Executive Summary: Homelessness in America - A National Crisis Requiring Comprehensive Solutions
Homelessness is a persistent and complex issue plaguing the United States at all levels - national, state, county, and city. While the factors contributing to it are multifaceted, the sheer scale and societal impact necessitate a unified, multi-pronged approach.
The Scope of the Problem:
- Over 580,000 individuals experience homelessness in the US, with numbers rising.
- This crisis extends beyond major cities, impacting suburban and rural areas alike.
- The lack of affordable housing, poverty, mental health issues, and substance abuse disorders are key drivers.
Why a National Response is Crucial:
- The interconnectedness of the issue across geographic and jurisdictional boundaries demands a coordinated effort.
- Individual states or cities lack the resources and capacity to tackle the problem effectively in isolation.
- National policies can address systemic issues like affordable housing shortages and inadequate mental healthcare access.
The Limitations of Individual Actions:
No single person or entity can solve homelessness due to its complex and interwoven nature. While individual efforts like shelters and charitable donations provide temporary relief, they are insufficient for long-term solutions.
The Necessity of Involuntary Treatment:
A significant portion of the homeless population struggles with severe mental illness and addiction, hindering their ability to access traditional support systems. Involuntary treatment, implemented ethically and humanely, offers a pathway to recovery and reintegration into society.
Sustainable Rehabilitation Centers as the Cornerstone:
Establishing a network of well-funded, long-term rehabilitation centers is crucial for providing comprehensive care and support. These centers must offer a combination of medical, psychological, and vocational services to address the underlying causes of homelessness.
Conclusion:
Homelessness is a national crisis demanding a collective response. While individual actions play a role, a comprehensive strategy involving national policy changes, involuntary treatment when necessary, and the creation of sustainable rehabilitation centers is essential for effectively addressing this issue and ensuring a future where everyone has access to safe and stable housing.
Did You Know?
California has started involuntary treatment plans via court orders using the newly passed Care act in 2023.
Similar to "ROE VS WADE" there is a key court case that many cities and states are waiting for a ruling on before they begin enforcing laws around public camping.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Grants Pass case, officially known as Johnson v. Grants Pass, in June 2024. This case addresses whether cities can penalize people for sleeping outdoors when there are no available shelter options, arguing that such punishment may violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment opb, (The Urbanist).
* The case originated from a 2018 ruling in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which found that it was unconstitutional for Grants Pass, Oregon, to issue citations to homeless individuals sleeping outdoors with minimal protection when no adequate shelter was available. This decision was rooted in the precedent set by Martin v. Boise, where the court ruled that criminalizing the basic acts of sleeping or sitting in public spaces without available shelter options was unconstitutional (ACLU of Washington).
* The Supreme Court's decision will have significant implications for homelessness policies across the United States. If the Court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it could establish a nationwide precedent that prevents cities from punishing homelessness under similar conditions. Conversely, a ruling in favor of Grants Pass could allow municipalities to enforce stricter regulations against homelessness, even in the absence of adequate shelter options.
- Arizona ranks as one of the worst states in the country (49th) when it comes to mental health, according to Mental Health America in its 2022 and 2023 rankings. Most recently Arizona was ranked the 6th worst state in the country for Mental Health by Forbes 2024.
- Maricopa County continues to have some of the highest levels of evictions in the United States. Recently, Maricopa County Justice Courts spokesman Scott Davis said this week that September was the third month in a row in which the filings were higher than they had been since October 2008. In 2024, eviction files are still at record levels. Learn more about eviction hotspots @ https://evictionlab.org/eviction-tracking/phoenix-az/.
- The Phoenix city council chooses not to enforce homeless and panhandling laws. There was a homeless encampment of 1300+ known as “the zone” in downtown Phoenix. The city was facing a lawsuit from residents and business owners due to their inability to address the issue. Once the lawsuit was filed, the city of Phoenix asked a Judge to dismiss the lawsuit because the city says they don’t have a constitutional duty to protect the property of those filing the lawsuit. The judge sided with the business owners and declared the zone a public nuisance. In the decision, the city “intentionally stopped—or at least materially decreased—enforcement of criminal, health, and other quality of life statutes and ordinances - Goldwater Institute