Evaluating Local Housing-First Policies and Strategies: An Analysis Framework for the Netherlands

There is a growing need for affordable and adequate housing, and a pressing social challenge to address homelessness worldwide. In response to these challenges, some countries, including the Netherlands, have adopted Housing-First approaches. Recent studies show that in the Netherlands, the number of people experiencing homelessness is around 33,000. In response, the Dutch government proposed the ‘Nationaal Actieplan Dakloosheid: Eerst een Thuis’ (NAD) in 2023. This plan sets a goal of sustainably reducing homelessness by 2030 by prevention and providing adequate housing. Although the Dutch government proposed this plan and demanded municipalities that envision addressing these challenges, little is known about the necessary institutional changes to advance Housing-First as an innovative and inclusive approach. Also, there is limited knowledge of aligning these plans’ ambitions, goals, and objectives with the Housing-First Principles outlined in the NAD. This paper develops a preliminary framework for evaluating Housing-First policies and implementation strategies at different scales to shift the paradigm from shelters to housing and drive systemic change in homelessness and housing policy in the Netherlands. We propose this framework based on a theoretical study of Housing-First, the right to housing and homelessness prevention concepts, and empirical research with stakeholders. Using this framework as a lens, we analyse a pilot case study of Eindhoven, identifying the connections and gaps in policies at multi-scale levels for different target groups. Our findings aim to inform the proposal of policy strategies, methodologies, and potential design solutions that support and reposition stakeholders, such as local governments and housing associations interested in Housing-First.