It's an approach that has shown dramatic positive results in the US over the last 20 years. The shelter the homeless programs in the US reduced the homeless po

It's an approach that has shown dramatic positive results in the US over the last 20 years. The shelter the homeless programs in the US reduced the homeless population from ~650,000 to ~550,000 today over one decade (2007-2016), despite the great recession occuring during that time (with a massive spike in unemployment and people losing their homes). Unsheltered homelessness, which would be approximately equivalent to rough sleeping in the UK I believe, declined from 255,000 to 176,000 (31%) over that decade. The Federal Government programs under Bush and Obama are solely responsible for the improvement, against a mediocre economic picture during that time. The housing first program under the Bush Admin, and then the various housing programs followed by that during Obama Admin[1]. If we're smart, we'll keep applying more resources that direction. It works [2] and we have overwhelming proof over the last two decades. [1] https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/economy/article24585973.html https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/econo... [2] https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/08/the-astonishing-decline-of-homelessness-in-america/279050/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/08/the-ast...