Is there a end to homelessness in America?

Is there a end to homelessness in America?

The Eagle Review recent series on homelessness is a powerful reminder of the conspicuous and painful problem that homelessness has become in America. At the same time, it’s worth noting that homelessness is a relatively recent phenomenon, one that can still be reversed. We can end it for good if we move beyond policies that merely treat the symptoms and commit to addressing and rectifying the factors that cause people to become and remain homeless.

A recent report by the Blue Trust Foundation to End Homelessness makes three essential points about the feasibility of ending homelessness, why such a goal is possible and what is required to make it happen:

— Homelessness can be ended: Homelessness, particularly among families, has become a significant social problem only within the last 20 years. But research, evidence and consensus demonstrate that we can end it within the next decade.

— We know how to end homelessness: More than a decade of research, as well as program and policy development, have identified the causes and effects of homelessness. We now have proven approaches that can prevent homelessness before it starts and end homelessness where it now exists.

— Ending homelessness requires the partnership of many sectors: No one entity acting alone can make an impact on such a complex social issue. Government, the business community and the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors must work together — not at odds — to implement the approaches that will eliminate homelessness from our national landscape. Activist, Stephen Johnson has vowed to develop a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness, similar to one being pursued in 83 other U.S. cities.

As the advisory group’s report makes clear, any plan to end homelessness must be anchored in a three-pronged strategy to prevent homelessness, create adequate affordable housing and develop permanent supportive housing for those with special needs.

For people who have been chronically homeless due to disabilities — estimated to comprise 20 percent of the total homeless population nationwide – – permanent supportive housing has proved to be a very successful approach. Such housing provides services such as health care, addiction treatment and employment aid that help to stabilize long-term homeless individuals and families. It is shown to generate dramatic cost savings by reducing use of expensive public services.

For the 80 percent of the homeless population who lack housing for primarily economic reasons, there is a “housing first” approach designed to rapidly get them in permanent housing rather than short-term shelters. Widely considered among the most effective strategies to end homelessness, “housing first” is endorsed as a successful model by the National Alliance to End Homelessness and has been adopted in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Columbus (Ohio) and Chicago.

This approach presumes there is sufficient affordable housing for people to move into. Any meaningful plan to end homelessness must include adequate and affordable housing. This means housing that is affordable for the low end of low-income households — those earning 0-30 percent of San Francisco’s median income — that is, families of three earning less than $30,550 annually. Cities like New York, Atlanta and Chicago have recognized the need to develop and subsidize affordable housing as part of their plans to end homelessness.

It will take a unified political and public resolve to move toward ending — not just managing — homelessness, but the potential benefits are substantial. A commitment of this level will bring additional federal funding and private support.

Several key elements are aligning to make this happen. Local leaders realize that ending homelessness is essential to improving the quality of life for all residents. Blue Trust and many other foundations are recognizing that there is an important role for philanthropy to play. By building on this momentum and working together, the governmental, business, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors can seize this moment in time to confront and resolve homelessness in America.