In January, I wrote a post entitled “Housing the Homeless: Helping or Enabling? Merciful or Money-saving?” about the “housing first” method of housing the homeless. With “housing first,” mentally ill and/or addicted homeless individuals are given housing without being required to take medication or accept substance abuse treatment. The idea is to get them into a stable living situation and then offer them supportive services. However, they may still choose to refuse the services. “Harm reduction” measures are used, such as assistance with budgeting, but clients retain control.
I found a good article about New York’s Pathways to Housing program, a well-known model of the “housing first” method. The article details how “housing first” works. It’s interesting and informative, but frankly, it only increased my concerns about this controversial method of housing the homeless.
Cara, I don’t comment but I do keep up with your blog. You are doing so much good. My views are a bit more harsh than yours and I suppose that is simply the difference in age and seeing so much failure of both programs and people. Also seeing how much damage Welfare as we have it set up has done to people. Although my actions don’t fit my words more often than not. I’m still an old softie yelling for others to use “tough love”! Brenda Bowers
Brenda, I think we probably agree on a lot. I think the welfare system has harmed more than helped, and I’m a firm believer in tough love. I believe that God helps people more through other people than through programs, and I’ve also seen many people and many programs fail. But I’ve never seen God fail, and that’s where I put my faith, trust and hope. Blessings to you and thanks for your comment, CM