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So often we focus on the behavior of the people who are homeless and responsiveness of the services that we fund to the system.   But at the core of the problem is the basic issue of the supply of housing.   If there is a shortage of food or water, the weakest and most vulnerable in any group will be the first to go hungry or thirsty and they will become weaker and more vulnerable.   In the homeless context, this tranlates as follows:

With a limited supply of housing that is affordable, folks with disabilities, addictions and social functioning issues will be the first to go without housing.  Life on the streets will weaken them physically and will make it even harder for them to compete in a tightening housing market.   Until we recognize this and develop enough housing at the right price point and that will allow in folks with black marks on their record, we will continue to lock out the people we label chronically homeless.  It is, at base, a problem related to the supply of housing.   

posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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