Reveal Trump’s Homelessness Crackdown Has Been Tried Before. It Didn’t Work.
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Aug 13, 2025 
Sam Tsemberis, a clinical psychologist and CEO of Pathways Housing First Institute, shares his insights on the critical issue of homelessness. He discusses the implications of the Trump administration's shift from the Housing First approach to punitive measures. Tsemberis highlights the importance of stable housing as a foundation for recovery and critiques the dangers of moving funding away from housing to treatment. He underscores the proven successes of Housing First and advocates for a compassionate, systemic change in addressing homelessness.
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Housing First Origins And Impact
- Housing First was developed as a reversal of treatment-first models and prioritizes housing before treatment for people with mental illness and addiction.
- The approach proved effective enough to become central to federal homelessness policy for years.
1980s Policy Roots Of Modern Homelessness
- Tsemberis recalls 1980s policy cuts to public housing that led to visible street homelessness across cities.
- He observed shelters filled and treatment-before-housing policies failing relapsing individuals.
Cycle Of Arrests And Hospitalization
- Forcing people into hospitals or jails cycles them back onto the street without solving homelessness.
- Tsemberis argues the only way to end homelessness is to provide stable housing first.