r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Garey_Coleman • 10d ago

Where are the homeless supposed to go?

Cities have been cracking down on homeless people so they can’t have encampments or stay on sidewalks. At the same time usually the shelters are full. So those who are unable to get into a shelter, where are they supposed to go?

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u/bikinibeard 9d ago

Well, its kind of pointless to stick someone who uses fentanyl all day in their own house. They’ll die

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u/ConfusionsFirstSong 9d ago

Appropriate and effective utilization of housing first doesn’t stop with housing. It’s just the first prerequisite piece of helping someone put their life back together. It should be partnered with ACT and other intensive mental health and substance use programs as supporting the person so that they can safely remain in the community. I’ve worked with just such a housing program. Was it easy? Hell no. Did some people struggle? Absolutely. Did some people do really well? Also yes.

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u/Common-Classroom-847 7d ago

What if someone isn't interested in putting their life back together and just wants to take drugs and not get mental health and substance abuse help? I get that appropriate use of HF is a certain thing, but you can't make people want things just because it is for their own good.

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u/ConfusionsFirstSong 7d ago

No, you can’t make people stop using, even when they’re in intensive outpatient treatment. The goal the is for the professionals to not be too pushy about it and to work with the people who aren’t ready to quit to practice harm reduction and to keep them alive until such a time as they may decide to try cutting back or going sober. But even just keeping them alive is worthwhile. Just housing them so they’re more likely to stay alive is worthwhile.