Sam Tsemberis

Sam Tsemberis is a mental health professional known for creating the Housing First model, which helps homeless individuals, especially those with mental illness or addiction, access stable housing without preconditions. His approach emphasizes that having a secure home is a critical first step toward improving well-being and recovery, rather than requiring sobriety or treatment beforehand. Tsemberis founded Pathways to Housing, an organization that has successfully implemented this model, showing that stable housing leads to better health, reduced hospitalizations, and increased independence for vulnerable populations.