Can Homelessness be Eradicated?

I have a plan that would completely eliminate homelessness. Just give everyone a home.

Is that even possible? Those wacky Utans are doing it... And it's working!

John Huntsman Jr., former Governor of Utah and American Ambassador to China, came up with an idea to eradicate homelessness in Utah. He initiated "Housing First", eight years ago and people thought it was crazy.

Eight years later, Utah's homeless population has dropped an incredible 78%, and is tracking to completely eliminate homelessness by 2015!

So, how does it work? Simple. Our State Government gives free apartments to the homeless. What? Free? That's ridiculous; it's going to cost too much. Why not offer it as an incentive to get off of drugs or alcohol?

The truth is, the program is CHEAPER than letting the homeless remain that way. It used to cost the state much more in ER visits and jail stays. Those two factors have been drastically reduced by this program. So much so, that other states are now taking a close look at the program.

Huntsman, who ran for president in the last primary, is a very innovative thinker. Who knew the answer could be so simple? It's sort of like a child's joke. "How can you eliminate homelessness? Give everyone a home."

Turns out, it really is that simple. Some are opposed to the idea of giving any homeless person free housing. They complain that since they have to work to pay for their home, they don't want their tax dollars being used to shelter the homeless.

I think that's just a matter of pride, because this program makes perfect fiscal sense and reduces crime! Many homeless people will commit a variety of crimes, from simple theft to violence, just to get off of the streets and into a facility that will house and feed them for free.

Others will feign illness to hang out at a hospital's ER unit, to get out of the elements. Both of these issues used to cost the state millions of dollars annually. No more.

No matter what we think of giving away housing, if we understand that the program is designed to cut costs and get people off the streets, it is a huge success! And in a Republican state! Are republicans even ALLOWED to initiate this kind of program?

What about the drug and alcohol abuse? Has the program reduced these problems? Nope. It is not the goal of this process. It's simply a cost cutting program that also helps people gain inexpensive shelter. I hope every state could administer programs that are effective in reducing drug and alcohol abuse, but I'm not aware of any programs with significant reductions in either.

So, we'll keep giving free housing and eliminate homelessness by 2015. I do wonder, however, if adjacent states might skip the process altogether, knowing that their homeless folks might just come to Utah and get their free housing. It will be interesting to see what happens this year.
See you tomorrow.