to demonstrate that you are looking for a job. If you get a Pell Grant, you need


to show up at college and maintain a certain GPA. TANF, Temporary Assistance


for Needy Families, has obligations, along with welfare checks. For individuals, a Johns Hop-


kins study says that for a person to become stable and ultimately self- sufficient, what’s needed is at least nine hours a week of structured, organized mental health treatment; basic financial training; job readi- ness training; and actual job skill training.


THE SOLUTIONS 1


End the Housing First policy, which requires that everyone be


offered housing, with no requirements for mental health services, addiction treatment, or job training.


2 3


Institute treatment first, requir- ing participation in mental health


services, addiction treatment and recovery, and job training programs for individuals who will then be pro- vided housing. Put human recovery ahead of housing units disbursed.


Adopt Housing Plus legislation, put forward by Rep. Andy Barry,


R-Ky., which requires that at least 30% of HUD’s money goes to provid- ers that offer “Continuation of Care” mental health services, addiction ser- vices, and job training. The goal is to offer “wraparound


services” to help an individual become self-sufficient. According to Marbut, “the more customized the care is, the better the outcomes for everyone.” Many nonprofits are good at pro-


viding these services. In some places, there is a local government mental health authority that can help.


4


Remove the Institutions for Mental Disease exclusion. That is a federal rule dating from 1965


Obama promised homelessness would be solved by this year. Despite hundreds of billions of dollars spent on existing programs, the problem is worse than ever.


that prohibits federal Medicaid reimbursement to states for adult patients receiving mental health or substance abuse care in a psychiatric or substance abuse treatment facil- ity with more than 16 beds. This was part of the legislation


that dismantled the nation’s men- tal health institutions. It is why we currently have 3.5% of the mental institution beds that were available in 1950, which is why the mentally ill end up in prison or on the streets. Many homeless policy experts


believe that the massive deinstitu- tionalization, starting in 1965, was a huge failure. Allowing Medicaid to pay for real institutional care would prevent the most severely mentally ill, who often commit violent crimes, from being


on the streets. This needs to be done by congressional legislation.


hood of self-sufficiency.


5 6


Enforce laws against public camping and disorder in the


streets. This is especially important in California, Washington, and Ore- gon, which contain more than 60% of all national homelessness. Current policies have cost hun-


dreds of billions of dollars and failed to improve the situation in which many mentally ill people find them- selves.


Switching to more humane, peo-


ple first, less expensive “treatment first” policies makes clear sense.


MAY 2023 | NEWSMAX 43


Provide job training and job reten- tion services to increase the likeli-


ANDREW LICHTENSTEIN/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES / LUIZ C. RIBEIRO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS/TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE VIA GETTY IMAGES


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