Utah Fights Homelessness... by Giving People Homes

[Veras]

http://www.nationofchange.org/utah-ending-homelessness-giving-people-homes-1390056183

I'm quite frankly impressed that a program like this exists in the United States, much less in Utah.

Basically, they realized that it would be cheaper to provide the homeless with apartments and access to a social worker to help them out than to pay the costs of incarceration/healthcare/etc. that the state was incurring in trying to deal with them when they were homeless.  It has worked, and they're on track to effectively eliminate homelessness in the state by 2015.

I saw this article because a friend shared it with me, and I feel that I should pass on her commentary, because it is much better than anything I have to say:

This plan makes sense if you believe any of the following:

a) that safe housing is a human right, not just a luxury of the privileged
b) that the problem with homelessness is that people are homeless, in which case the best solution is to get them in homes (if you believe that the problem with homelessness is that it makes your city less attractive, or even less safe, then laws criminalizing homelessness--punishing people for financial hardship--become more popular)
c) that actually looking at the costs makes more sense than just assuming (though if you're basing your decision solely on financial cost, the outcome will vary by location)

[Flying Mint Bunny!]

That's really good news.

[Ultimate Paragon]

Let's hope other states follow suit.

[Askold]

Much of the costs for the goverment that come from homeless people are from hospital/medical costs and arresting/jailing them for being homeless. (crime does also happen but it is not the biggest issue.)

By giving them a shelter you significantly reduce those costs. (Is it suprising that people who sleep outside, exposed to the climate get sick often?)

And it is the decent thing to do since being homeless is horrible.

[RavynousHunter]

Fucking Utah.  One moment, they're bugfuck nuts and yelling at walls for being the wrong colour, the next moment...they're doing things like this, that other people should be fucking doing.

[I am lizard]

 

NEW OHIO BILL WORSE THAN THE HOLOCAUST, AIDS, AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMBINED!TONIGHT ON FOX!

[Damen]

[I am lizard]

[Dakota Bob]

Nice, good job Utah! on paper it seems like such an obvious solution I'm suprised nobody tried it before

[Raymond Dullaghy]

At this point, I've become so jaded that even this seemingly great news can only get me cautiously optimistic. Sure, they've got four walls and a roof, which is a definite improvement. But what is the average quality of the apartments? Are they actually livable and connected to utilities? Who maintains the facilities? Do the inhabitants get any sort of other care (food/medical supplies, job assistance, etc.)?

If the program came to Michigan, I'd be OK with letting my tax dollars fund it. But I'd like to see exactly how it works in Utah before I get my hopes up.

[chitoryu12]

At this point, I've become so jaded that even this seemingly great news can only get me cautiously optimistic. Sure, they've got four walls and a roof, which is a definite improvement. But what is the average quality of the apartments? Are they actually livable and connected to utilities? Who maintains the facilities? Do the inhabitants get any sort of other care (food/medical supplies, job assistance, etc.)?

If the program came to Michigan, I'd be OK with letting my tax dollars fund it. But I'd like to see exactly how it works in Utah before I get my hopes up.

Being jaded is overrated.

[rookie]

I'd say that's a heluva good start. Are they doing anything else like any kind of job assistance or training?

[Veras]

Yes

Each participant in Utah’s Housing First program also gets a caseworker to help them become self-sufficient, but they keep the apartment even if they fail. The program has been so successful that other states are hoping to achieve similar results with programs modeled on Utah’s.

[Raymond Dullaghy]

Each participant in Utah’s Housing First program also gets a caseworker to help them become self-sufficient, but they keep the apartment even if they fail. The program has been so successful that other states are hoping to achieve similar results with programs modeled on Utah’s.

That's what I wanted to hear. I think I may have missed it during my first read-through.

[RavynousHunter]

Finally coming around to the idea that a home is a right and not a privilege?  Well fuck me, that took long enough.