The plan Sacramento adopted is partially a good one. Partially because the basic approach, getting the homeless into housing first before connecting them to services is based on the Housing First model that has been working well for many years in New York.
But Housing First uses the method of placing the homeless in apartments around the community (scattered site approach), thus blending them in.
Housing First does not place them into “homeless villages” (concentrated approach) which has a lot of downsides as far as actual help, not to mention the corrosive impact on the surrounding community.
Sacramento has chosen to put the majority of their housing resources into concentrated housing, which will make the problem worse—for the homeless and the community—rather than better.
However, the good part is that they are also using the scattered site approach also, though at a smaller level than the concentrated approach.
Diverse solution to homeless problem urged
By M.S. Enkoji - menkoji@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Monday, November 26, 2007
A chain-link fence topped by three strands of barbed wire signals a vigilance over a vacant dirt field where homeless people once openly camped.
The illegal homeless camp in northern Sacramento, a refuge for several weeks, is gone, the people dispersed into the night or offered motel vouchers and nightly winter shelter.
Authorities earlier this month disbanded the homeless camp – as many as 60 tents – that had furtively grown on privately owned railroad property. The ensuing upheaval became a plaintive reminder of needs yet to be met.
Cities across the nation, including Sacramento, are embarking on ambitious 10-year plans to end homelessness, designed to permanently house the most difficult-to-accommodate population.
A year into Sacramento's plan, nearly 200 of the county's estimated 1,600 chronically homeless have been placed in housing.
Up to 500 housing units are expected to be provided to the homeless over the next five years under the plan. The idea is to get them into homes before forcing them to tackle drug problems or other underlying issues that put them on the street.
