The Housing First Initiative "Are you tired of this?"  Clifton Harris, Director of the Metropolitan Homeless Commission, asked two homeless men. Then, Clifton told them the news that would change both of their lives. "What would you think if I told you that I am going to offer you the chance tonight to go to a home with clean sheets on the bed and a refrigerator full of food?" he asked. It took Clifton the next three hours to convince the men that his offer was no joke. That night, Gary and John, the first clients of the Nashville Housing First Initiative, were homeless no more. The Housing First Initiative began in New York City with Pathways to Housing in 1992 with the philosophy that if individuals are to break free of homelessness they must first be placed in a stable environment, surrounded by the services they need to become successful.  Since then, the program has been replicated throughout the country.  The Bush administration reported this past July that housing first programs were largely responsible for a 30 percent drop in chronic homelessness between 2005 and 2007. Since the night Gary and John went home, 67 people have been placed in housing through Nashville's Housing First Initiative.  To date, there is a 100 percent retention rate.  This December 2nd, at the close of Project Homeless Connect, it is the goal of the commission to place 50 individuals in homes through The Housing First Initiative where they will be surrounded with the resources they need to re-enter society.   Sidebar info: The ratio of clients to social workers in the Housing First Initiative is 10 - 1. An average of 17 chronically homeless individuals are arrested each day for misdemeanor offenses such as public urination.  Their average stay in jail is 15 days at $66.00 per day. The wrap around services provided by the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission under The Housing First Initiative cost about $25.75 per day per person.  Housing plus wrap around services is estimated at $43.85 per day per person. Under the Housing First Initiative, the client holds the lease.  The role of the MHC is to support wrap around services that help clients become good tenants and stay housed. By Sherri Gragg Metropolitan Nashville Homelessness Commission Newsletter/ October 2008