Despite Tough Talk from Politicians, Research Proves Housing Remains the Most Effective Solution to End Homelessness
In the wake of the recent and devastating Grants Pass decision to arrest homeless people for living outside, emboldened politicians are now saying the quiet part out loud, declaring that when it comes to homeless people, they are not going to be “compassionate.”
The harsh truth is they have never been compassionate when addressing poverty in America. The only difference now is that homelessness is, in itself, a crime. Therefore, shifty city leaders can hide behind this shield of criminality and claim their cruelty is an act of tough love. They might even get away with this approach were it not for a pesky little thing called “facts.”
Take, for example, the situation rapidly unfolding in Lakewood City, Washington, where the median home price soars over half a million dollars, and the average rental rates increased by 20% between 2020 and 2022 alone. Lakewood sets the bar high for persons-in-poverty and eviction rates, beating out most other regions in Washington with astronomical rankings in both categories. In fact, Assistant City Manager Dave Bugher admitted, verbatim, that in Lakewood, “…housing costs have risen three times as fast as income since 2010.”
Now, in the new age of homeless criminalization, Lakewood City Mayor Jason Whalen revealed he would be modeling harsh homeless legislation under the guise of maintaining public safety.
“The focus is not to punish homelessness, and, yes, we all believe in being compassionate,” Mayor Wheelan said in a statement published by Tacoma’s News Tribune. “I think what we are doing is being compassionate because sometimes compassion requires tough love, in my opinion.”
Later in that interview, Mayor Wheelan went on to claim that the city had made vested efforts to provide transportation, food, shelter, and services to members of the unhoused community. However, there is a glaring issue with this claim. In it, Wheelan does not once mention the number one component to combatting homelessness—permanent, affordable housing.
The Fact is That Tough Love Will Never Solve Homelessness Because Only Housing Can Do That.
Imagine trying to cure cancer with everything except chemotherapy or attempting to solve complex mathematic equations using every tool except a calculator. Essentially, city leaders are force-feeding the public a crooked narrative, serving them this crock of soup in just about everything except a bowl.
There is overwhelming evidence to prove that housing and services are the most cost-effective and efficient way to solve homelessness. Yet, even in the face of reviews like the Housing First Impact on Costs and Associated Cost Offsets, which draws from twelve published studies and 22 unpublished studies and concludes that Housing First represents “a more efficient allocation of resources,” there are still political leaders willing to scoff at the results and make sweeping, inaccurate claims that housing does not solve homelessness.
As a testament to this, San Francisco Mayor London Breed ignores academic scholars like Matthew Desmond and rigorously researched studies like Elior Cohen’s Housing the Homeless to stand ten toes down on a mountainous lie:
“The problem is not going to be solved by building permanent supportive housing or shelter alone,” Breed said in a heated discussion about homelessness.
At this point, you might think Mayor Breed will suggest adding wraparound services or some other effectively proven component, but no. Shockingly, Breed goes on to say, “We have to start cutting off the opportunities that exist in San Francisco.”
Through this statement, Mayor Breed implies that housing and services (the two proven essentials to resolving homelessness) should be taken away. And in their place? As you might have guessed, Breed’s suggestion is even more prison time for poor people.
“Effective August, we are going to be very aggressive and assertive in moving encampments, which may even include criminal penalties,” Breed said in a statement published by Bay Area’s NBC.
Experts Agree with Academics, stating that Housing Continues to be the Most Cost-Effective and Efficient Way to Handle the Homeless Crisis
“The evidence is irrefutable that the best approach to addressing homelessness is providing people with access to affordable, stable housing and voluntary supportive services,” said Sarah Saadian, the Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Field Organizing for the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
VP Saadian has more than ten years of experience advancing affordable housing policies on Capitol Hill. Her track record includes working as a policy counsel and senior analyst, managing field mobilization efforts, drafting legislative materials, and communicating with clients in rural and urban demographics on the brink of homelessness. Her experience spans from the courtroom to the streets to the halls of Congress, and her stance on this subject remains unwavering.
“The issue has been studied for decades,” Saadian explained. “And the evidence is extremely clear that if we want to end homelessness, we have to invest in affordable housing and services at the scale that’s needed. I’ll also say that in addition to housing being the solution to homelessness, housing is also the best prevention tool against homelessness.
“So, if we’re talking about how to stop people from becoming homeless in the first place,” Saadian continued, “the clearest answer is that we need to address our housing crisis. And it’s no surprise that as rents have gone up, so has homelessness. In fact, the GAO, the government accountability office, has found that for every $100 increase in monthly median rent, there’s a 9% increase in homelessness. So, the connection between our housing crisis and homelessness is so clear it’s indisputable.”
“Often, these policymakers are looking for distractions. They’re seeking out easy answers that are politically expedient rather than solutions that are proven to solve homelessness.”
Speaking of solutions that are proven to solve homelessness, Beth Sandor, who represents Community Solutions, the organization that helped slice veteran homelessness nearly in half in Detroit in 2023 and then went on to reduce chronic homelessness by almost one-third in Hennepin County, Minnesota, claims that housing has been a critical component in those success stories.
“Stable, permanent housing is critical to solving homelessness, but housing alone isn’t the solution,” Sandor told Invisible People. “Along with affordable housing, we need strong local homelessness response systems using quality, by-name data to track how many people are experiencing homelessness and what their housing needs are. Housing must be prioritized for the most vulnerable.”
“For example, in Jacksonville, Florida, our Built for Zero initiative is helping the city work toward functional zero for veteran homelessness,” Sandor added. “Through our Large City Housing Fund, we acquired properties for the local response system to house veterans. These units accounted for 27 percent of housing placements for veterans exiting homelessness last year, and Jacksonville saw nearly its highest housing placement rate in four years during just the first quarter of 2024.”
Given the gravity of the situation, with millions of Americans enduring homelessness each year, who do you think should be believed? The academics and researchers who have dedicated decades to meticulously reviewing studies, and the professionals who are in the field reducing homelessness right now, or the people who are vying for your vote?
There’s only one truly compassionate choice. Make it today.
Talk to Your Representatives About the Lack of Affordable Housing
Tell your local representatives that homelessness is not being solved by being swept under the rug. Remind them that the housing crisis deserves immediate attention and action and that your vote is contingent upon prioritizing affordable housing and housing as a human right for all.
