The hottest Homelessness Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The Empire Burns The Middle East While US Homelessness Surges

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1937 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Foreign Policy Geopolitics Media Critique Imperialism
  1. The situation in the Middle East is tense, with reports of violence and destruction affecting local hospitals and communities.
  2. US homelessness is on the rise, with a significant increase highlighting social and economic issues at home.
  3. There's a concern that the US government focuses on foreign issues while neglecting serious problems like poverty and homelessness in its own country.

Top Links 618 America's mounting insurance crisis. US record homelessness. Beijing's Himalayan mega dam & who killed Jazz?

Chartbook • 300 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Insurance Homelessness Disaster Public Policy Risk management
  1. America is facing a serious insurance crisis, especially in areas that are prone to disasters.
  2. More people are experiencing homelessness in the US than ever before.
  3. China is constructing a massive dam in the Himalayas, raising concerns and questions about its impact.

Untreated

KERFUFFLE • 97 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Mental health Public Policy Homelessness Legal issues Social Welfare
  1. The current state of mental health care in the U.S. struggles to address serious mental illnesses. Many people with severe issues end up homeless due to insufficient treatment options.
  2. Getting someone into a supportive psychiatric facility requires proving that they're a risk to themselves or others, which is a tough standard. This makes it hard to get help for many who desperately need it.
  3. After hospital care, many individuals are released back to the streets without proper long-term plans. This shows a systemic failure to manage mental health properly and protect the community.

Why housing shortages cause homelessness

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 18 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Housing policy Homelessness Social Issues Urban Development Public Policy
  1. Housing shortages and high costs make it harder for families and friends to offer shelter to those in need. When prices rise, there's less space available for people to stay with loved ones.
  2. Many individuals avoid homelessness by living with family or friends, especially in places with lower housing costs. This support network plays a key role in keeping vulnerable people off the streets.
  3. Solutions to homelessness should focus on increasing the supply of affordable housing. Better housing options help families support one another and prevent individuals from slipping into homelessness.
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The Woes of Oakland: Homelessness

The Discourse Lounge • 1595 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Housing policy Public Services
  1. Oakland's homelessness crisis is a result of underproduction of housing compared to job growth in the region.
  2. Crime in Oakland is influenced by factors like homicide, organized criminal groups, reckless drivers, and homelessness.
  3. Oakland struggles to address homelessness due to financial constraints, dependency on neighboring cities, and lack of resources.

Who Is My Neighbor?

Investing 101 • 69 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Local government Social Issues Faith
  1. People in some cities are against helping the homeless, especially when it comes to providing shelters during freezing temperatures. This fear and backlash show a real struggle between compassion and community concerns.
  2. It's important to remember that helping others, like the homeless, is a matter of humanity and kindness, not politics or religion. Loving your neighbor is crucial, regardless of beliefs.
  3. We should focus on doing good and helping others instead of just worrying about our safety or property values. Supporting organizations that help the homeless is one way to make a positive impact.

The Cruel Irrationality of Our ‘Deserved vs. Undeserved Poor’ Moral Framework in Two Paragraphs

The Column • 1081 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Government aid Capitalism
  1. America's moral framework divides poor into 'deserved' and 'undeserved,' hindering solutions like giving homes to the homeless.
  2. Means-testing and moral judgments in welfare create unnecessary bureaucracy and obstacles for those in need.
  3. The concept of 'deserved vs. undeserved' poor is rooted in history, aimed at keeping wages low and maintaining a population in poverty.

The Supreme Court Will Decide if Homelessness is a Crime

The New Urban Order • 179 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Supreme Court Housing Crisis Justice System Legal rights
  1. The U.S. Supreme Court will decide on whether homelessness can be considered a crime, impacting how cities handle homeless individuals.
  2. Many cities fail to provide the necessary housing and services to keep people off the streets, leading to homelessness being criminalized.
  3. Jailing homeless individuals further exacerbates their situation, making it harder for them to transition out of homelessness.

