Inside Not Outside Initiative

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Inside Not Outside is a new initiative dedicated to ending chronic homelessness for individuals and families in Montgomery County by the end of 2018. This effort is being led by the County’s Interagency Commission on Homelessness (ICH) and builds on the successes of previous efforts to combat homelessness in the county. Through the Inside Not Outside initiative, the 375 Montgomery County residents who have been identified as currently or at risk of being chronically homeless will be permanently housed. By using a Housing First approach, households will be provided immediate, low barrier access to independent housing and intensive wraparound supports. The federal definition of chronic homelessness states that individuals and families must have a disability and experienced 12 consecutive months of homelessness or four episodes of homelessness in three years. Recognizing that people may become chronically homelessness over time, our goal is to reach "functional zero". "Functional zero" is defined by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness as no more than three people experiencing chronic homelessness at any given time.