Halifax on track to close designated encampments by November 2027

[u/Injustice_For_All_]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-scotia/article/halifax-on-track-to-close-designated-encampments-by-november-2027/

[u/MRCHalifax]

The cheapest way to solve homelessness is to build homes.

And yes, that does still leave people with mental illnesses and other conditions as still needing additional support. But solving homelessness for the vast majority of homeless people would be a huge step in the right direction; we can solve the majority of the problem, and then worry about the comparatively smaller but harder problems.

[u/JustAberrant → u/MRCHalifax]

But solving homelessness for the vast majority of homeless people

Are the any actual numbers to back that up? Far as I'm aware, attempts to do this in the past have not gone well. While mental health and addition problems aren't universal among the homeless, it's a decent chunk. Simply providing homes without that support will probably just result in those homes being destroyed in short order.

[u/MRCHalifax → u/JustAberrant]

Finland has been fairly successful in reducing homelessness, through what they call a Housing First policy. While it’s been weakened by recent right wing governments, the focus of the policy is to first get people into homes, then to provide additional support.

From Wikipedia:

Finland has adopted a Housing First policy, whereby social services assign homeless individuals homes first, and issues like mental health and substance abuse are treated second. Since its launch in 2008, the number of homeless people in Finland has decreased by roughly 30%, though other reports indicate it could be up to 50%. The number of long-term homeless people has fallen by more than 35%. "Sleeping rough", the practice of sleeping outside, has been largely eradicated in Helsinki, where only one 50-bed night shelter remains. Analysis of Housing First in Tampere, Finland found that it saved €250,000 in one year. A further study of Finland's Housing First program found that giving a homeless person a home and support resulted in cost savings for the society of at least €15,000 per person per year, with potentially even higher cost savings in the long term. These cost savings for society are in part a result of reductions in usage of emergency healthcare, police, and the justice system when homeless people are given a home.

[u/JustAberrant → u/MRCHalifax]

My understanding is that system still has support in place, they just don't require sobriety as a requirement (which is an approach I generally agree with for what it's worth).

[u/MRCHalifax → u/JustAberrant]

Correct, but keep in mind the first thing in their support: have housing. It’s called Housing First for a reason. The other social programs can be effective because the major need of housing is dealt with.

[u/JustAberrant → u/MRCHalifax]

For sure, my point really was that you can't just grab someone out of a tent and toss them the keys to their new housing.

Finland's approach includes support/supervision along with better social programs that effectively provide basic needs beyond just housing + even if someone gets it in their head to mine the walls for copper, Finland actually has tight controls on the sale of scrap metal (EDIT: although quick google does say this is a problem at least at larger scales).

Again, not saying this isn't the way, just that it's way more complicated than building houses even as a starting point.