Solutions: what can be done?

Homelessness is a serious public health issue. According to research from Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at UChicago (2022), even though there is a growing concern about homelessness, there are still a lot of unanswered questions regarding the number and composition of America's unhoused population. The housing shortage is only part of the problem; part of the issue is that homelessness has been institutionalized. Currently, over a million individuals are employed directly by organizations catering to the homeless. The research examines data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban (HUD) and concludes the following:

• On any given night, about 500,000-600,000 people experience homelessness in the United States, with about one-third sleeping on the streets and the rest in shelters.

• Most homeless individuals were included in the 2010 Census, but they were often counted as housed or in group quarters.

• Notably, a substantial number were counted twice, which has implications for the coverage of homeless individuals in other surveys that are not intended to represent the homeless population.

It's hard to find the solution without accurately accounting for all individuals that need services. Making a plan can help in solving this issue and enables communities to comprehend their priorities and set goals. A plan may include objectives, a strategy and timetable for achieving those objectives, and checkpoints for monitoring development. Additionally, planning brings together service providers, government representatives, and funders to discuss issues like how to identify population needs, choose how coordinated assessments should be structured, incorporate prevention and shelter diversion resources, map out current assessment and intake procedures, and sketch out preliminary needs assessments and screening tools (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2019).

Research from Padgett and Herman (2021) suggests two evidence-based strategies—Housing First (HF) and Critical Time Intervention (CTI). These methods offer a postive outlook and a chance to ensure smooth transitions for unhoused individuals from shelters to housing. Unhoused individuals, especially those with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders, can move towards independent living with the help of the HF method––which prioritizes housing without behavioral contingencies. CTI is a time-limited, empirically-supported care coordination model that helps hotel guests connect with neighborhood resources, such as permanent housing.