Why is conservative Utah just giving homes to homeless people? It is such a liberal sounding idea that it brings an image of Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas morning to mind, but by doing the right thing, Utah is saving piles of money and helping people too. Utah deserves major kudos for going against the rank and file Republican notion that anyone who’s down on their luck just needs a swift kick in the pants, the better to enable them to pull themselves up by those non-existent boot straps.
Compassion for their fellow man is flowing among Republican governors,who have seen the monetary savings which comes from housing the homeless. Not only is homelessness down a whopping 72% in Utah, but the state is saving a great deal of money. A homeless person used to cost the state approximately $250,000 per year – for ER visits and police costs. With the program each person costs the state $19,500 – and they are provided full-time case management, rent assistance, and a host of supportive resources.
The ‘Housing First’ initiative began in New York, by Clinical psychologist Sam Tsemberis. The program recognizes that people cannot address issues such as mental health, addiction and their physical health problems without shelter and access to resources. It’s a win-win for the community, in all of the obvious ways, plus the program restores buildings in the community, to provide apartments which particpants may live and pay rent according to their ability.
After involvement in the “Housing First” program, some Republicans have begin to see that the old notions that the homeless ‘didn’t work hard enough’ or are ‘just lazy’ are wrong. That alone, may be a Christmas miracle.