The surprisingly simple way Utah solved chronic homelessness and saved millions

[maxsolomon]

13. I understand the popularity of this story, but it is not applicable everywhere.

There's an element of magical thinking here, as if the solution is "Just Do It". As the article states, "it's not that simple".

First, you must have "homes" (apartments) to "give". Seattle, for instance, has years-long waitlists. So do Housing Authorities in surrounding communities, even far out on the periphery of urban areas.

Second, you must have money to fund this approach, and particularly to BUILD new units to put the homeless into. A lot of money. That is not forthcoming in any state with the GOP in control of any branch of the government, and it's not coming from the Feds anytime soon, either. The article notes that construction of new units in UT has fallen off a cliff: 600 per year for 3 years, then 121 the 4th.

Third, look at the chart in the article. Yes, CHRONIC Homelessness was reduced, but not eliminated. And the overall rate and that of families? Not seeing a real downward trend there.

When I look around in Seattle, the fastest-growing city in America, what do I see? A marked influx of homeless in the last 6 months, an overwhelming number. I see people camping anywhere and everywhere. I see lines outside the service centers. This problem is getting worse, and with a feel-good story like this, the Devil is in the details.