Here are the steps and order in which to help homeless people move out of homelessness.
1. Create emergency, triage shelter that is safe.
2. Provide access to food and clean water.
These two steps are based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
#1: Physiological Needs
Physiological needs are the lowest level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. They are the most essential things a person needs to survive. They include the need for shelter, water, food, warmth, rest, and health. A person’s motivation at this level derives from their instinct to survive.
#2: Safety Needs
The second level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs consists of safety needs. Safety, or security needs, relate to a person’s need to feel safe and secure in their life and surroundings. Motivation comes from the need for law, order, and protection from unpredictable and dangerous conditions.
We must understand that we cannot move up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs until the level we are currently on has been satisfied.
3. Begin a consistent and reliable form of community building for the person. We must show them that they are loved and are a valuable part of a community.
4. Get birth certificate.
5. Get state ID.
6. Get social security card.
Access to housing, food stamps, healthcare all require these three forms of identification. This is the order in which you must get them.
7. Begin a mental health program to treat PTSD, current trauma and any other mental health issues. Living on the street has the same level of trauma as being in an active war zone.
8. Help them apply for social security or disability.
9. Help them begin the process of applying for housing.
10. Repeat any steps that need repeating.
This process takes a minimum of 3 months. But 6 months to 1.5 years is more common. And it is likely longer as people slip back and forth between steps.
The housing step can take years just by itself.
(Drug treatment and traditional work are not part of the process of treating the homeless condition.)