Enact “Housing First”

Abstract

Whether or not you believe that shelter is a basic human right that should be provided by society, you are probably aware that the costs of homelessness are profound, and not just for the homeless. Emergency room visits—the way most homeless receive health care—are expensive. Policing services are expensive. Jail time is expensive. So are homeless shelters. And, from a pure walkability perspective, street people are cited by many as the reason they avoid walking around downtown. In some cities where few people walk, the majority of pedestrians appear to be homeless, reinforcing that condition.