Fix Homelessness | How to rebuild human lives

Discovery Institute Applauds President Trump’s Bold Action on Homelessness

_{Discovery Institute
July 24, 2025
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Homelessness}

The scholars and Fellows of Discovery Institute’s innovative Fix Homelessness initiative applaud President Trump for signing Executive Order, “ENDING CRIME AND DISORDER ON AMERICA’S STREETS,” a decisive step toward dramatically reducing homelessness across the United States. As the nation’s leading think tank on homelessness policy, our organization has long called for the very action this Executive Order takes: rolling back the federal government’s failed, one-size-fits-all “Housing First” mandate. Despite President Obama’s 2013 pledge to end homelessness within a decade, the policy has led to a 34% increase in homelessness. The Biden Administration’s most recent Annual Homeless Assessment Report (December 2024) shows that …

Discovery Releases New Data and Policy Approach for Seattle’s Homelessness Crisis

_{Discovery Institute
November 7, 2024
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Homelessness}

Download the Report. Discovery Institute Releases New Homelessness Data and Policy Approach for Seattle Seattle, WA- If the growth rate of unsheltered homelessness in King County remains unchanged, the population experiencing unsheltered homelessness will double from nearly 10,000 to a staggering 20,000 in less than three years. A new report from Discovery Institute’s Fix Homelessness Initiative offers policy recommendations and new data to address the crisis. A study performed by Discovery Institute found that 49.7% of people experiencing homelessness and enrolled in Seattle programs first began experiencing homelessness outside of King County. Data also reveals a dramatic redistribution of funding away from emergency and transitional beds towards permanent …

Jonathan Choe: President Trump Left with No Choice But to Intervene in Failed Homelessness Strategies

_{Jackson Meyer and Jonathan Choe
August 13, 2025
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Homelessness}

Seattle and many other major cities across the country have long embraced two failed strategies to address homelessness: “housing first” and “harm reduction.” Thankfully, a new executive order issued by President Donald Trump last month seeks to scrap both of these policies and finally end the disorder that has plagued America’s streets. The executive order has independent journalist and Discovery Institute Senior Fellow Jonathan Choe singing the president’s praises. “The record homelessness, the record drug overdose deaths on the streets—the current plan is just not working, and that’s why the Trump administration had to move in,” Choe told The Jason Rantz Report on Seattle Red 770 AM. Charting a New Course Discovery …

Michele Steeb Tells NTD News Trump Is Not Criminalizing the Homeless

_{Center on Wealth & Poverty and Michele Steeb
August 12, 2025
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Homelessness}

Michele Steeb appeared on NTD News with host Don Ma to discuss President Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C., including the removal of homeless encampments. Steeb explains why it’s critical to address homelessness in D.C., the relationship between homelessness and crime, and why relocating the homeless outside of D.C. might be beneficial. She also discusses what effective treatment looks like for those homeless suffering from addiction and/or mental illness. Watch Michele Steeb on NTD News …

Dr. Marbut to Newsmax: Trump EO Makes It Hard to Get High, Easy to Get Treatment

_{Jim Thomas
August 5, 2025
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Homelessness}

Dr. Robert Marbut, a former federal homelessness official, said on Newsmax Saturday that President Donald Trump’s new executive order marks a turning point by reversing policies in Democrat-led cities that he believes have enabled drug use while neglecting treatment. Marbut, former executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, voiced strong support for President Donald Trump’s July 24 executive order targeting homelessness, addiction, and public disorder. Appearing on “The Count,” Marbut said the order is a needed correction to policies in many Democrat-controlled cities, which he claims have made it “easy to get high and hard to get treatment.” “What President Trump’s executive order does it start to make it …

Steve Buri Thanks President Trump for Ending Housing First

_{Center on Wealth & Poverty and Steven J. Buri
July 31, 2025
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Homelessness}

Discovery Institute President Steve Buri thanks President Donald Trump for his Executive Order ending the failed Housing First and harm reduction policies. He also highlights the important role Discovery Institute played with its Fix Homelessness project’s street-level reporting and our policy research. We have long advocated for the changes the White House is now pursuing. The homeless deserve the most compassionate and robust care we can provide, and this is an important step in that direction. Read Our Full Statement Here …

Why Progressives Fail Homeless Americans and Attack Effective Alternatives

_{Michele Steeb
July 29, 2025
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Homelessness}

In Denver, Colorado — a city that prides itself on inclusion, compassion and progressive ideals — a Christian coffee shop owner has become the target of hostility; it’s not for what he’s done wrong, but for what he’s done right. Jamie Sanchez launched The Drip Cafe as an employment-training program for those struggling with homelessness who want to rebuild their lives. More than just offering a job, the cafe provides mentorship, structure and consistent support to equip team members to reenter the workforce and to attain long-term employment and stability. But for dozens of far-left activists in Denver, ideological conformity overshadows the measurable good of helping the homeless of the streets. Protesters are regularly showing up at his cafe, accusing him of …

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Street Report

from Jonathan Choe

Seattle Mayor: “We Will Use the Court System If Necessary” Against Trump’s Executive Order

_{Jonathan Choe
July 31, 2025
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Homelessness}

Mayor Takes Questions During Thursday’s press conference, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell implied the city would consider litigation against the Trump administration over its recent homelessness executive order. It also sounds like Harrell believes the current Housing First and “harm reduction” strategies are working. Problem is, the data suggests otherwise with record homelessness and drug overdoes deaths on his watch. NEW: Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and City Attorney Ann Davison just announced they’re suing Trump over his administrations attempts to rollback Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs and policies. The city does not want to lose DEI federal funding. https://t.co/SCphx0Sa95 pic.twitter.com/CepStktG14— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) July …

