Officials in the city of Houston, Texas say 25,000 people have moved into permanent housing in the city since 2011, a decrease in the homeless population of 63 percent. The city implemented a "housing first" strategy, a model that moves vulnerable people straight from streets and shelters into apartments, without requiring them to enter other programs, like substance abuse treatment or job training, first.

We speak with Mandy Chapman-Semple, the former Special Assistant to the Mayor for Homeless Initiatives in Houston, and James Gonzalez, Director of Program Operations at Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, about the program’s implementation, obstacles and successes, and what’s in store for the future.

We also hear from Jayro Garcia Lopez, a young man who was unhoused and received stable housing through the program, and Kenneth Eakins, Director of Housing and Navigation Services for the Salvation Army of Greater Houston, who helped him navigate the process.