HUD chief calls for "treatment first" approach to curb U.S. homelessness
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner argued that providing housing alone has failed to reduce homelessness and advocated a "treatment first" strategy targeting mental illness and addiction.
During a discussion with a host at one outlet, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner contended that the prevailing Housing First policy has not lowered homelessness rates, noting that nearly 750,000 people were counted homeless on a single night this year. He traced the problem to the dismantling of psychiatric asylums and the prevalence of drug addiction among the street population. Turner labeled the existing approach as merely warehousing individuals who remain untreated for mental illness and substance abuse, often dying in empty apartments or hotels.
He announced a new "treatment first" plan that would prioritize medical and addiction services before providing housing, aiming to move people toward independence. The secretary cited data indicating that 75% of homeless Americans are drug dependent and 78% suffer from mental health issues. He also criticized certain local politicians for allocating funds to services that, in his view, enable drug use rather than resolve underlying conditions.
Why it matters
The proposal could reshape federal homelessness policy and redirect billions of taxpayer dollars.
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