Homelessness in Major Cities: A Growing Urban Crisis

RePosted from SavagedUnfiltered.com blogs section (M. Gardner (aka: SAVAGED) I (Joseph M Lenard (aka: #JOKEsterJOE and #RaginJoe)) cohost several  SavagedUnfiltered Show episodes with Mike and I also/too have pieces up on the SU blogs).

https://savagedunfiltereddotcom.wordpress.com/2025/08/16/homelessness-in-major-cities-a-growing-urban-crisis/

Homelessness remains one of the most pressing social challenges facing major cities across the globe. From New York to Los Angeles, London to Sydney, the sight of individuals living without stable shelter is no longer uncommon—it’s a visible and persistent crisis. Understanding the complexities behind this issue is essential for anyone who wants to be part of a compassionate and sustainable solution.

 

The Root Causes

 

While homelessness often appears as a single issue, it is typically the result of a combination of systemic and individual factors:

• Affordable Housing Shortages: In many large cities, housing costs have skyrocketed over the last decade. Rents have outpaced wages, pushing low-income residents into precarious living conditions or out of housing altogether.
• Mental Health and Substance Use: A significant portion of the homeless population struggles with untreated mental illness or addiction, which can make maintaining employment or stable housing incredibly difficult.
• Unemployment and Economic Inequality: Fluctuations in job markets, automation, and wage stagnation leave many urban residents one paycheck away from homelessness.
• Systemic Failures: Inadequate support for people aging out of foster care, discharged from hospitals, or released from incarceration can lead to homelessness when no safety net is available.

 

The Human Impact

 

Living without shelter is not only physically dangerous—exposure to weather, violence, and illness—but also emotionally devastating. Homeless individuals often face isolation, stigma, and barriers to accessing healthcare, education, and employment. The lack of a permanent address can make it nearly impossible to secure a job or receive government assistance.

Families experiencing homelessness are a growing demographic, with children being particularly vulnerable to trauma, disrupted education, and long-term developmental issues.

 

Cities in Crisis

 

Los Angeles, USA

With tens of thousands of unsheltered individuals, L.A. has become a focal point in the national conversation on homelessness. High housing costs, a mild climate, and limited shelter availability have compounded the issue.

 

London, UK

Rough sleeping in London has risen sharply, exacerbated by cuts to welfare programs and a severe shortage of affordable housing. The cost-of-living crisis has only deepened the divide.

 

Sydney, Australia

Despite being one of the wealthiest cities in the region, Sydney grapples with housing unaffordability and service gaps, particularly among Indigenous populations and young people.

 

Responses and Solutions

 

Efforts to combat homelessness vary, but successful strategies tend to combine housing with supportive services. Here are some of the approaches being used:

• Housing First: This model prioritizes providing permanent housing before addressing other issues such as mental health or substance use. It has seen success in cities like Helsinki and Salt Lake City.
• Transitional and Supportive Housing: Offering temporary shelter with wraparound services, including job training and mental health support, can help individuals transition to permanent housing.
• Affordable Housing Development: Increasing the supply of low-income housing through public-private partnerships and zoning reform is a long-term but vital solution.
• Community Outreach and Prevention: Programs that identify at-risk individuals before they become homeless—such as eviction prevention and rent assistance—can reduce inflow into homelessness.

 

Moving Forward

 

Homelessness in major cities is a multi-faceted issue that requires coordinated action at the local, national, and community levels. While progress is slow and uneven, there is hope in evidence-based strategies and a growing awareness that housing is not just a commodity, but a human right.

As citizens, policymakers, and neighbors, we all have a role to play in shaping a future where everyone has a place to call home.

 

President Trump’s Approach to Addressing Homelessness in 2025:

 

A Controversial Shift in Policy

 

Homelessness in the United States has reached record levels, with over 771,800 people living without stable housing in 2024, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). President Donald Trump, in his second term, has made tackling this crisis a priority, rolling out a series of executive actions and policy shifts aimed at reducing visible homelessness and addressing its root causes. However, his approach has sparked intense debate, with supporters praising its boldness and critics warning of its potential to harm vulnerable populations. This blog explores how President Trump is addressing homelessness in 2025, the key elements of his strategy, and the broader implications of his policies.A New Direction: Moving Away from Housing FirstFor decades, the U.S. has relied on the “Housing First” model, which prioritizes providing permanent housing to homeless individuals before addressing issues like mental health or substance abuse. Implemented under the George W. Bush administration and expanded under Presidents Obama and Biden, Housing First has been shown to reduce homelessness by 88% in some studies, offering stability that enables individuals to access services voluntarily.

 

President Trump, however, has taken a starkly different approach, rejecting Housing First in favor of a treatment-first model. His administration argues that homelessness is often driven by addiction and mental health issues, which must be addressed before individuals can achieve self-sufficiency. In a campaign video, Trump stated, “Our once-great cities have become unlivable, unsanitary nightmares,” emphasizing the need to clear encampments and move people into treatment facilities. His policies reflect this vision, focusing on institutionalization, rehabilitation, and stricter enforcement of public space laws.