Humanity's Housing Future: Five Families to One House With Four Empty Airbnbs In Between

Surviving Tomorrow • 393 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Housing Economics Inequality Homelessness Policy
  1. When working people can't afford to stay alive, society is dead.
  2. House prices are rising due to economic corruptions like inflation, constricted supply, and investor demand.
  3. To fix the broken housing market, democratic inflation-free money, proper supply, and the end of parasitic investor demand are necessary.

Since my 2019 visit to Community First! Village, Austin's model for housing the chronically homeless has grown and flourished

Gotham by Susan Dyer Reynolds • 216 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Community support Policy Impact
  1. Community First! Village in Austin provides housing and support for chronically homeless individuals.
  2. Residents at the village have opportunities for employment through farming, art, and auto mechanic workshops.
  3. The village operates on principles of accountability, requiring rent payment and adherence to community rules.

Pundits scold us for fretting about crime/drugs/homeless in San Francisco

C.W.’s Newsletter • 235 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime Homelessness Drugs
  1. People are scolded for worrying about crime, drugs, and homelessness in San Francisco, with claims that things are actually fine.
  2. Despite official statements that crime is down and manageable, the city is facing a crisis with issues like fentanyl dealing and human trafficking.
  3. There is a growing sense of individuals feeling they are on their own in dealing with problems due to a lack of city governance and public order.

A Brief History of "Homeless"

Mental Disorder • 216 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
💾 History Language Evolution Homelessness Activism Policy Impact
  1. The term 'homeless' is imprecise and can refer to various living conditions and situations.
  2. The language used to describe homelessness has evolved over time, from terms like 'hobo' to 'bum' to 'the homeless.'
  3. The rebranding of homelessness as a policy issue has led to significant funding for housing first policies and a shift towards more politically correct terms.

The Pelosi Attack

Diane Francis • 579 implied HN points • 07 Nov 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political violence Mental health Homelessness Immigration Media Coverage
  1. The attack on Paul Pelosi highlighted serious social issues in America, like rising homelessness and mental illness. Many people affected by these problems can often go unnoticed and unaddressed.
  2. Political leaders used the incident to push their agendas without really discussing the root causes of the attack. Both sides missed the chance to focus on the real social issues at stake.
  3. Homelessness and untreated mental illness are growing problems in big cities, and there aren't enough resources to help everyone in need. This shows a failure in the system that needs urgent attention.

Colleague on Jennifer Friedenbach: 'She doesn’t want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg'

Gotham by Susan Dyer Reynolds • 196 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Transparency Funding Advocacy Legal issues
  1. Jennifer Friedenbach is the executive director of Coalition on Homelessness and has faced criticism for her lack of qualifications and questionable financial decisions.
  2. The Coalition on Homelessness lacks transparency in their financial reports, with questionable classification of expenses and no clear demonstration of results.
  3. Friedenbach's involvement in conflicts of interest, such as granting her own nonprofit a large grant from an oversight committee she chairs, raises concerns about ethical practices in addressing homelessness issues.

Why the homeless debate goes in circles

C.W.’s Newsletter • 157 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Debate Policy Public Opinion
  1. The homeless debate involves conflicting perspectives from people like Adam Mesnick and Jennifer Friedenbach.
  2. Jennifer Friedenbach advocates for more government funding to address homelessness, focusing on long-term solutions.
  3. A realistic solution to homelessness could involve expanding and improving shelter systems to provide immediate support.

Why do people have to live outside?

Worcester Sucks and I Love It • 157 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Local news Policy Election Government
  1. Questioning why people are forced to live outside despite buildings being available with heating.
  2. Illustrating the challenges faced by the homeless due to lack of shelter beds before winter.
  3. Discussing the shifts in Worcester's media landscape and a proposal to change the police chief position to a public safety commissioner.

