Diversion is the intervention that has the greatest impact on the community level for those experiencing homelessness. It helps people avoid entering shelter and/or the homeless response system by resolving their immediate housing crisis through creative housing-focused problem-solving, connection to natural supports and/or community resources, and financial assistance (not a requirement but impactful). Most importantly, it is not a denial or barrier to shelter or homeless system entry. Diversion happens at the front door of the homelessness system, but housing-focused problem-solving – which is a crucial part of diversion – can happen upstream and throughout the system.

Through training and conversations with multiple communities, Alliance staff members have shared some key takeaways for how to improve diversion and housing-focused problem-solving system wide.

  1. Diversion is not a program.
  2. It’s a conversation, not a tool.
  3. Diversion involves continuous and system wide training.
  4. Allowing for streamlined cross system communication will assist with ensuring that diversion takes place across a whole system and makes it easier for cross program conversations to continue.
  5. Start with the minimum intervention.
  6. Identify upstream partners.

Read the full article about diversion and problem-solving by Josh Johnson at National Alliance to End Homelessness.