The Cost of Homelessness

For John, BLUF:  We aren't going the right way re homelessness.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Over at The Boston Globe Opinion Writer Ms Joan Vennochi hit some homeless issues on Thursday (14 November).  She captures it with this comment about the plight of the homeless, our fellow residents who are, mostly, down on their luck or suffering from physical or mental illness.

Their plight may or may not tug at your heartstrings.  But the economics of these emergency solutions most definitely yank at your purse strings.

We are talking "some $200 million for shelter subsidies and short-term housing assistance…".  That includes hotel and motel rooms for homeless families. Unfortunately, long term housing, which used to get $120 million a year, is now down to $57.5 million.  So, we are eschewing long term solutions for expensive short term solutions.  Think of it this way.  A family in a motel is $100 a night or $3,000 a month.  That same family in a home might be only $800 or $900 a month.  Call it a grand and it is still one-third the cost of going the hotel route.  Taxpayer money.  For those of you thinking that the taxpayers in Connecticut and New York are paying for this, remember, we are a net exporter of Federal tax dollars.

Check out the whole OpEd.

Regards  —  Cliff