Jason Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 Finland is the only EU country where homelessness is falling. Its secret? Giving people homes as soon as they need them – unconditionally Quote As in many countries, homelessness in Finland had long been tackled using a staircase model: you were supposed to move through different stages of temporary accommodation as you got your life back on track, with an apartment as the ultimate reward. “We decided to make the housing unconditional,” says Kaakinen. “To say, look, you don’t need to solve your problems before you get a home. Instead, a home should be the secure foundation that makes it easier to solve your problems.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CitizenVectron Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 I knew the solution as soon as I read the title. A city in Canada (Medicine Hat) solved homelessness the same way - just give them apartments for as long as they need it. This lets them get jobs and be healthy, and then they are able to move out. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/medicine-hat-homeless-free-update-1.3949030 However, this is not possible in many places (read: America) because it involves giving something for free to a group of people that are seen as responsible for their own situation (even though homelessness is an institutional problem). It's very similar to how if you make preventative medicine free, you spend less on chronic treatment, yet co-pays still exist in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 32 minutes ago, CitizenVectron said: However, this is not possible in many places (read: America) because it involves giving something for free to a group of people that are seen as responsible for their own situation (even though homelessness is an institutional problem). Somewhere around 2.5 million low income households get rental assistance that covers rent and utilities from the federal government alone. These people otherwise would be homeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris- Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 1 hour ago, sblfilms said: Somewhere around 2.5 million low income households get rental assistance that covers rent and utilities from the federal government alone. These people otherwise would be homeless. It is also a horrifically underfunded program (the waiting list for vouchers is gigantic) with significant problems in application...For example, if you have an eviction or monetary judgement against you, it becomes borderline impossible to get vouchers. The constituency that is most likely to have those things is also the constituency most at risk for homelessness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted June 4, 2019 Author Share Posted June 4, 2019 1 hour ago, sblfilms said: Somewhere around 2.5 million low income households get rental assistance that covers rent and utilities from the federal government alone. These people otherwise would be homeless. But you're still screwed should something happen that causes you to become homeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 4 minutes ago, Chris- said: It is also a horrifically underfunded program (the waiting list for vouchers is gigantic) with significant problems in application...For example, if you have an eviction or monetary judgement against you, it becomes borderline impossible to get vouchers. The constituency that is most likely to have those things is also the consistency most at risk for homelessness. It certainly is in need of reform. My sister is schizophrenic and matter of factly can’t hold down a job despite the appearance of being a healthy young person. She was on the waiting list for close to 30 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 2 minutes ago, Jason said: But you're still screwed should something happen that causes you to become homeless. Sure, but that wasn’t CV’s contention that I was addressing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris- Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 12 minutes ago, sblfilms said: Sure, but that wasn’t CV’s contention that I was addressing. To CV's point, Section 8 - and welfare in general - are definitely maligned by certain segments in this country, and any attempt to do what Helsinki did would only amplify that consternation. I don't think it's a stretch to saying doing so would be politically impossible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jwheel86 Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 Didn't Salt Lake City Utah do the same thing? https://www.npr.org/2015/12/10/459100751/utah-reduced-chronic-homelessness-by-91-percent-heres-how Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSpreader Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 I was hoping they turned them into crackers to feed other homeless people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedSoxFan9 Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 ummm duh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CayceG Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 I also saw the title and assumed "giving them homes?" was the solution. It's difficult too, though, because a lot of homelessness is due to mental illness just like it is due to economic circumstances. Keeping those people from becoming homeless and living on the streets again also needs to include a massive amount of social support. And that industry is high stress, underfunded, underpaid, and under appreciated. So there's not a lot of new blood going into social services. Look upon our works and despair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snaynay1 Posted June 5, 2019 Share Posted June 5, 2019 Didn't we try housing projects in the 60s that turned out to be a failure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted June 5, 2019 Author Share Posted June 5, 2019 1 hour ago, Snaynay1 said: Didn't we try housing projects in the 60s that turned out to be a failure? These aren't projects, they place people in regular apartments. The idea is that most people can bounce back pretty quickly from losing their housing as long as they're re-housed promptly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 5, 2019 Share Posted June 5, 2019 There is a new podcast by Malcolm Gladwell called Solvable. The first episode is about homelessness and covers this specific aspect. Good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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