New York —

Rachelle Ellison spent 17 years sleeping on the streets of Washington, DC, cycling in and out of jails and hospitals.

She finally moved into an apartment in 2008, thanks to a rental voucher with mental health treatment and support services attached through a non-profit organization.

“Once I got the housing stabilization and the foundation underneath my feet, I was able to work on myself,” Ellison said.

Ellison benefited from Housing First, a policy that moves chronically homeless people into permanent housing, without requiring them to be sober or in treatment beforehand. Housing First programs then offer services for drug abuse, mental illness, education and employment.

Housing First has enjoyed bipartisan support for more than two decades. But the Trump administration w

See Full Page