RGB3x3 t1_iwnnpoq wrote
Reply to comment by Artanthos in After spending billions, federal government doesn't know if it's reducing chronic homelessness: AG by strawberrykid_sg
You're missing the whole purpose of giving them homes in the first place. There's no chance that those chronic issues can be treated until they have a place to live, to cook, to shower, to wash their clothes. The Housing First programs give them that, then provide social services like addiction help, healthcare, and work programs.
We've had the system you're talking about for decades and it isn't working. Homelessness is worse than ever.
Artanthos t1_iwnpgnh wrote
Putting the severely mentally ill / chronically drug addicted in a house unsupervised creates more problems than it solves.
What they need is 24/7 supervised medical care.
- This costs significantly more than simple housing.
- It would likely be involuntary for a significant percentage of the chronically homeless.
RGB3x3 t1_iwnvzpx wrote
Did you miss the part where I said they'd be given social services and healthcare? They'd also be frequently checked in on and forced into certain programs in order to maintain their living spaces.
Mentally ill people need mental care, severe drug addicts need medical intervention to get clean. But doing any of that, then sending them back on the streets only serves to put them back into homelessness in the first place.
Maybe let's stop letting people be chronically homeless by giving them homes. How could we expect anyone to get clean if they don't even have a place to shower or cook their own food?
Artanthos t1_iwoi4jl wrote
The people without those issues don’t tend to be chronically homeless.
People without mental health issues or severe drug issues already tend to have access to programs that help them find employment and housing.
You are conflating people with short-term housing issues with the chronically homeless.
They tend to be two separate groups with very different needs.
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