Key Elements of Trump’s Homelessness Strategy

1. Executive Order to Clear Encampments and Prioritize Treatment
   On July 24, 2025, Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets,” directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to reverse judicial precedents and consent decrees that limit local governments’ ability to remove homeless individuals from public spaces. The order encourages cities and states to enforce bans on urban camping, loitering, and illicit drug use, redirecting federal funds to programs that prioritize substance abuse treatment and mental health care over housing. The order also prohibits federal funding for harm-reduction programs, such as those providing clean needles, claiming they encourage drug use—a stance contradicted by research from the CDC showing harm reduction saves lives. Critics, including the National Homelessness Law Center, argue this approach criminalizes poverty and mental illness, potentially worsening homelessness by disrupting access to services.
2. Relocation to “Transitional Housing Centers”
   Trump’s plan includes establishing federally managed “transitional housing centers” on inexpensive federal land outside urban areas. These facilities, sometimes described as “tent cities,” would provide temporary shelter, mental health services, addiction treatment, and job training. The administration estimates these centers could cost $50 billion over four years, a significant investment that has raised questions about funding and long-term sustainability. In Washington, D.C., Trump has pledged to move homeless individuals “far from the capital” as part of a federal takeover of policing in the city. While specifics remain unclear, the U.S. Park Police has already cleared 70 encampments in D.C. since March 2025, offering individuals shelter or treatment but imposing fines or jail time for non-compliance. Advocates worry this approach separates people from existing support networks, making reintegration harder.
3. Focus on Veterans and Specific Populations
   In May 2025, Trump signed an executive order establishing the National Center for Warrior Independence, a facility dedicated to providing care, benefits, and services to homeless veterans. This initiative aligns with his broader goal of addressing homelessness through targeted programs. Additionally, his policies ensure that convicted sex offenders receiving homelessness assistance are not housed with children and support programs exclusively for women and children, aiming to protect vulnerable groups.
4. Funding Cuts and Policy Overhaul
   Under HUD Secretary Scott Turner, the Trump administration is reviewing federal spending on homelessness, proposing significant cuts to Housing First initiatives and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, which coordinates federal, state, and local efforts. These cuts have raised concerns among service providers, who argue that slashing housing-focused programs will exacerbate the crisis, especially given the nationwide shortage of 7.2 million housing units.

 

Public and Expert Reactions

 

Trump’s policies have elicited polarized responses. Supporters, like Devon Kurtz of the Cicero Institute, argue that Housing First has failed to address addiction and mental health, contributing to the 18% surge in homelessness from 2023 to 2024. They view Trump’s focus on treatment and public safety as a necessary shift to restore order and help individuals recover. Posts on X reflect this sentiment, with users like

@AmericaFirstNow praising Trump’s “bold steps” to clean up streets.

Critics, however, argue that Trump’s approach is cruel and ineffective. The National Homelessness Law Center and experts like Ann Oliva of the National Alliance to End Homelessness emphasize that forced treatment is “unethical, ineffective, and illegal,” citing evidence that stable housing is the most critical intervention. They warn that criminalizing homelessness through fines, arrests, and encampment sweeps—enabled by a 2024 Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to punish public sleeping—disrupts access to services and deepens vulnerability. On X, users like @SenWarren and @nowthisimpact have called the policies “cruel” and counterproductive, advocating for housing and prevention over punishment.

 

Challenges and Unanswered Questions

 

Trump’s strategy faces significant hurdles:

• Logistical Feasibility: Relocating thousands of people to treatment centers requires infrastructure, staffing, and funding that remain unspecified. Critics question how these facilities will be managed and whether they will provide adequate care.
• Legal Concerns: Forcibly removing individuals from public spaces or institutionalizing them raises constitutional questions, with advocacy groups like the National Homelessness Law Center prepared to challenge these policies in court.
• Root Causes: Trump’s plan does not directly address the housing shortage or affordability crisis, which experts identify as the primary drivers of homelessness. Without investments in affordable housing, critics argue, the crisis will persist.
• Local Resistance: States like California, with large homeless populations, may resist federal mandates that conflict with their housing-focused programs, potentially leading to legal and political battles.

 

An Alternative Path ForwardWhile Trump’s approach emphasizes treatment and public order, evidence suggests that housing-first strategies, combined with robust support services, are more effective. For example, Los Angeles County’s $1.1 billion annual investment in housing and rent relief and New Orleans’ Housing Trust Fund show promise in addressing root causes. Prevention efforts, such as rent assistance and renter protections, could reduce the inflow of people into homelessness, while expanded shelters provide immediate safety. Advocates argue that criminalizing homelessness or relocating individuals without addressing systemic issues like wage stagnation and housing costs is unlikely to yield lasting results.

 

Conclusion

 

President Trump’s 2025 homelessness strategy marks a significant departure from decades of federal policy, prioritizing treatment and encampment removal over housing-first solutions. While supporters see it as a bold step to restore order and address addiction, critics warn it risks criminalizing poverty and exacerbating the crisis. With homelessness at a record high and affordable housing in short supply, the success of Trump’s plan will depend on its ability to balance immediate interventions with long-term solutions. As the debate unfolds, the voices of those experiencing homelessness—children, veterans, and working people—must remain central to shaping a compassionate and effective response.For more information on Trump’s policies, visit whitehouse.gov

 

---

Discover more from Savaged Unfiltered Show

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

 

Previous Post
Well, where are Leftists about Eugenics over Progressive Ins. Ad?!?!

Next Post
Hiker picks up rattlesnake, gets bitten, dies