Thread by @MKushel

Must read editorial in @nytimes on #homelessness that lays out the problem, where blame lays, & solution--"The fed govt could render homelessness rare, brief & nonrecurring. The cure for homelessness is housing." (YES!) A thread 1/x @BCAppelbaum

nytimes.com/2020/05/15/opi…

1. Problem is housing (not individual vulnerabilities) 2. Federal govt (& realistically, only Fed) could solve it 3. Instead, feds heavily subsidize wealthy homeowners, instead of low-income (mortgage interest tax deduction means homeowners live in deeply subsidized housing) 2/x

4. We spend $12 Billion a yr on shelters (shelters are dangerous, difficult places (#COVID19 has made this more evident cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/6… , but as CA Gov @GavinNewsom says: "shelters solve sleep, housing solves homelessness) & 1/3 (in CA 2/3) unsheltered) despite $12B 3/x

5. #COVID19 economic collapse will make homelessness ⬆️ 6. We blame ppl (bad luck, bad choices) for homelessness, blame misplaced--homelessness ⬆️ areas w⬆️ income inequality, low housing construction,⬆️ housing costs (SF Bay Area! NYC!); (see Golden Gates by @ConorDougherty 4/x

7. Lack of housing for extremely low income (ELI) households (make <30% area median income) is cause. Per @NLIHC in US 36 units available & affordable per 100 ELI households. (CA 23!) 5/x

8. While personal vulnerabilities ⬆️ risk, it is about housing. Every $100 ⬆️ in rent-->15% ⬆️ homelessness. 9. Big omission-role of structural racism. Much US wealth thru housing, but Black Americans (redlining, racial covenants) excluded in lge part from this--6/x

Ongoing discrimination in rental markets (see @just_shelter Evicted) & discrim in criminal justice, employment, education (related to housing) leads to Black Americans 3-4X⬆️homelessness (Native American ⬆️ 8 fold) 7/x

10. So what to do? "The next step is simple but expensive" EXPAND housing vouchers to all eligible. Right now, only 1/4 eligible households receive them. Expanding to all would cost additional $41B a year (we spent $12B to provide shelter for part of homeless pop!). 8/x

Where get the $? US provides $70B in tax breaks to homeowners! (mortgage tax breaks & capital gains)! 11. Can't just be vouchers--bc also need ⬆️home construction (market rate would help) but also--need public subsidies! ("land, tax credit, direct govt $) 9/x

12. Will still need support for homeless! VA has done it: rapid rehousing (short term subsidies) for most (will work better if supply of ELI housing/long-term vouchers!) & Permanent Supportive Housing (subsidized housing w voluntary supportive services) for folks w ⬆️needs 10/x

Bottom line: Housing solves homelessness. Federal Govt will need to provide $ ("rounding error"). Need ⬆️production of ELI housing (Fed $); rental subsidies (Fed $), & some targeted programs for those who fall into homelessness. 11/x

"Addressing homelessness is within our power. The question is whether we are ready to act." /fin