“Today marks a significant shift in addressing homelessness and marks the end of a Federal approach that has not delivered.”
Yesterday, President Trump emphasized that “Ending crime and barriers on our streets shows a fundamental change in federal homelessness policy.”
He noted that after years of ineffective strategies under previous administrations, his new direction focuses on hope, healing, and restoring dignity to those affected.
It’s crucial to recognize the weight of this change and confront the past promises and shortcomings of the policies he’s about to revise.
Back in 2013, President Obama pledged to eliminate homelessness in ten years by adopting a housing-first model, which offers lifetime subsidized housing but doesn’t require addressing crucial issues like addiction, mental health, or trauma.
On the surface, the idea was that stable housing would foster recovery. Yet the harsh reality is that, since implementing this approach, homelessness has surged by 34%, with 274,224 individuals unsheltered in just one night in 2024.
This was a disaster waiting to happen. The core issue with the housing-first model is its oversight of the complex factors contributing to homelessness and the neglect of required treatment for those receiving housing assistance.
Throughout her time as CEO of the largest program for homeless women and children in Northern California, nearly all of her clients lacked supportive networks. A staggering 77% dealt with addiction, and 60% faced mental health challenges. In fact, data shows that 78% of individuals who experience chronic homelessness grapple with these same issues.
Handing someone keys while ignoring their addiction or trauma is simply irresponsible. Research over 14 years demonstrates that allowing homeless individuals to prioritize their own needs for services—seen in Boston—has not been effective. Tragically, almost half of those incarcerated died by the fifth year, and by that same point, only 36% remained alive.
President Trump’s executive order shifts focus to public safety and personal recovery, directing federal resources towards housing and transitional programs that address the root causes of homelessness, including addiction and mental health issues. It seeks to ease legal barriers that have made it difficult to provide civil commitments for those unable to care for themselves. The order also emphasizes funding for states and cities that enforce bans on outdoor drug use and encampments.
This order builds on Trump’s previous efforts to combat the opioid crisis through bipartisan support and investments. With this recent action, the President aims to nurture an environment that encourages structure, work, community, and purpose.
Some critics may contend that this approach either criminalizes poverty or fails the homeless. That’s not the case, though. Genuine compassion requires action, especially as mortality rates among homeless individuals have escalated by 77% in five years. We cannot ignore those who languish on the streets under the guise of “personal autonomy.”
This acknowledges a hard truth: many individuals struggling with addiction and mental illness experience a loss of self-awareness, hindering their ability to make healthier choices.
True compassion understands the essential human needs of safety, structure, healing, and connection. It recognizes people as they are and provides a path to growth and accountability.
Models that prioritize treatment, including civil commitments, are not punitive; rather, they affirm the value of every life and the possibility of change—both for the individual and society.
Accountability is critical in this order.
From individuals to non-profits to government agencies, there must be accountability throughout the homelessness response system. This includes strict oversight on the use of taxpayer dollars. The administration’s directive, which ties funding to measurable outcomes, ensures that federal resources do not go to waste on ineffective programs.
For too long, the fallout from inadequate policies has rested squarely on the shoulders of the homeless and the communities burdened by rising addiction and lawlessness.
Now, federal efforts focus on recovery and responsibility.
The Discovery Institute and I have been advocating for this change for nearly a decade, alongside many others. As both practitioners and policy leaders, we recognize the devastating human toll of policies built to fail—not from ill intentions, but because they overlook the fundamental needs for safety, structure, community, accountability, and purpose.
President Trump’s executive order represents a turning point—a glimmer of sanity, hope, and humanity in a system that has, for too long, lacked these qualities.
But this isn’t the end; it’s merely the beginning.
For over a decade, federal housing policies have mandated programs aimed at promoting healing—mental health initiatives, recovery services, transitional housing, and accountable care models.
Now is the time to rebuild. We must address not only the lack of housing but the whole individual. Recovery, growth, and thriving are possible. This policy could serve as a starting point for healing, both in our homes and communities.
