The Kenneth Fire: A Criminal Investigation Unveiled
Last week, LAPD Officer Sean Dinse revealed a shocking revelation – the Kenneth Fire, one of the six fires plaguing the Los Angeles basin, was now under criminal investigation. The fire’s origin was allegedly linked to a homeless individual, believed to be an illegal alien, who was quickly subdued by nearby residents. Witnesses reported seeing him wielding a blowtorch while shouting ominous words: “I am doing this.” Although he was later detained on a felony probation violation due to insufficient evidence, it was clear that this individual had harbored an intent to harm the community.
The Escalating Risk of Homelessness-Linked Fires
The link between homelessness and fires in the L.A. region is becoming increasingly apparent. According to data from the LAFD, there were a staggering 13,909 fires in 2021 alone that were associated with homelessness. This number is nearly double the amount reported in the previous year. The juxtaposition of these figures underscores the escalating and enormous risk to public safety posed by our nation’s homeless policy, known as Housing First.
The Untold Realities of Homelessness
Homeless individuals face a multitude of challenges that often intertwine and exacerbate their situation. These challenges include underemployment or non-employment, lack of education, absence of a support network, and, particularly for women, domestic violence. However, the most prevalent challenges they face are mental illness and addiction, despite misleading federal government data. According to the UCLA Policy Lab, a staggering 78% of chronically homeless individuals struggle with these issues.
The Vicious Cycle of Criminal Activity and Homelessness
In their struggle for survival, many homeless individuals resort to criminal activity. Conversely, criminal behavior can also catalyze homelessness. In a program for homeless women and children, 55% of the women had criminal records. Estimates suggest that in the overall homeless population, this figure can range from 20% to as high as 70%. Based on frontline experience, the higher estimate seems more likely, especially considering the surge in premature jail and prison releases without adequate rehabilitation efforts.
The Failed Approach of Housing First
Housing First, a public policy approach adopted in 2013, aimed to connect the homeless to permanent housing as quickly as possible. However, it neglected to address the underlying issues of mental illness and addiction. The approach meant that taxpayers were obligated to provide unconditional housing for the homeless without any requirements for sobriety, treatment, or employment. Shelters, transitional housing programs, and treatment services were rendered obsolete, as the focus shifted solely to providing permanent housing vouchers. Despite promises made by President Obama that Housing First would end homelessness in a decade, the number of homeless Americans and the homeless mortality rate reached record highs.
The Need for a New Approach: The Human First Framework
It is clear that Housing First has failed as the primary approach to homelessness. The Free Up Foundation has developed a Human First public policy framework that recognizes the complexity and resilience of individuals. This framework proposes several key steps for the incoming administration to adopt:
1. Eliminate Housing First as the exclusive approach to homelessness.
2. Redefine success to focus on helping individuals realize their full potential.
3. Refund temporary residency programs and reinstate shelters, transitional housing, and sanctioned encampments to facilitate the efficient delivery of treatment services.
4. Fund and require treatment services, including mental health and substance abuse counseling, and employment training.
5. Ban unsanctioned encampments that often become hubs for crime, drugs, and fires.
6. Re-engage the faith-based and law enforcement communities that were marginalized in previous approaches to homelessness.
7. Regularly measure and report progress, and provide funding and rewards for success.
Restoring Safety and Normalcy
Over the past decade, the nation has capitulated to the failed approach of Housing First. The consequences have been devastating, with homelessness soaring and wreaking havoc on communities, taxpayers, public spaces, and public safety. The Human First framework proposed by the Free Up Foundation aims to restore individual productivity and public safety while returning billions of dollars annually to hardworking taxpayers. It is time to confront the undeniable truth and take decisive action to address the complex issue of homelessness.
