Opinion: People think drug use causes homelessness. It’s usually the other way around
LA TimesA common perception among many Californians is that substance abuse is a chief cause of people losing their housing and living on the streets. By gaining a more accurate picture of drug use among unhoused people, policymakers and community groups can provide better harm-reduction and treatment services, and housing resources to those struggling to get by. This policy is not feasible for many, and those who achieve abstinence may fall back into drug use if they remain homeless and are not able to find stable housing. Together with county agencies, services providers, nonprofits and corporations, Houston prioritized housing without requiring individuals to be abstinent from drug use or in a treatment program. Regardless of an individual’s drug use, policymakers and advocates should prioritize getting people experiencing homelessness into safe, secure and stable housing.
History of this topic
Opinion: Why is California behind Texas and other states in curbing homelessness?
LA TimesAnnual count of homeless residents begins in Los Angeles, where tens of thousands live on streets
Associated Press
U.S. homelessness up 12% to highest reported level as rents soar and pandemic aid lapses
LA Times
San Francisco’s homeless population 16 times more likely to die suddenly than housed neighbors, study finds
LA Times
Editorial: L.A.’s homeless numbers are grim. We must keep building housing and expanding services
LA Times
Nearly half of homeless people in California are over 50, study finds
LA Times
US homeless numbers stay about the same as before pandemic
Associated Press
Editorial: Want to fix homelessness in Los Angeles? The pandemic showed us how to do it
LA Times
Editorial: To solve homelessness, California should declare a right to housing
LA Times
Report shows US homelessness rising even before pandemic
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