Myth: "Homelessness Is an Unsolvable Problem"

One of the most damaging myths about homelessness is the belief that it's an intractable, unsolvable problem—an inevitable feature of modern society that we must simply learn to live with. This fatalistic view leads to policy inaction, reduced funding for solutions, and a sense of helplessness that undermines efforts to address the issue. But is homelessness truly unsolvable?

The Evidence: Homelessness Can Be Significantly Reduced

Contrary to the myth, there is substantial evidence that homelessness can be dramatically reduced when the right approaches are implemented with adequate resources and political will:

Success Stories: Communities Making Progress

Several communities have achieved significant reductions in homelessness:

Houston, Texas

• Reduced overall homelessness by 63% between 2011 and 2020
• Achieved a 90% reduction in veteran homelessness
• Housed over 25,000 people experiencing homelessness

Finland

• Only EU country where homelessness has consistently decreased
• Reduced long-term homelessness by more than 35% through its Housing First policy
• Nearly eliminated street homelessness in Helsinki

Bergen County, New Jersey

• First community in the U.S. to end chronic homelessness (2017)
• Achieved functional zero for veteran homelessness
• Maintains a robust system to quickly address new cases of homelessness

International Comparisons

Homelessness rates vary dramatically between countries with similar economic development but different housing policies and social safety nets:

• Japan has approximately 3,000 people experiencing homelessness in a population of 126 million
• The United States has over 580,000 people experiencing homelessness in a population of 330 million
• Countries with stronger tenant protections, more social housing, and universal healthcare tend to have lower rates of homelessness

These differences demonstrate that homelessness is not an inevitable feature of modern society but rather a result of specific policy choices.

What Works: Evidence-Based Solutions

Research has identified several approaches that effectively reduce homelessness:

Housing First

The Housing First approach provides permanent housing without preconditions of treatment or sobriety, followed by supportive services as needed:

• Housing retention rates of 80-90% even among people with complex needs
• More effective than treatment-first approaches for ending homelessness
• Cost-effective, often reducing public spending on emergency services, hospitalization, and incarceration

Permanent Supportive Housing

For people with disabilities or chronic conditions:

• Combines affordable housing with wraparound services
• Particularly effective for people experiencing chronic homelessness
• Reduces emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and incarceration

Rapid Re-Housing

For people who need shorter-term assistance:

• Quickly connects people to housing with temporary financial assistance
• Helps people maintain housing after subsidies end
• More cost-effective than shelter stays for many households

Prevention

Stopping homelessness before it occurs:

• Emergency rental assistance prevents evictions
• Targeted support for people exiting institutions (foster care, hospitals, prisons)
• Legal representation in eviction proceedings reduces housing loss

Why the Myth Persists

Despite evidence that homelessness can be significantly reduced, the "unsolvable problem" myth persists for several reasons:

Visibility Bias

Success in reducing homelessness often goes unnoticed:

• When people are successfully housed, they become invisible as "formerly homeless"
• Those who remain unhoused remain visible, creating the impression that nothing is changing
• Media coverage tends to focus on visible homelessness rather than successful interventions

Scale and Implementation Challenges

Real challenges in implementation can be mistaken for evidence that solutions don't work:

• Partial implementation of evidence-based approaches yields partial results
• Underfunded programs cannot achieve the scale needed for community-wide impact
• Short-term funding creates uncertainty and limits long-term planning

Confusing Complexity with Impossibility

Homelessness is a complex issue with multiple causes and manifestations:

• This complexity is sometimes misinterpreted as evidence that the problem is unsolvable
• In reality, complex problems require comprehensive, multi-faceted solutions—not no solution
• Communities that have made progress recognize this complexity and address multiple dimensions simultaneously

The Real Barriers to Solving Homelessness

If solutions exist, what prevents their implementation? Several barriers stand in the way:

Insufficient Investment

• Federal funding for affordable housing has declined significantly since the 1980s
• Only one in four eligible households receives federal housing assistance due to funding limitations
• Effective programs often operate at a fraction of the scale needed

