WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2007
How To End Homelessness? Provide Homes
Successful Program Gives People Housing First, Social Services Second
-
Play CBS Video Video Housing First For Homeless Traditionally, homeless people had to be clean and sober before they could get an apartment. A new program is providing the housing first and is having great success. Wyatt Andrews reports.
-
(CBS)
-
Interactive Living In Poverty A state-by-state look at U.S. Census Bureau data on income and poverty levels.
"This is the key to my new mansion," says Cotton.
Until now, Cotton was homeless on the streets of Washington, mentally ill and alcoholic, and part of America's unsolvable problem.
Unsolvable, reports CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews, until Sam Tsemberis turned the approach to homelessness upside down with his "housing first" approach.
Instead of the old way, which required the homeless to get clean or sober first, before getting an apartment, Tsemberis starts with the apartment.
"The treatment for homelessness is housing, so we are simply (saying), 'here is an apartment'", says Tsemberis. "Housing is the cure for homelessness. It's that simple."
Cotton says she feels that having an apartment does change her in some way. "It makes me feel... that I can be independent and responsible, that I can be a good neighbor."
Housing first also involves intensive in-home visits. Cotton will see nurses, social workers and drug counselors. They come with the apartment.
Tsemberis brushes off criticism that he's made it too easy on the homeless. He argues that housing first works - for less. Chronically homeless people now cost taxpayers $40,000 a year each for shelters, jail time and emergency room visits. He says doing it his way costs just more than half that amount.
Quote
Founder, Pathways to Housing
"Here's a program for $22,000 that gives a person housing and services that end their homelessness and puts them on their way to getting better," says Tsemberis.Housing is the cure for homelessness, it's that simple.
Sam Tsemberis,Founder, Pathways to Housing
Housing first has documented an 85 percent success rate, and is now the official policy in more than 150 cities, including the nation's capital.
"It's actually cheaper than it is to run the shelter system, and a lot better for the people who are in it," says Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty.
"I don't want to drink. I don't want to solicit, panhandle," says Cotton. "I don't have to do those things anymore."
When we left Cotton, her counselor was teaching her to use the intercom.
But it's Tsemberis who has taught officials a brand new way to solve the unsolvable.
Wyatt Andrews © MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
More From CBS Evening News
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
... - 11
- next
See all 212 Comments"to cure poverty..hold a concert"
-nothing to do with the article, or even reality. Many many things are being done besides raising public awareness thru events.
"to solve homeless..give a house"
-It WORKS, READ the article, dummasz
"to solve drug problem..legalize drugs"
-nothing to do with the article. (not a solution, not even a popular concept, see: dummasz...)
"to solve murders and crime..take away the guns and give murderers a noble prize and book deals."
-STILL not on topic. (prizes & books? YOU must be on crack. Your sources are un-american scumbags, btw...)
"to solve war on oil....have a caravan of fossil burning suvs to go to protest."
-more off-topic stupidity.
And i realize i''m wasting my time trying to be logical with someone who''s primary mission here is to be a jerk. But I just wanted to point that out.
But mostly my point is your perjorative use of "libs". By your definition, that will be like 70% of americans. Hardly thought out on your part.
+ report abuse
****
let go and review the most famous liberal solitions..
to cure poverty..hold a concert
to solve homeless..give a house
to solve drug problem..legalize drugs
to solve murders and crime..take away the guns and give murderers a noble prize and book deals.
to solve war on oil....have a caravan of fossil burning suvs to go to protest.
Posted by libsluvsuvs at 02:45 AM : Nov 25, 2007
The article says they''re having an 85% success rate in 150 cities, cheaper by almost half over jail and such.
85%
150 cities
Much less costly.
Solution? I''d say yes. Idiotic? I''d say you. Learn to read.
Posted by ericv2644 at 06:23 PM : Nov 24, 2007
+ report abuse
*******************
it is not home ownership that drives a person forward..it is the attitude..
You''re only expressing your own evil and stupidity. How many names have you been banned under?
The point I raised was that the problems we faced was not solvable by the same minds that created them.
Housing first,costing 1/3 of total income, leaving 2/3 creates the possibility of quality of life for the homeless person. And the reality is that the drive for a quality life is a far greater force than the drive for comfort. This is why housing first is the right path for homelessness. simple...
On & on about libbies, libs & liberals.
Here''s a clue: you''re imagining things. You''re talking about PEOPLE. Forget what the radio tells you, it''s their packaged fantasies to sell bottled tea and peniss drugs.
Never mind your preprogramming attempt at "phony" inoculation, you are duped.
One unique moment in the gospels, and it outweighs the many acts of charity?
And just to put a finer point on it, no one that''s ever existed on this planet should even consider being compared to Jesus. To use that line as an excuse for gross consumption is vile.
Posted by adasher1 at 12:36 PM : Nov 23, 2007
Jesus also told Judas(when he complaigned about the oils used by Mary Magdalene to annoint Jesus, saying they could''ve sold it to get money for the poor)that we will always have the poor with us, and we should look to the Christ while we had him.
It is too easy to blame those less fortunate than us, instead of taking a good look at society in general. Some preach about personal responsibility, especially those who claim to be Christians, when in reality Christianity teaches us to be responsible not just for ourselves but for those around us.
Society is only as good as the least of those amongst us.
For Spammers only !
Post or Read Serious Comments - Go over to ABC News
Chronic ...Habitual...and Harassing - Spam
Brought to you by :
The Professional Qualities and Work Ethics of the
CBS News Management Team
Forever diligent in the Work Morals and Ethics of
Creating Chronic and Endless Spam
Produced By : bigpecker4 (aka-donnie900)
1) aka-GreatProphet ......2) aka-PeaceProphet
3) aka-MegaProphet ......4)aka-KJVProphet
5) aka-NextProphet.........6) aka-TrueProphet
7) aka-LAProphet............8) aka-NHProphet
9) aka-GoodProphet.......10) aka-EarlyProphet
11) aka-SageProphet.......12TruthProphet
13) aka-FairProphet
CBS Professional News Management Team - Spam
Throughout Each Day - Each Night - Every Day -
All Week long within most of the topics on
The CBS News Comments (Harassing Spam)
Stop Complaining - Go over to - ABC News (Comments) - Post There ! !
Leave this Low-Life - CBS News Management and Prophet
To wallow alone in the Muck they created Together
Both are deserving and Worthy of each Other ! !
Lastdance
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
... - 11
- next
See all 212 Comments