We use our garbage police to police homeless people

Worcester Sucks and I Love It • 58 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness City Council Quality of Life Housing Crisis
  1. The Quality of Life Team, also known as the Garbage Police, is used to police homeless people, showing a concerning and widely misunderstood approach by the city council.
  2. The Garbage Police focus on removing homeless encampments, treating homeless individuals as a blight rather than addressing the actual root causes of homelessness.
  3. There is a lack of political will to address homelessness and public housing conditions, with significant implications for larger societal issues around housing and equity.

SF can take tents off the street now

C.W.’s Newsletter • 117 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Legal Challenges Policy response
  1. San Francisco may have the legal ability to remove tent encampments from the streets if occupants are offered housing and decline.
  2. This could potentially improve the city's streets by reducing homelessness and disorder.
  3. Legal hurdles and ensuring there are enough shelter beds are key challenges in implementing this potential change.

The Other Housing Crisis

Comment is Freed • 114 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Housing Crisis Labour Party Conservative Party Public Services Homelessness
  1. Housing crisis is a key issue for both Conservative and Labour parties in the upcoming election.
  2. Concern over housing crisis is growing, especially in cities like London, impacting younger professionals.
  3. Focus on housing crisis should also address those who have no hope of owning a home, not just on homeownership and policy interventions.

Preventing Homelessness

Speak Up • 58 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Homelessness Mental health Addiction
  1. Homelessness can be caused by various factors like drug addiction, mental illness, and poverty.
  2. Preventing homelessness should start with teaching children essential life skills and resilience.
  3. Even in tough situations like dealing with addiction or mental illness, it's important to never stop showing love and support.

Where Did The Jetsons Hide Their Drug Addicts?

Code and Context • 2 HN points • 29 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Homelessness Artificial Intelligence Economic Policy Social Issues Public Health
  1. New technologies like self-driving cars can feel amazing, but they sometimes ignore real problems like homelessness. This contrast shows that while we celebrate innovation, we can't forget about those who are struggling.
  2. Programs like Universal Basic Income (UBI) can help people in need find financial stability. Supporting education and job training can also create better opportunities for those affected by all these changes.
  3. It's important for tech companies to create solutions that help solve social issues. By investing in projects that assist vulnerable communities, we can build a future that includes everyone.

Maui’s Post-Wildfire Housing Crisis Offers a Warning for Los Angeles 🌴 🔥

Hothouse // Solutions • 3 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Disaster Response Housing policy Homelessness Urban planning
  1. After wildfires, many people in Maui ended up homeless and rents spiked by a lot. This situation could happen in Los Angeles if strong renter protections aren't put in place.
  2. In Maui, some landlords took advantage of the disaster by raising rents or evicting tenants to bring in higher-paying renters. This hurt those who were already struggling after losing their homes.
  3. Los Angeles leaders are under pressure to protect renters now. Activists are keeping track of price-gouging, but it's unclear if officials can enforce laws to help tenants.

H4H 27: More than you ever wanted to know about guardianships

Sex and the State • 6 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🎙 Podcasts Homelessness Mental Illness
  1. Mental illness is not the only cause of homelessness, but there is a strong connection. Building more housing and providing cash assistance can solve homelessness for many but not all.
  2. Severe mental illness or addiction can be barriers to staying housed even with affordable housing and financial help.
  3. The law defines guardianship/conservatorship, outlining who is eligible and the legal protections needed to prevent harm and homelessness for vulnerable individuals.

SROs & Boarding Houses Are More Than Hype | YIMBYtown 2024

Cornerstone • 2 HN points • 15 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Homelessness Housing Community Policy
  1. Every $100 increase in Houston's rents leads to a 9% increase in the local homeless population, highlighting the critical link between housing affordability and homelessness.
  2. Single-room occupancy apartments (SROs) are seen as a viable solution to homelessness by experts, offering a historical perspective and potential to address regulatory challenges for implementation.
  3. SROs could provide a missing piece in combatting mass homelessness by offering a land-efficient, socially diverse housing option suitable for various demographics, advocating for their integration and allowing them is crucial for progress.