Housing First Erie
Combatting Chronic Homelessness
Each year, there are roughly 150 people in our community experiencing chronic homelessness, living without a home for a year or more, and far more experiencing episodic homelessness. To address this, a diverse collection of community leaders joined together to launch Housing First Erie, a public-private partnership dedicated to ending homelessness in Erie County by:
- Developing housing for the 150 people experiencing chronic homelessness by building a new housing facility with 50 units and acquiring 100 scattered-site units across the county.
- Launching an Integrated Care Team to meet health and social service needs.
- Raising $20M in private and public support this initiative.
Housing First Erie is supported by a governing board, co-chaired by Karen Bilowith, President & CEO of Erie Community Foundation, and Charles “Boo” Hagerty, President of Hamot Health Foundation. Under their leadership, multiple high-impact projects are already underway.
Schoolhouse Apartments
Erie's First Endeavor toward Permanent Supportive Housing
Schoolhouse Apartments, located in the former Washington School, will provide more than 22 units of permanent supportive housing for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness. Designed to offer long-term stability, Schoolhouse combines safe, affordable housing with wraparound supportive services that help residents address behavioral health, physical health, and recovery needs.
By removing housing instability—the single greatest barrier to improved health and well-being—Schoolhouse creates the foundation for lasting progress. Its central location near public transportation and downtown Erie services ensures residents have access to the resources needed to thrive, strengthening both individual outcomes and the broader community. Expanding the availability of high-quality, affordable housing is central to the Housing First Erie approach and to the long-term vitality of Erie’s neighborhoods.
The Triangle of Hope
The Triangle of Hope is a collaborative community initiative dedicated to transforming underutilized parish and school properties into housing, services, and support centers for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, housing instability, and related challenges.
