Are they less deserving to be out of the elements because they have an addiction?
That’s not what’s being said. He is criticizing the fact that so many people assume that ‘just give them a place to live’ is the solution, when it’s much, much more complicated than that. In that way, “homeless” is very reductive, and masks those other issues, in favor of making it look like it’s a simple problem with a simple solution.
Very few long-term homeless people are homeless simply because they can’t afford a place to live.
So we shouldn’t house them unless and until we figure out all of the complex issues? They’re not going to benefit any at all, or have any possibility of getting on their feet, until we have a perfect solution?
That’s what’s being said there: homelessness is not something we should do anything about, because of reasons. So let’s do nothing.
That’s a fucking cop out.
So we shouldn’t house them unless and until we figure out all of the complex issues?
That’s what’s being said there: homelessness is not something we should do anything about
No, Cathy, that’s not what was said.
The fact of the matter is that we know what happens when we provide shelter without anything else. It doesn’t last and you’re right back where you started before you know it. After all, it’s that stuff that is the reason they became homeless in the first place.
If you don’t address the other stuff, ‘just give them a house lol’ literally doesn’t work long-term. That’s the reality.
The fact of the matter is that we know what happens when we provide shelter without anything else. It doesn’t last and you’re right back where you started before you know it. After all, it’s that stuff that is the reason they became homeless in the first place.
Actually it is pretty darn successful when enough housing is provided.
Houston revamped its entire system to get more people into housing quickly, and it cut homelessness by more than half.
Housing First was a revolutionary idea when it was introduced in the 1990s because it didn’t require homeless people to fix their problems before getting permanent housing. Instead, its premise — since confirmed by years of research — was that people are better able to address their individual problems when basic needs, such as food and a place to live, are met.
Housing is the first step to being able to address those issues. Yes, the issues need to be addressed for long term success, but trying to address the issues while they are homeless is not successful. Too much emphasis is put on requiring the treatment as conditional for the housing.
Cathy?
I see that you’re not interested in actual discourse and instead are just looking to be petty.
So I’ll assume you’re also not arguing in good faith either, so I’ll just add some downvotes and move on.
If you were to provide housing only, nothing else, youd still pull out a significant portion of homeless people.
Of course, little to no one is advocating for housing only. These people often lack a solid support system and mental counseling.
Lastly, there will be a portion that cannot be fixed, that might remain broken but honestly? A lot of complete broken people have housing and the sole reason for them not being burned alive or bullied is that they have enough money to not sleep in the streets.
Homelessness encompasses far more than rough sleeping. I agree that there are issues that many homeless people may face that wouldn’t be resolved just by giving them a roof over their head. But it’d be a great start. And don’t forget, a lot of homelessness is people and families in temporary or crisis housing, or couch surfing with friends and family, because they can’t afford a place of their own.
I wouldn’t say this contradicts anything I said, really. I don’t disagree with any of this.
I bristled specifically at the ridiculously glib and reductive “solve homelessness” line. People love to think issues like these are things that have simple obvious solutions that no one thought of before their enlightenment came along and deigned to bless the rest of us.
I mean yeah, it’s a glib portrayal but I don’t think it’s wrong to present it this way. It’s a fact that a few of America’s most wealthy have enough money to house every homeless person in the US, with enough to spare to keep themselves in megayachts and luxury Texan compounds. It drives home the massive wealth inequality.
It also really isn’t infeasible to build enough homes to house all the homeless in the US within one or two years. It’s not infeasible to spend that same amount of time setting up universal basic income and healthcare. Those three things are achievable and would make a positive, life-long difference to the majority of people experiencing homelessness.
And there are a handful of people in the US whose combined personal wealth could easily fund all that.
