If a tap breaks, we don’t stand by as water floods the floor—we turn it off at the source. Yet when it comes to homelessness, our systems often do the opposite: we focus almost entirely on emergency response after the flood has already occurred. Shelters, emergency rooms, and law enforcement are essential, but they are the most expensive way to respond to homelessness—and they don’t stop it from happening in the first place.
Why Prevention Matters
Prevention efforts like diversion, eviction prevention, and legal aid stop homelessness before it starts.
Effective Programs
• In Chicago, renters who received small eviction-prevention grants were 76% less likely to enter a shelter within six months.
• In New York, tenants with legal counsel saw eviction orders cut by 77%.
• A landmark study in Santa Clara County found that providing modest financial assistance—around $2,000—reduced homelessness by nearly four percentage points, a dramatic improvement at scale.
Smarter Investment
Prevention saves public resources. The Santa Clara study showed a $2.47 return for every $1 invested through avoided shelter costs, fewer 911 calls, reduced ER visits, and less strain on public services. Compare that to the enormous costs communities bear when homelessness goes unaddressed: encampment fires, damaged public infrastructure, and the time first responders spend addressing preventable crises.
Preventing Trauma
Homelessness isn’t just a financial issue—it’s deeply traumatic.
• Adults who lose housing face higher rates of PTSD, depression, and chronic stress.
• Children fall behind academically, experience long-term health issues, and carry the emotional scars of instability for years.
Prevention spares families this pain while protecting their futures.
JOE’S STORY A Journey to Stability and Independence
When Joe S. connected with Hope Atlanta in November 2024, he was on the brink of losing everything. A serious infection had forced him to leave his food service job, and without paid sick leave or health insurance, he quickly fell behind on bills. Within weeks, his savings were gone, and eviction was looming. Through Hope Atlanta’s Homeless Prevention Program, Joe received the support he needed to regain stability. Over six months, Hope Atlanta helped cover his rent and utilities, prevented his car from being repossessed, and connected him to legal aid, job resources, and personalized case management. Joe’s hard work paid off. By the end of the program, he had secured full-time employment with benefits, caught up on all his bills, and received VA benefits with back pay — creating a vital safety net. Today, Joe is stable, self-sufficient, and no longer at risk of homelessness. His story shows how early intervention and wraparound support can prevent a temporary setback from becoming a long-term crisis — proving that with the right help at the right time, lasting change is possible. www.hopeatlanta.org
Critical First Lines of Defense
Diversion and eviction prevention programs are essential tools for keeping individuals and families stably housed.
Diversion Strategies provide immediate, safe alternatives to shelters through resources like family mediation, transportation assistance, or temporary stays with friends and relatives.
Eviction Prevention offers financial support, legal aid, and mediation services to help families remain in their homes and avoid homelessness altogether.
Hope Atlanta plays a leading role in providing these early interventions alongside partners like Atlanta Mission and Gateway Center. These strategies reduce the strain on emergency shelters and other intensive homelessness responses by addressing crises before they escalate. Many of the people we serve don’t qualify for traditional housing aid but are still just one unexpected expense away from crisis.
Without help, a single car repair, medical bill, or missed paycheck could threaten their housing or derail their progress toward economic stability. By filling these critical gaps, Hope Atlanta helps people remain housed and employed—preventing homelessness before it starts. Through funding and support from United Way and corporate partners like QuikTrip, these prevention programs are scaled to reach more families and individuals, creating a safety net that keeps people from falling into homelessness in the first place.
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