The problem of homelessness is not simply that people are sleeping and inhabiting spaces that are not approved; and the solution is not simply to put them back in apartments where they belong.
So I'm not sure I'm on board with the "Housing First" national and regional fad.
First, a caveat: I'm not an expert, and I only understand Housing First by its most obvious features. So please, if you have more accurate information, prove me wrong...!
To me, Housing First appears to be focused on producing very specific "measurable" results, rather than real and useful results. For instance, as I understand it, people who have been on the street for a long time are the last to be considered for benefits, because they are least likely to be placed "successfully" into standard housing, and that's what's measurable. On the other hand, the best qualified candidates, once placed, are a "success" whether or not they actually have a chance of staying housed. If they still cannot afford rent, that doesn't matter, they're placed in standard housing, they are a "success", and any domino effects of unsolved problems will be considered later. Finally, I don't see within the Housing First method serious consideration of preparing chronically homeless for re-integration into "normal society" (even if they did desire that). Homeless people who do not want to, or are unable to become normal citizens by living in standard housing, working to pay rent, etc, are completely ignored.
In short, my understanding of Housing First is that it's desired results are short-term and short-sighted.
But what about trying a "Housing Last" plan?
This plan would start with the current real needs of real homeless people, and incrementally address those needs. Success would be measured completely by improved quality of life for everyone concerned.
For instance, a first priority might be simply to make it easy for homeless people to store their belongings, perhaps in safe and secure compartmentalized storage containers scattered around the city. Once they are freed from carrying everything they own, a certain amount of "Bike scrip" would be offered to make the region's abundant rental bikes available to homeless.
Next could come community health and safety facilities -- showers, laundry, meals, clinics, and pleasant safe places to congregate.
A "Housing Last" approach would legitimize whatever roof a person finds or creates! Tents, covered bike trailers, tiny houses, camper communities, and anything else imaginable would be given legitimate long-term placement or acknowledgement, with garbage, sewage, power and other utilities available. Police and fire protection would be automatic.
So the next step in improving quality of life could be to encourage respect. Legitimization starts to encourage self respect; and self-government in developing communities encourages respect of neighbors. Different homeless communities (as with traditional neighborhoods) develop their own characteristics, problems, and solutions to those problems. With freedom and legitimacy, people will go where they feel they belong, and go where they are likely to learn what they need to learn.
As people are ready, real useful jobs are offered to them: not the menial dead-end and deadening jobs of the minimum wage 9-to-5 world, though; a modern "New Deal" WPA-style program provides livable wages in return for satisfying work that needs to be done and improves everyone's quality of life.
At all stages, anyone who "falls out" of the ideal system of constantly improving quality of life -- for instance, because of physical or mental sickness, out of control addictions, emotional blocks, or any other specific problem -- receives full attention with programs and facilities designed for them. No one is abandoned, and no one is a failure of the system.
Finally -- finally -- once a person has been given every chance and every assistance they deserve to improve their life, they are helped to find whatever comfortable permanent housing they wish.
"Housing Last" puts real needs first. Shall we try it?
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