Through a comprehensive understanding of any problem, we can create a solution.

In my search for a practical way to eliminate homelessness I’ve identified the causes of homelessness and determined my solution to each of these sub-factors.

My hope is for these solutions to be as effective and government intervention free as possible.

• (1) Lack of Affordable Housing 

There’s a lot of misunderstanding that is associated with affordable housing. But two truths remain untarnished: 1) affordable housing requires not only permitting construction of new units but also 2) permit existing units to be used in ways that are illegal under today’s codes.

The housing codes created by legislators are primarily created with the middle class in mind, this is heavily reflected in the code. This has a big effect on the homeless.

Decent housing, or housing that’s better than living on the streets but wouldn’t be suitable for the middle class, is made completely inaccessible to the homeless because of these regulations.

These well-meaning pieces of legislation effectively boxed in and shut down rooming houses, and erect barriers to in-home boarding, too. This form of legislation has been around for centuries. It’s acted out through federal, state, and local rules in ways that sounded reasonable at the time: occupancy limits, and requirements for private bathrooms, kitchens, and parking spaces.

The net effect, however, was to essentially ban affordable private-sector urban housing for those at the bottom of the pay scale. Those priced out of the market end up having to face the unfortunate alternative, which is often the sidewalks.

This solution is not one that suggests the homeless have any less of a right to nice housing than anyone else, but to identify a simple economic truth.

“Those in extreme poverty are not going to be able to afford what the rest of society views as “acceptable”.

The same principle is true when buying food or winter boots. providers are allowed to sell goods at a broad range of quality levels, and consumers are able to pick which level works best for their preferences and budget. So why not allow this same freedom to individuals for housing?