In San Diego, tent cities near freeways starkly illustrate the harsh reality of homelessness. Individuals are obstructing rail traffic between Sacramento and the Bay Area and crowding subway trains in Los Angeles, seeking shelter while many languish on Skid Row. Drug use within the homeless population poses significant risks to communities, with discarded needles endangering children in public parks. Thousands of homeless youth across California face challenges in maintaining their education, academic performance, and social connections due to their unstable housing situations. Despite numerous studies on homelessness since the 1980s, much of the research is limited in scope, politically charged, and based on questionable assumptions about its causes. The urgent nature of the homelessness crisis demands innovative solutions supported by credible data and objective research. This analysis delves into the root causes of homelessness, emphasizing unaffordable housing, poverty, mental illness, substance addiction, and legal reform. It explores how housing policies, social services, and employment opportunities can either exacerbate or alleviate the issue. The evaluation includes various strategies employed at different governmental levels to combat homelessness and presents long-term policy solutions with the potential to make a significant impact.