Portland, Oregon Reacts to President Trump’s Executive Order

_{Jonathan Choe
July 31, 2025
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Homelessness}

Dynamic Duo Portland, OR reacts to President Trump’s executive order on homelessness and drug addiction. Independent journalist Kevin Dahlgren says it will save lives and help addicts get into treatment. But he also believes the homeless industrial complex won’t go away overnight. BTW, this is the first time Kevin and I have teamed up in Portland. He knows every hot spot in the city. This place is next level insanity. I’m wary of AI but according to ChatGPT my good friend @choeshow are the top two most popular journalists covering homelessness in America. Sweet pic.twitter.com/bJ01914End— Kevin Dahlgren 🥾 🥾 (@kevinvdahlgren) July 27, 2025 …

Rep. Nicole Macri Answers Questions About Federal Cuts

_{Jonathan Choe
July 31, 2025
1
Homelessness}

Housing First and Harm Reduction Cut Democratic State Rep. Nicole Macri is in a unique position. She’s an elected official in WA, but is also the #2 at the Downtown Emergency Service Center. DESC is the face of the homeless industrial complex and has benefitted handsomely housing people with taxpayer dollars. Her buildings are under heavy scrutiny after Trump signed an executive order last week that pretty much cuts off federal funding from non-profits that still subscribe to Housing First and “harm reduction.” I caught up with Macri earlier this year after my WH sources told me what was going to happen. It’s all come to fruition and more radical changes are on the way. Lives will be saved. NEW: The latest Downtown Emergency Service …

Two People Overdose, One Arrested in Burien’s Low Barrier Housing

_{Jonathan Choe
July 30, 2025
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Housing}

DESC “Bamboozles” Communities The latest Downtown Emergency Service Center building in Burien has turned into the epicenter for crime, chaos, and death. Over the weekend, two more people died of drug OD’s inside units. Then an alleged fentanyl dealer was arrested in front of this building preying on vulnerable residents. Since it’s opening last year, the Bloomside leads the city in 911 calls and is a constant drain on emergency resources. Now elected officials are warning other communities to ban DESC and other “low barrier” permanent supportive housing saying they’ve been “bamboozled.” This is exactly why President Trump signed an executive order last week pledging to defund Housing First and “harm …

Drugs and Stolen Goods: The Continued Suffering of Little Saigon

_{Jonathan Choe
July 25, 2025
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Homelessness}

Happening Now Friday night, Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood is zombie land with fentanyl addicts knocked out in wheelchairs and unconscious on the sidewalk. The black market of stolen goods is thriving. Instead of breaking up this crime scene, two SPD officers simply drove by and never left their cruisers to enforce the law. Today’s Seattle Times op-ed on the failures of “harm reduction” was reposted by Council President Sara Nelson. But still no relief in sight for this predominantly Asian American neighborhood. At the end of the day, this is on Mayor Bruce Harrell. But he remains MIA. Nothing has changed on his watch. It’s actually worse than ever. This is exactly why President Trump had to sign his executive order, defunding the …

Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness Responds to Trump Executive Order

_{Jonathan Choe
July 24, 2025
1
Homelessness}

Happening Now As expected, Seattle’s homeless industrial complex is devastated after Trump’s executive order defunding Housing First and “harm reduction.” The multi-billion dollar gravy train is coming to an end. They’re blasting out fear mongering emails to donors and supporters. Page 1 Problem for them, their policies and plans have led to record homelessness and drug overdose deaths on the streets. Page 2 The progressive politicians and non-profits that enabled crime, chaos, and death in permanent supportive housing do not want to be held accountable. So they’re blaming Trump. Page 3 More than a decade ago when Housing First started, there was no independent media to push back on the lies. But now a reckoning is coming through places …

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Our Mission

Discovery Institute’s Fix Homelessness initiative offers innovative research and compassionate solutions to the growing crisis of homelessness, addiction, and mental illness facing many American cities. Our mission is to serve as a resource for policy leaders, business owners, and neighborhood organizations trying to meaningfully reduce homelessness and to help those suffering realize their full human potential.

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Discovery Institute’s Fix Homelessness Initiative pairs journalism with research on homelessness, addiction, and mental illness. Our mission is to help city leaders, service organizations, and business owners meaningfully reduce homelessness and improve lives.

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National Report

“Housing First” — and often only — has demonstrably failed. Congress and the Executive Branch must shift the focus onto untreated mental illness and substance abuse to reduce homelessness, drug overdoses, jail overcrowding, and misuse of emergency rooms. Herein we make policy recommendations to Congress to truly help rebuild human lives.

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Legal Guide

We have created a legal guide for cities to maintain compliance with the Martin v Boise decision. The guide outlines best practices for compliance and provides models for successful ordinances that balance enforcement, housing, and legal requirements. The guide is written by Joseph Tartakovsky, attorney for the City of Boise in the Martin v Boise case.

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Case Studies

We have created case studies of cities that have delivered cost-effective and rapid results on homelessness. We’ll show you how San Diego built an emergency shelter and moved 700 people off the streets, how Burien eliminated camping in public parks, and how Modesto reduced quality-of-life crimes associated with homelessness by 83 percent — all within 60 days.

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National Report

Legal Guide

Case Studies

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