prevention addressed here is the more short-term approach of intervening with people experiencing crises before they show up at the shelter door. It is important to use evidence to identify what types of crises are most likely to result in homelessness. Examples include eviction, behavioral health crises, or exits from institutional care without a housing placement.