How to stop homelessness before it starts | Jen Loving

Homelessness prevention means acting before a housing crisis becomes homelessness, rather than waiting until someone reaches a shelter. Jen Loving says missed work, a death in the family, or a medical emergency can be an early signal that a person may need help. For every person living on the streets, she says, thousands more are living paycheck to paycheck and could lose their housing after an unexpected bill or other crisis.

Loving cited more than 771,000 people in America without homes in 2024, the highest recorded level, following an 18% increase in one year. She argues that prevention should focus on people at risk of losing their homes, while there is still an opportunity to stabilize their situation. The aim is not only to avoid homelessness, but to prevent the disruption that can follow when families lose their housing.

Destination Home and its partners launched a homelessness prevention system in Silicon Valley in 2017 and have helped more than 44,000 people stay in their homes. The approach combines vulnerability assessments with fast, flexible assistance, including rent support, coordination with landlords, and continued help from caseworkers. That assistance can extend beyond the immediate rent shortfall to help people navigate matters such as employment, benefits, and childcare.

Research from the University of Notre Dame found the model statistically significant in keeping people housed in both the short and longer term. The research estimated $2.47 in public savings for every dollar invested. Loving says prevention can also cost less than responses after a person becomes homeless, including shelter stays, emergency-room visits, and arrests for being poor. The case for early intervention is therefore both human and financial, though its effectiveness depends on reaching people before their housing situation collapses.

One example is a single mother facing eviction after losing her job. She received help with back rent and coordination with her landlord, along with support navigating a new job, benefits, and childcare. Loving also described Tanya, whose pregnancy complications led to the loss of her job and housing. After leaving the hospital with her newborn, Tanya was given a shelter list and a bus token; she rode San Jose’s 24-hour bus with the baby for two days. Her experience illustrates the gap between offering someone a list of resources and providing practical support that can prevent or resolve a housing crisis.

Destination Home has launched Right at Home, a national movement focused on preventing homelessness before it starts, and is replicating its model across 10 rural, urban, and tribal communities. Loving says keeping families housed can also help children stay in school. The effort rests on a shift in timing: identify vulnerability and provide flexible help before a missed payment or personal emergency becomes the point at which a family loses its home.