Chile's 'Housing First' program reached a coverage rate of just 3.1% in 2024, according to a report by elmostrador.cl. Out of a population of 21,750 homeless individuals recorded by the Census, only 683 spots were made available this year.
This figure highlights a critical gap between housing demand and the state's response. The report indicates that the issue lies not in the program's design, but in a lack of scale and the political will to expand its reach.
The debate over the causes of homelessness
Minister of Housing and Urbanism Iván Poduje has questioned his department's jurisdiction over the issue. In an interview with Hogar de Cristo, the minister stated that people experiencing homelessness "are individuals with very severe addictions or mental health issues," suggesting that "you can place them in a home and they will return to the streets."
However, data from the 'Anexo Calle' section of the Social Registry of Households contradicts the minister's view. According to the report, only 20% of this population ended up on the streets due to substance abuse. Instead, 59% cited family issues and 15% cited economic reasons.
The elmostrador.cl report details that homelessness acts as a factor that exacerbates addiction rather than being its initial cause. An individual who has been unhoused for ten years is 66% more likely to use crack cocaine than someone who has been on the streets for less than a year.
The 'Housing First' model, implemented in Chile since 2018, has shown positive results in person retention. Between 2022 and 2024, the housing retention rate increased from 45% to 75%, with some projects achieving a 100% success rate.
Nevertheless, the program faces structural challenges. The homeless population faces high mortality rates and growing needs for physical and mental healthcare as people age under precarious conditions.
