The difficulty with the homeless question is that there is no easy answer. Some of the solutions that were vilified in the Criminalising Homelessness and Hidden City readings (such as searching for family with which people could stay and bussing them out to other locations) are measures being considered in my hometown to deal with homelessness there. In that case, though, it might be an effective solution, given the cities’ differences. The problem in NYC seems to be money. Advantage seemed to work, but it crumbled under the weight of no funding. But given the successes had with subsidising rent – even in a plan that slowly phases out governmental burden – and more affordable housing, providing it may lower the number of homeless people. If they do, however, the city needs to commit to the program on a level where it won’t collapse should the state pull out. There are options out there, as Picture the Homeless has outlined, and the people interviewed in Hidden City seem to have ‘client responsibility’ in spades. Now it is to be seen what they do with it.

Question: What did you think of the measures to counteract homelessness in Criminalising Homelessness? Do you think there is an answer to the homeless question that could work across the board? What would you suggest be done?