Should We Give Homeless People Homes?
How the city of Medicine Hat in Canada, gave every person living in the streets a home
The Inquiry · BBC World Service
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Show Notes
It is a surprisingly simple idea - to end long-term homelessness, give every person living on the streets a home. It can also be surprisingly effective. Medicine Hat, a city in Canada, recently became the first city to end homelessness in this way. The approach is known as Housing First, and – unlike many other homelessness initiatives – it does not require homeless people to make steps towards solving other issues like alcoholism, mental health problems or drug addiction before they get a home. But is this approach solving the problem, or simply moving it off the streets?
(Image: A homeless man with his dog outside a building. Credit to Getty)