Opinion: San Diego should turn unused government properties into homeless shelters [Opinion]
This is not to say housing is not important or should not be pursued. Rather, elected leaders must operate on parallel paths by adding more short-term, immediate options while simultaneously working to add permanent supportive housing options.
Homelessness can be meaningfully addressed by the courage and action of political leadership coupled with the addition of immediately available shelter beds and a more appropriate level of outreach and enforcement. The other side of this coin is homelessness can be greatly enabled and perpetuated due to the inaction of elected leaders, and by focusing only on long-term strategies, as we are currently witnessing.