Chicago's Plan to End Homelessness

This article in the Christian Science Monitor by Amanda Paulson discusses a new approach to be implemented by the city of Chicago to fight the problem of homelessness.

In a move being closely watched around the country, the city is undertaking an ambitious experiment: a 10-year "plan to end homelessness," a drastic shift in strategy that emphasizes permanent housing over shelters.

The article is short on details but appears to indicate that the city will stop funding homeless shelters and start building permanent housing for the people. In addition, it seems the program will include some type of cash payment to encourage the people to continue residing in the permanent housing. It's not clear how the costs will be paid, but the homeless advocates are giddy about the promise of a new and, as yet undefined, pile of cash to spend.

Frankly, without specifics, it's difficult to assess the plan's chances of success. This writer is fairly certain that if the plan is implemented as it's described, it will help mitigate homelessness to some degree. With people being paid to live in free housing, the migratory instinct of homeless people in surrounding cities will become energized. There will likely be a marked reduction in the homeless populations of Milwaukee, WI, Rockford, IL, Gary, IN, and other places.