Posted on 01/24/2014 4:01:53 PM PST by Lorianne
In eight years, Utah has quietly reduced homelessness by 78 percent, and is on track to end homelessness by 2015.
How did Utah accomplish this? Simple. Utah solved homelessness by giving people homes. In 2005, Utah figured out that the annual cost of E.R. visits and jail stays for homeless people was about $16,670 per person, compared to $11,000 to provide each homeless person with an apartment and a social worker. So, the state began giving away apartments, with no strings attached. Each participant in Utah’s Housing First program also gets a caseworker to help them become self-sufficient, but they keep the apartment even if they fail. The program has been so successful that other states are hoping to achieve similar results with programs modeled on Utah’s.
It sounds like Utah borrowed a page from Homes Not Handcuffs, the 2009 report by The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and The National Coalition for the Homeless. Using a 2004 survey and anecdotal evidence from activists, the report concluded that permanent housing for the homeless is cheaper than criminalization. Housing is not only more human, it’s economical.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationofchange.org ...
I had a look at Jon Huntsman’s facebook page a few weeks back and he was promoting himself as a hero.
What about homeless illegals? Do they self deport them into another state or deport them home?
California’s Gov. Brown probably planted the story, looking to lose some losers to Utah.
Maybe the Libs can come up with a different name instead of “homelessness” - like George Carlin said “Everybody has a home. You just need a house to put it in” ...
Smells of BS to me.
I doubt it. Highly doubt it.
M.H.: More Housing or Moral Hazard?
Because once they have an apartment, they'll NEVER commit a crime or need to go to the hospital! [facepalm]
Where do I sign up?
What is the social worker for? Since there is "no strings attached" these people can deal drugs and traffick kids for sex and not have to worry about being evicted.
They provide employment for much of the SLC PD.
Well there have been stories for years about State’s paying the transportation costs to move their homeless to warmer States during the winter (Florida and Hawaii typically get a surge of homeless in the winter months). So whether the homeless themselves are making these decisions or government agencies are, it seems logical for homeless people to relocate to where there are more free services.
Exactly. Utah is a beautiful State. I wouldn’t mind a free apartment there!
Homelessness due to schizophrenia and/or substance abuse cannot be corrected by giving someone a home.
I would love to live in a teepee or a yurt. But for now I have to live in this darned house (my cats won’t move).
Yes, I’d like $1000 on Section 8 Housing Alex...
I wish all you people moving to Utah well.
Gee. Really.
I lived in Utah for almost a decade, never could afford a real home there. Always paid rent.
Never even got unemployment from that state when seasonally laid off.
Sure would be nice if the Twelve Apostles would ring me up and give me a nice house in Cottonwood Heights.
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