Lesson 4: Solving Chronic Homelessness
The federal government defines a chronically homeless person as someone who has been continuously homeless for a year or more, or has experienced four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. On a given night in 2014, over 99,000 of the nation's 578,000 homeless experienced chronic homelessness.
On the surface, the complex challenges facing people who experience chronic homelessness make it appear to be an unsolvable problem. For years, agencies required homeless individuals with addictions, mental health issues, and chronic conditions into ongoing treatment programs without success. A new approach, pioneered in the 1990s and popularized in the last decade, suggests that the best way to help the chronic homeless is to give them homes.
In this lesson, students will read about "Million-Dollar Murray" to understand the economic costs associated with treating chronic homelessness in a traditional way. Students will also explore housing first initiatives and analyze the strengths and limitations of permanent supportive housing.
On the surface, the complex challenges facing people who experience chronic homelessness make it appear to be an unsolvable problem. For years, agencies required homeless individuals with addictions, mental health issues, and chronic conditions into ongoing treatment programs without success. A new approach, pioneered in the 1990s and popularized in the last decade, suggests that the best way to help the chronic homeless is to give them homes.
In this lesson, students will read about "Million-Dollar Murray" to understand the economic costs associated with treating chronic homelessness in a traditional way. Students will also explore housing first initiatives and analyze the strengths and limitations of permanent supportive housing.
"Million-Dollar Murray" by Malcolm Gladwell
In "Million Dollar Murray," Malcolm Gladwell asserts that problems like homelessness may be easier to solve than manage. Read the article and be prepared to discuss the questions below.
1. Which theory of poverty best applies to Murray Barr?
2. Of the programs and services utilized by Murray Barr, which were successful and which ones failed?
3. What radical solution does the author propose for solving chronic homelessness?
4. What are the strengths and limitations of this solution?
1. Which theory of poverty best applies to Murray Barr?
2. Of the programs and services utilized by Murray Barr, which were successful and which ones failed?
3. What radical solution does the author propose for solving chronic homelessness?
4. What are the strengths and limitations of this solution?
Housing First
The Housing First movement was pioneered in the 1990s and was popularized in the last decade. Research indicates that permanent supportive housing is the most effective intervention to end chronic homelessness. Ohio experienced a 20% drop in the number of chronically homeless between 2013 and 2014.
To learn more about how the Housing First movement was started click here. To learn more about what critics of Housing First have to say about its limitations, click here. To see what proponents of Housing First are saying, view the video below and see this article.
To learn more about how the Housing First movement was started click here. To learn more about what critics of Housing First have to say about its limitations, click here. To see what proponents of Housing First are saying, view the video below and see this article.