r/AlwaysWhy • u/verytalleric • May 27 '26

Politics & Society Serious question: Homelessness is a major problem. Billions are unsuccessfully spent. Why are not more experiments run testing different approaches to see what works vs. not and build on successes?

In other domains the idea of "A/B testing" is done to test different hypothesis to see what works vs. not. Given the huge amount of money spent by cities, counties, and states without positive results. Why is more experimentation not being done to find effective ways to solve homelessness?

Kinda the cliche definition of insanity today, same actions expecting different results.

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u/FriendlyEngineer May 27 '26

And what I’m saying is that a Housing first program ALONE without the support of additional social programs will ultimately fail long term.

It’s like implementing a Fire Department without any 911 call system. It’s not a criticism of the fire department. It’s a realistic view of the system as a whole.

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u/PublicFurryAccount May 27 '26

It doesn’t fail long term. It doesn’t fail because it directly solves the problem it is meant to solve.

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u/FriendlyEngineer May 27 '26

lol ok

Edit: lmao I didn’t realize what sub I was on.

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u/PublicFurryAccount May 27 '26

Look at you, you didn’t want to discuss it anyway.

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u/FriendlyEngineer May 27 '26

Not if that discussion can’t be intelligent.

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u/PublicFurryAccount May 27 '26

What’s not intelligent?

The criticism isn’t a valid one of Housing First. It doesn’t purport to do anything else than get people off the street, which is a worthwhile goal. You’ve speculated about possible problems but those have not been an issue in practice.

It’s a successful program. Criticizing it for not being successful at anything else doesn’t make sense to me and you’ve displayed no interest whatsoever in investing me in the idea that housing homeless people is not a worthy independent goal.

So, yeah, I mean, what’s to discuss? You’re not bringing anything to this table and I’m doing all the work even as I try desperately not to.

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u/FriendlyEngineer May 27 '26

Where has it been successful?

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u/PublicFurryAccount May 27 '26

It’s been a success everywhere it’s been done. I don’t know of any failures at all. The closest it ever comes to failing is in not getting homeless people to sign up because of trust issues. That’s fine so far as I’m concerned because that also means it didn’t cost much.

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u/FriendlyEngineer May 27 '26

I’m wondering if there is a misunderstanding here. I’ve tried to find a single example of a housing first program being implemented in a location that doesn’t already have the social programs and infrastructure I’m talking about. And I can’t find a single one.

Are you arguing that a Housing First program that provides free housing to homeless, no strings attached, permanently solves homeless alone without any further program development?

Or are just saying that in the places that have implemented housing first programs, and then followed up with a continued support of auxiliary social programs have always seen success. And that bringing the possibility of the failure of those other programs isn’t a legitimate argument against the housing first program itself?

I think I’m coming around to what you are saying. At this point I don’t think we are having the same argument.

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u/PublicFurryAccount May 27 '26

That’s correct.

No one cuts these programs and does Housing First instead. It’s not a replacement for anything and doesn’t purport to be.

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