Colorado prides itself as the powerhouse of the New West, leading in policy, economics, and recreation. Yet, if we travel west of the Rockies to where the grass is arguably greener, we will find Utah casting an austere shadow of social disparity on Colorful Colorado.
Since implementing its Housing First initiative in 2005, Utah has reported a 74 percent decrease in chronic homelessness during a period of economic distress that caused other states to see a rise. The general public must set aside differing opinions regarding the extent to which homeless services should be provided. One thing all can agree on is fiscal responsibility. Utah’s program has proven more economically efficient than any homeless policy of the past century and has still surpassed other states in decreasing the rate of homelessness.
Homeless services drastically evolved over the past century, accounting for shifting public opinion. A recurring approach is the criminalization of the homeless which is gaining popularity nationwide. According to Tristia Bauman, senior attorney at the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, since 2011, camping bans increased 60 percent, sitting/lying down bans increased 43 percent, and bans on sleeping in vehicles increased a whopping 119 percent. These policies compound the issue by creating a cycle of poverty through the jailing and fining of individuals simply trying to survive, preventing them from attending necessary services, creating unnecessary cost burdens, and limiting future job prospects.
The sad truth is that the number of homeless women, children, and veterans is rapidly rising. According to Denver’s Road Home, a staggering 64 percent of homeless populations in Denver consist of families with children, without taking into account the number of homeless families living with friends or relatives. Public opinion is quick to dismiss all homeless as mentally ill addicts, undeserving of our “handouts”; however, complex personal and societal factors contribute to homelessness.
Personal factors:
• Lack of familial/social support
• Health tragedies/deaths
• Disability
• Inadequate job training
• Bankruptcy, divorce, foreclosure, strenuous financial circumstances
• Physical/mental/financial abuses
Societal factors:
• Rising urbanization/gentrification
• Discriminatory law enforcement
• Lack of affordable/fair housing
• Inaccessible public transit
• Criminalization of poverty
• Lack of employment opportunities
The top reasons reported for Denver homelessness are housing costs, job loss, and family tragedy. Currently, Denver has twice the demand for affordable housing than available. To truly make headway in alleviating homelessness, a major shift in public opinion and policy must occur. First, the criminalization of the homeless must be accepted as the inefficient, inhumane policy practices of the past. Second, housing first initiatives must be provided to create stable environments for the homeless to be successfully reintegrated into our communities.
Housing First initiatives are gaining attention nationwide as citizens with differing beliefs regarding homelessness are able to agree on a common aspect of Housing First initiatives: fiscal responsibility. The idea is that homeless individuals cannot be expected to successfully participate in homeless services if we send them out on the streets each night. Stable housing is proven to increase the impact of homeless services. Individuals with a home are more likely to attend job trainings, mental health services, and rehabilitation programs. As part of Utah’s ten year program to end homelessness, the state sought to eliminate the ineffective restrictions placed on housing so homeless individuals could be streamlined into permanent housing. This approach is more cost effective due to calculations that homeless individuals in Denver cost upwards of $30,000 per year in costs to its medical and judicial systems. By providing permanent housing at less than half the cost, extra money can be reinvested into other services.
Whether you think the homeless are deserving of free housing is a moot point. From an economic standpoint, homelessness and homelessness policies drain community resources. To create a flourishing community, homelessness must be alleviated. Utah’s impressive decrease in homelessness proves that Housing First initiatives are efficient and effective, something we all seek in governmental services.
Alaina McWhorter is a graduate student of Public Affairs, excited for a career advocating civil rights and civil liberties, and influencing public policy on homelessness reform.
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