Is homelessness a result of bad policies?

Luis (No)

While homelessness is one of the main crises the US has experienced in recent decades, it can’t be said it is the result of bad policies alone. After all, such a problem is directly connected to substance abuse, as many studies have determined that many people who end up living on the streets struggle with alcohol and drug addiction. These studies also showed that the vast majority of homeless people in the United States are concentrated in cities.

The problem of homelessness is commonly connected with mental health issues. Some researchers have been determining over the last few decades that many of the people who live on the streets suffer from some conditions that include depression, bipolar disorder, and even schizophrenia. These mental health issues usually make it difficult for those who suffer from them to keep stable housing.

Also, homelessness is usually connected to personal circumstances such as family problems. These can include not only personal tragedies and domestic violence but also medical emergencies and even job loss. Many people in the US that experience these types of situations can end up being homeless even in places that have strong social safety nets.

Finally, it can’t be said that homelessness is the direct result of bad policies, as it is also the product of economic factors. These include economic recessions, the cost of living, and even housing costs and inflation. Each of these issues is usually beyond the control of local governments and can force people to live in the streets in the worst-case scenario. Homelessness results from many things; bad policies are not among them.

Haley (Yes)

Homelessness in the US has become an urgent issue that seems only to be getting worse. Thousands of people die every year in the US due to the dangerous conditions that come with homelessness. Policies by state and municipal governments ignore the clear supply and demand dynamics that are leading to such a high number of homeless individuals. The severe lack of affordable housing throughout the US is one of these issues in addition to liberal policies that have been proven time and again not to work.

The cost of housing is typically higher than the wages of renters. This makes renting a home nearly impossible for some. Often, homeless people have little to no access to services and resources that they desperately need, such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. The extreme lack of financial literacy programs raises the likelihood of homelessness by preventing people from making wise financial decisions. If homeless people were taught how to manage their money, they could possibly turn their lives around and be able to afford their own housing and the basic necessities of life.  

Additionally, no successful programs exist at the state level that help incentivize the homeless to get out of their situation. Instead, policies, as seen in progressive cities, incentivize them to stay as they are while receiving free items (like food, shelter, needles, and sometimes even small amounts of drugs). These types of programs keep people in the status quo, or worse, they result in their death. Another issue with homelessness is that there are welfare failures. Poor welfare support makes it hard for people to get out of poverty. Difficult application procedures may discourage people from using the resources that are out there. Bad policies are the primary cause of homelessness.