The Council of Economic Advisers released The State of Homelessness in America report. The report raises serious methodological concerns, cherry-picks data that supports the reports positions and relies on outdated studies. The report’s primary argument posits that the deregulation of 11 housing markets would lead to a reduction of 71,709 people experiencing homelessness. That statistic relies on an assumption that a one percent reduction in rental home prices reduces the rate of homelessness by one percent. The report takes aim at municipalities that have implemented right-to-shelter policies and policies that affect the tolerability of living on the streets for decreasing the demand for housing and increasing homelessness.
In a statement, The National Alliance to End Homelessness said the report, “Reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of homelessness, the programs that end homelessness and the people who experience it.”
The report comes amid President Donald Trump’s visit to California, Secretary Ben Carson’s tour of public housing in San Francisco, a letter from California leaders to President Trump requesting increased funding resources for homelessness, a response letter from Secretary Carson and President Trump’s verbal consideration of having the Environmental Protection Agency issue a notice of environmental violation against homelessness in San Francisco because of “waste, including needles going through the storm sewers.”
