Housing First works for the economically homeless. Which is only a fraction (and the most temporary) demographic of the homelessness in the US.
Housing First does not work for the mentally ill, drug addicted, or other causes of homelessness
Housing First does not work for the mentally ill, drug addicted, or other causes of homelessness
Neither one of this is what most people think of when it is stated "drug addicted and mentally ill"
alcoholism and suicide are strongly correlated with depression, a mental illness for sure but we as a society has largely separated depression off on to a separate category as it is wide (and over) diagnosed condition
Similarly alcoholism while a drug is often referred to as alcoholism not drug addiction
So in the context of Homelessness in the US mental illness would be referencing things like BiPolar Disorder,schefrania, and other more pronounced and outwardly presenting disorders. Drug Addiction would be Heroin, Crack, etc.
All of which present anti-social and often violent manifestations far different than depression
It works. It solves their homelessness then there are other measures for other problems. And not all drug addicted or mentally ill people are homeless.
It simply does not work as universal idea. People need to feel safe in their homes.
This claim seems a bit far-fetched - "non-economically homeless" probably would be simpler to help with their underlying issues if they didn't live on the streets.
Do you have anything to back your claim up?
Sure, but they need treatment facilities, not an apartment.
Housing First policies is not creating a Mental Health Center to treat people with serious conditions. It is either building standard new housing that is gifted to the homeless, or finding existing housing to provide. Which for the economically homeless there are already many many government programs to provide that the problem is they all have HUGE waitlists as there is a housing shortage.
This is why the economically homeless in the US is the most temporary, and many of the economically homeless are simply waiting for a unit to open up on one of the many government programs that provide housing units.
Putting a severely drug addicted or mentally ill person in such housing will not only do a disservice to them as they are still not getting help, and they likely will not stay in the unit anyway. It places the other residents in danger as well