A new B.C.-based study undercuts the persistent stereotype that homeless people can't be trusted with cash, according to the lead researcher who says it also highlights a different way to respond to the crisis.
There have been studies which tried that too, there was one in the city I’m in where they gave free housing to homeless people but it didn’t go super well. IIRC the issue was that a fair few of them also had underlying addiction/mental health issues which kind of derailed things (one person set up a tent and started a camp fire in the living room, as an example.)
Not that I’m against giving money or homes to the homeless of course, but I think it also needs to go along with an investment in infrastructure and support for addiction, mental health and that sort of thing as well.
Also just to head off any pedantic replies: I’m also not saying that all homeless people are mentally ill or drug addicts, just that money and houses won’t solve everything, and we’d get a lot further with proper infrastructure underlying it in my opinion.
There have been studies which tried that too, there was one in the city I’m in where they gave free housing to homeless people but it didn’t go super well. IIRC the issue was that a fair few of them also had underlying addiction/mental health issues which kind of derailed things (one person set up a tent and started a camp fire in the living room, as an example.)
Not that I’m against giving money or homes to the homeless of course, but I think it also needs to go along with an investment in infrastructure and support for addiction, mental health and that sort of thing as well.
Also just to head off any pedantic replies: I’m also not saying that all homeless people are mentally ill or drug addicts, just that money and houses won’t solve everything, and we’d get a lot further with proper infrastructure underlying it in my opinion.