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 stu

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