Needle exchange programs are proven to lower the rate of HIV infection among intravenous drug users. Providing free condoms also helps prevent HIV infection. And needles and condoms cost less than AIDS treatment. But some people argue that offering needles and condoms implies approval of wrong behavior.

Studies show that it can be less expensive to provide free housing to chronically homeless people than to pay the costs of housing them in homeless shelters, jail cells and hospital beds. But some people argue that providing free housing is just a way of enabling.

So what’s the right answer, ethically? Do we condemn? Do we help people to change?

And what would Jesus do?

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