The issue of homelessness in the United States has continued to escalate, fueled primarily by soaring rental costs that leave low-income individuals without viable housing options. Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, emphasizes that high rents are the leading cause of homelessness. As the nation grapples with this ongoing crisis, concerns mount over the potential impact of a second term for Donald Trump on the matter. When Trump first took office in January 2017, an estimated 550,000 people were homeless across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Experts like Philip Mangano, president and CEO of the American Round Table to Abolish Homelessness, advocate for the Housing First model as the most effective solution to ending homelessness. This approach focuses on providing permanent housing with minimal barriers, followed by supportive services as needed. Federal efforts have notably succeeded in reducing homelessness among veterans through collaborative initiatives between agencies like HUD and the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, as homelessness rates surged by double digits in 2024, Mangano warns against dismantling such effective policies.
"When a neighborhood, on average, spends more than 30% of their income on rent, homeless goes up exponentially." – Ann Oliva
The current landscape reveals a troubling picture. Many migrants, refugees, and new arrivals have settled in sanctuary cities like New York, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., despite a decrease in migrant busing throughout 2024. In these cities, housing affordability remains a critical issue.
Rosie Garrison, a 34-year-old homeless woman in Los Angeles, illustrates the personal struggles faced by many. Despite her efforts to seek assistance, Garrison remains homeless after her makeshift shelter narrowly survived a wildfire along the Los Angeles River.
"This is going to sound really messed up, and I don't want to sound like a Trump supporter, but honestly that stuff helped me," – Rosie Garrison
The Supreme Court has taken steps to address public sleeping bans by instructing cities like Grants Pass to build more shelters. This ruling reflects a broader acknowledgment of the need for low-barrier access to housing for homeless individuals across the nation. Without such options, many cycle through shelters, emergency rooms, and jails, incurring significant costs for taxpayers.
"We know more Americans than ever are paying more than 50% of their income towards rent." – Ann Oliva
In recent years, critics have targeted the Housing First model as an overly liberal approach to homelessness. Still, Mangano defends its effectiveness and warns against removing these policies.
"Housing First has taken the rap for increased homelessness when in fact it doesn’t bear that responsibility." – Philip Mangano
"Removing Housing First policies would be a terrible undoing." – Philip Mangano
Looking forward, there is concern about potential policy shifts under a second Trump administration. With discussions around housing deregulation gaining traction, Shamus Roller notes that federal efforts to encourage cities to rethink housing construction may stall.
"He's talked mostly about housing deregulation, and I think we're unlikely to see efforts at the federal government to get cities to entirely rethink the way they build housing." – Shamus Roller
The fear of undoing successful initiatives looms large. Josh Balloch warns that drastic policy changes could undermine progress made in recent years.
"I'm worried that if the pendulum swings so far back, we end up not building on the good work that we've done." – Josh Balloch
Innovative local solutions also emerge as towns across America tackle the crisis creatively. In southern Oregon, Balloch assists homeless individuals in accessing Medicaid benefits to pay for rent. Such efforts highlight the potential for localized strategies to address homelessness effectively.
"The fear of course is that there will be an undoing of what works." – Philip Mangano
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