STREET LIFE SUCKS –
July 14, 2024 – Every reasonable person agrees that addiction is a prevalent challenge among the homeless population, whether they base that judgment on scientific research or on the experience of walking the streets of California communities. But there is a sharp disagreement about how to respond to this reality … one that touches on familiar debates about drug use, human rights and the true definition of compassion.
Since 2016, California has gone all-in on one side of this debate by requiring all tax dollars used for housing to endorse a “housing first” model. This places homeless people into permanent supportive housing immediately and with no preconditions. The use of alcohol and other drugs is not a barrier to entry or to continually live in a supportive residential setting. Proponents believe that imposing conditions would not be compassionate and would violate individual rights.
