Why Are Housing First Homeless Shelter Programs So Effective?

Why are "housing first" homeless shelter programs so effective?

The question asks for examples of “successful” programs for the homeless. In the US, I’m not aware of any. To my knowledge, none exist. Sure we have faith based missions that in exchange for attendance at a sermon, homeless people are allowed to come out of the weather and have a roof over their heads at night. But that is a temporary “band aid” for a problem that is caused by over 36 years of economic policy that targets the poor and the lower wage levels of the working class, for economic punishment. And each year in the US, as the wealthy become richer thanks to these policies that punish the working class and the poor, and actually increase poverty and homelessness, our numbers of homeless actually increase. The tragic fact is that in the US, we don’t even attempt to address homelessness. A few religious based charities make token efforts, but nothing enduring or effective is even considered. The policy in many cities is to pass laws that make homelessness illegal, so that those who are out on the streets, must go elsewhere. This of course doesn’t solve the problem, it only hides the homeless from public view so that we don’t have to address the problem. So as is the case in just about every aspect of life in the US, if we wanted to actually address homelessness, we must look to the advanced, wealthy, nations of the rest of the world, for ideas and guidance. A decent, livable, minimum wage would be a giant step toward ending homelessness. As it now stands in many places in the US, homeless people can actually get more money by standing on a corner holding a sign begging for handouts, than t can by working like a slave for the minimum wage. Our low minimum wages need to be raised, and constant warfare against the Working Class conducted on behalf of the wealthy class, must stop. Most EU nations, Canada, and Japan, require that all working class people be paid a “living wage”. Being able to live on the wages one earns from their hard work, would eliminate the vast majority of homelessness in the US. Another tactic would be a “guaranteed minimum income” for all citizens. Ensuring that each of our citizens receives an income sufficient to afford the basics necessary to life, would eliminate most welfare, and of course, most homelessness. Several progressive nations have adopted such a program with considerable success. And finally, in the US there are a number of people out on the streets, who are mentally ill or incapacitated, and who cannot take care of themselves, or hold down a job. In the US during the Reagan administration, Federal funding for such institutions was shut down so that our wealthy class could pay less in taxes, and that put many thousands of mentally ill people out on the street corner. We have done nothing since to remedy this.A compassionate nation would care for these unfortunate people, and provide the mental facilities to house them where t could get the help t need that their conditions require.