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07/17/2025

More excerpts below from my latest blog on homelessness and the ineffectiveness of Housing First without requirements to treat underlying issues such as addiction and mental health challenges:

How’s Governor Newsom’s track record with ‘Housing First’?

Today, California represents about 49% of the unsheltered homeless population in this country. In 2024, there were 5 California cities represented in the Top 10 Homeless Cities in the US. The capital, Sacramento sits at number 14 on the list. In total there were 9 California cities in the top 20 for 2024. Yet, California has been one of the most loyal and committed supporters of the ‘Housing First’ model. How do they treat victims of domestic violence and sexual assault? Some programs indicate they make a therapist available, but it’s not required.

In 2003 when ‘Mayor’ Newsom was running for San Francisco mayor he pledged to end homelessness if elected. He had a 10-year plan to build approximately 550 affordable housing units. In 2008 mayor Newsom made a similar promise as he doubled down on his 10-year plan. So, how is Newsom’s track record since making this promise? Some 20 years later San Francisco sits at number 10 on the list of top cities for homelessness in the U.S. Now it appears that Newsom has taken this failure stateside.

If ‘Housing First’ is working, then why are more people homeless today than ever before in this city and state? Denial of the ineffectiveness of current models and threatening taxpayers will not make this problem go away.

Click below to read the entire blog:

‘Housing First’ (without many requirements) doesn’t seem to be very effective as over 60% of the homeless population suffers from either…

07/14/2025

More excerpts below from my latest blog on Homelessness:

Housing First was adopted by the HUD in 2013. It’s been over a decade and the numbers keep getting worse while the costs are skyrocketing. Federal funding for homelessness assistance has increased every year over the last decade, even before billions were allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For an entire decade from 2009–2019, the federal government increased homelessness assistance spending by 200%. From 2014 to 2019, the number of rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing units increased to 42.7%. Yet for that same period, the number of unsheltered homeless individuals increased by 20.5%

The Housing First model lacks the required support and accountability for those struggling with substance abuse and mental illness. Many are not even required to get a job and sustain work (noted exceptions such as disability and severe mental illness) and contribute to society. It makes sense that if the homeless and poverty stricken want their basic needs to be provided for, then they need to make a commitment to improve their lives and contribute as best as they can.

Click below to read the entire blog:

‘Housing First’ (without many requirements) doesn’t seem to be very effective as over 60% of the homeless population suffers from either…

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As many of you know, I have been very vested in the issue of homelessness that not only is rampant in Los Angeles where I reside, but exists all over the world. I believe it impacts all of us in some way, shape, or form whether we are homeless are not.

Many people are oblivious to and uneducated about these issues and the impact they have on society in so many ways.

Unfortunately the initiative of helping the homeless is met with strong opposition in many cities. Society attaches the stigmatism of shame to poverty and thinks that it is a reflection of the person, their values and morality, when in reality, poverty and homelessness is a direct result of society (us).

Individuals are not at fault or responsible for being homeless. Instead, too many people are uneducated about the mental health issues, substance abuse, poor upbringing, and sometimes just bad luck homeless people experience. Some believe that many homeless people would prefer to stay on the streets and remain homeless. But as a society, we must consider that this may be because that is all they have ever known. Maybe they are not truly aware of the alternative, which is a much better life than searching for food and shelter every day.

Sure, sometimes people make poor choices in life and do not help their cause much. But I can tell you that many of them I have worked with as a volunteer at Los Angeles Mission really care and desperately want to make a better life for themselves and their loved ones.

These people are truly grateful for the opportunity to start taking ownership of their lives again and live a life worth living.

They need our help and the tools and structure to do so. Not everyone has been afforded the opportunity, resources, values and tools that our parents gave us and their parents gave them.

At the same time, many of these individuals want to return the favor and give back in some way by volunteering or seeking employment in social services or drug and alcohol counseling. They want to share their experiences and provide inspiration and hope.

Why does it take painful experiences in life to realize these amazing things? I’ll be writing about this in the future as I share some of my own personal experiences and challenges.

Going forward on this site, I am focusing my efforts on the issue of homelessness, substance abuse and mental health.

Join me as I believe in Big Change.