<p>The history of housing in the United States demonstrates the intersectional role of housing in advancing positive social change. Intersectionality is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people or social problems as affected by a number of influences. It considers people’s overlapping identities and experiences to understand the complexity of the realities they face. The primary mission of the social work profession is to meet the basic human needs and improve the wellbeing of all people (particularly those most vulnerable, oppressed or living in poverty) through personal empowerment. Social work professionals operate from the theory that people are both shaping and shaped by their environments (National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics). While many practitioners focus on the element of empowering individuals, it is not possible to achieve impactful social change without also addressing or maintaining an awareness of the political and social forces that have shaped the environments people are presently navigating. As such, it is imperative that social work professionals are familiar with and considerate of the historical and political factors that influence the current landscape we are practicing in. This article aims to explore the intersectionality of housing in the United States, highlighting the model and practice of the Housing First theory among advocates and practitioners, providing an overview of the history of housing in the U.S., and discussing the implications that our history and demonstrated best practice have in shaping people’s lives today and for generations to come.</p>