Housing Market Challenges

• Increasing housing costs outpace income growth in many regions
• Restrictive zoning limits housing development, particularly affordable options
• The private market alone cannot meet affordable housing needs for extremely low-income households

Fragmented Systems

• Responsibility for addressing homelessness is divided across multiple agencies and levels of government
• Lack of coordination between housing, healthcare, mental health, and other systems
• Siloed funding streams create barriers to comprehensive approaches

Political Challenges

• Short political cycles discourage long-term investments
• NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) opposition to affordable housing and homeless services
• Stigma and misconceptions about homelessness influence policy decisions

Pathways Forward: From "Unsolvable" to Solvable

Communities that have made progress in reducing homelessness share several key approaches:

Comprehensive Strategies

• Addressing both immediate needs and long-term solutions
• Combining prevention, emergency response, and permanent housing
• Tailoring interventions to different subpopulations and needs

Systems Coordination

• Creating coordinated entry systems that streamline access to services
• Breaking down silos between housing, healthcare, and other systems
• Using shared data to track outcomes and improve programs

Adequate, Sustained Funding

• Investing at a scale proportionate to the need
• Providing long-term funding commitments
• Leveraging multiple funding sources (federal, state, local, private)

Housing-Centered Approaches

• Prioritizing permanent housing solutions
• Expanding affordable housing supply
• Removing barriers to housing access

The Cost of Inaction vs. Solutions

The belief that homelessness is unsolvable often leads to inaction based on cost concerns. However, research shows that:

• The status quo is expensive: A person experiencing chronic homelessness can cost public systems $30,000-$50,000 per year through emergency room visits, hospitalizations, incarceration, and emergency services
• Housing solutions are cost-effective: Permanent supportive housing typically costs $20,000-$25,000 per person annually while improving outcomes
• Prevention is even more cost-effective: Emergency rental assistance and other prevention measures cost a fraction of the expense of addressing homelessness after it occurs

Conclusion

The myth that homelessness is an unsolvable problem contradicts the evidence from communities that have achieved significant reductions through evidence-based approaches. While homelessness is complex and challenging, it is not inevitable or intractable.

The real barriers to solving homelessness are not a lack of effective solutions but rather insufficient political will, inadequate resources, and implementation challenges. By learning from successful models and addressing these barriers, communities can make substantial progress in reducing and ultimately ending homelessness.

Moving beyond the "unsolvable problem" myth allows us to focus on implementing what works, advocating for necessary resources, and holding systems accountable for results. Homelessness is a solvable problem when we approach it with evidence-based strategies, adequate resources, and sustained commitment.

References & Further Reading

1. The Coalition for the Homeless & Houston Housing Authority. "Houston's Homelessness Response: A Case Study in Community-Wide Impact." The Way Home, 2022. https://www.homelesshouston.org/
2. Y-Foundation. "A Home of Your Own: Housing First and Ending Homelessness in Finland." Y-Foundation, 2017. https://ysaatio.fi/en/housing-first-finland
3. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. "Achieving Functional Zero: A Guide for Communities." USICH, 2023. https://www.usich.gov/
4. Community Solutions. "Built for Zero: A Movement to End Homelessness." Community Solutions, 2024. https://community.solutions/built-for-zero/
5. Tsemberis, S. "Housing First: The Pathways Model to End Homelessness for People with Mental Illness and Addiction." Hazelden Publishing, 2010. https://www.pathwayshousingfirst.org/
6. Perlman, J. & Parvensky, J. "Denver Housing First Collaborative: Cost Outcomes and Impact on the Community." Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, 2006. https://www.coloradocoalition.org/
7. National Alliance to End Homelessness. "State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition." NAEH, 2024. https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness/
8. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "The 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress." HUD, 2023. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2023-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
9. Pleace, N. "Housing First Guide Europe." FEANTSA, 2016. https://housingfirsteurope.eu/guide/
10. National Low Income Housing Coalition. "The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes." NLIHC, 2024. https://nlihc.org/gap