In evaluating the project, it is important to separately consider the “typical” Affordable Housing versus Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) also known as “Housing First.” Though mentioned rarely in the promotional materials, PSH is at least half of the “revised proposal” as far as we can tell. PSH is often described as providing “supportive services for households with a disability.” As we understand it, the “household” is most often one person and the disability is, in many cases, drug use or mental illness serious enough to contribute to homelessness. The word “first” in “Housing First” is after a strategy of providing someone with housing before they get sober. In other words, mentally ill people, often housed in single “studio” units, are free to use drugs and alcohol. When it comes to evaluating PSH, research suggests that some PSH tenants do stay housed for some period of time. But is this arrangement actually good for their health? When researchers attempted to answer this question, the results were troubling. Some outcomes were outright tragic. Several authors suggest that a different approach, “Treatment First” would do better to help these individuals improve their health. 

Charlestown’s own Dr. Gerald Angoff wrote a letter to the Patriot Bridge (March 13 2023) about the distinction between Affordable and Supportive and the many challenges that the latter would face especially in this neighborhood.