Expanding Social Work Licensure to Strengthen the Homelessness Service Workforce

Abstract

Homeless services require appropriate funding, access to necessary resources, and experienced staff to effectively connect individuals to housing and services with a Housing First lens. This policy brief examines part of the solution to the third requirement: trained and experienced staff. The brief proposes two state-level legislative changes to expand social work licensure access. Through the elimination of a social work licensure exam and the expansion of licensing to non-degree holders, the workforce supporting homelessness services can reflect the population being served. It will reduce historic racial disparity in licensure access, increase salaries for service providers, and allow for BIPOC leaders to step into supervisory roles with more ease.