The Housing First Partners Conference (HFPC) was launched in 2012 by DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) and the Pathways Housing First Institute with the goal of advancing Housing First as a proven solution to end homelessness. Housing First is not housing alone. It provides immediate access to housing alongside voluntary, ongoing support services such as behavioral health care, substance use support, primary care, employment support services, and case management, for as long as people need them. HFPC brings practitioners, researchers, advocates, people with lived experience, and system leaders together to share evidence, practice lessons, and approaches that strengthen housing stability and support.

Since its inception, HFPC has been held biennially in various cities across the United States, creating a dynamic platform for collaboration and learning. The first conference in New Orleans in 2012 set the stage for future gatherings, followed by successful events in Chicago (2014), Los Angeles (2016), and Denver (2018).

HFPC 2020, originally scheduled for Seattle, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, the conference was successfully held virtually in 2021, attracting over 1,300 participants from around the world. The 2022 in-person conference in Seattle marked a triumphant return, with nearly 1,200 attendees reconvening to reconnect and renew their commitment to the Housing First model.

Most recently, HFPC 2024 in Atlanta welcomed over 1,200 attendees, continuing the tradition of highlighting the successes of Housing First and its crucial role in ending homelessness. Over the years, HFPC has grown into a global gathering, inspiring innovation and strengthening the network of advocates working to ensure that Housing First remains a key solution in the fight to end homelessness.

We’re excited for HFPC 2026 in May. Housing First continues to work when housing is matched with the right level of support, time, and flexibility. HFPC 2026 will focus on what it takes to sustain housing, respond when support isn’t enough, and adapt services for people with the highest needs. Join us to sharpen practice, challenge assumptions, and keep Housing First centered on housing plus support because stability depends on both.