Fix Homelessness | How to rebuild human lives

Homeless Family’s Outrageous Situation Suggests Unique Remedy

_{Marsha Michaelis
January 15, 2026
5
Homelessness}

A note to readers: This is an uncomfortable story, as are my conclusions about how society might best address the situation it describes. I prize individual freedom and limited government, and recognize that sanctioning government force in the application of law can be a slippery slope. Yet, neglecting justice to avoid the risks of misapplying it is also a harmful slippery slope, and we see the destructive effects of that error in every city with permissive policies toward drug use, prostitution, and disorder. Ultimately, I can’t ignore the fact that children have a natural right to the dutiful care of their parents. With a wise and creative application of law, it may be possible to uphold a child’s rights even as his parents are subject to justice. Many details would …

New Federal Direction Frees Cities to Ditch Housing First, Pursue Real Solutions

_{Center on Wealth & Poverty
November 17, 2025
2
What Works}

SEATTLE, WA — “Federal reforms have finally created space for local leaders to put treatment and recovery back at the center of homelessness policy,” says Discovery Institute President Steve Buri. “Real compassion means helping people reclaim stability and dignity, not leaving them trapped in addiction and illness without a path to restoration.” Following a newly-released reformed funding package from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Discovery Institute published an essential policy brief calling on local governments, Continuums of Care (CoCs), and service agencies to leverage these new federal reforms and make treatment and recovery central to local homelessness solutions. The brief outlines how “Housing First” and …

Don’t Let a Book by Experts Silence Your Common Sense: “Homelessness is [Not] a Housing Problem”

_{Marsha Michaelis
January 13, 2026
6
Housing}

A book written and applauded by experts can tempt you to doubt your common sense and quietly surrender intellectual ground at a crucial moment, especially if it makes a bold claim and you haven’t read it yet. Consider Homelessness is a Housing Problem by authors Gregg Colburn (an assistant professor at the University of Washington) and Clayton Page Aldern (a Seattle-based data scientist and policy analyst). The book’s attractive cover claims the authors have used “accessible statistical analysis” to “test a range of conventional beliefs about what drives the prevalence of homelessness in a given city—including mental illness, drug use, poverty, weather, generosity of public assistance, and low-income mobility—and find that none explain the variation …

Tragic Tales Demand Reform

_{Michele Steeb
January 8, 2026
4
Homelessness}

Across America’s streets, the homeless epidemic is claiming lives, fracturing families, and eroding public safety. Often deeply intertwined with mental illness and addiction, it has become a humanitarian crisis that traps vulnerable individuals in cycles of dependence and despair while destabilizing the communities around them. This crisis has been worsened by policies that elevate the notion of “freedom” over timely, life-saving intervention. Recent events make the consequences of that choice unmistakably clear. Continuing on the current path is neither humane nor responsible. Consider what unfolded in New York City over the holidays. A woman with a documented history of serious mental illness and homelessness was released from psychiatric care, only to purchase …

HUD Secretary Champions Efforts to Treat Root Causes of Homelessness

_{Caitlin Cory
December 19, 2025
3
Homelessness}

On December 16, HUD Secretary Scott Turner toured facilities at the Helping Up Mission in Baltimore, Maryland, a faith-based organization serving the homeless for 140 years. This visit was part of a larger tour in which Turner will visit facilities that are successfully helping people transition from homelessness to self-sustained living as HUD reexamines its approach to homelessness. Yesterday, @SecretaryTurner joined Helping Up Mission in Baltimore to see how the organization is serving the most vulnerable on Baltimore’s streets.Helping Up Mission assists their homeless neighbors by going into the roughest neighborhoods in Greater Baltimore, offering meals… pic.twitter.com/phnHoI8MF7— Department of Housing and Urban Development (@HUDgov) December 17, 2025 WMAR 2 News …

Good Dreams Destroyed by Bad Homeless Policies

_{Marsha Michaelis
December 11, 2025
5
Homelessness}

Of all the things a citizen should reasonably expect from her city, the “quiet enjoyment and protection of her civil rights and liberties” (so phrased by the great English jurist William Blackstone) is certainly foremost. Linda Biel, a citizen and business owner in the city of Spokane, is being denied that. Like most citizens of Spokane, when Linda pursues her dreams life in the city gets better. She pays taxes, creates jobs, provides desirable services, improves and expands her business in response to the community, and engages helpfully with her neighbors. Linda’s dream is good: She loves beauty and wellness, and long-imagined building and operating her own sophisticated downtown spa. She worked hard over many years, studying business and mathematics and …

Michele Steeb Talks Housing First Failure and What Fixes Homelessness on Morning Wire

_{Editor and Michele Steeb
December 1, 2025
1
Homelessness}

Michele Steeb joined a weekend edition of Morning Wire, presented by Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe, to discuss the recent federal reforms that offer hope for our homelessness crisis. Steeb covers how faith-based programs used to spearhead the fight against homelessness, how the Obama administration changed the federal approach for the worse, and what the Trump administration’s recent reforms mean for the homeless and communities nationwide. Years after President Barack Obama promised to end homelessness, the problem has only surged. In this episode, we sit down with expert @SteebMichele, who wrote the book on how to approach the homeless crisis, and discuss the moves President Trump is making to force progressive… …

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Street Report

from Jonathan Choe

Bellevue City Council Considers Safety of Plymouth Housing Campus

_{Jonathan Choe
January 14, 2026
1
Housing}

The Bellevue City Council is raising massive safety concerns about the Plymouth Housing/PorchLight homeless campus. Led by CM Jared Nieuwenhuis, the councilmembers are now telling city staff to come up with a better plan to keep neighbors and businesses safe. And they are demanding a baseline standard to measure success. Regardless, it appears this problematic facility isn’t going anywhere as it continues to trigger the most 911 calls in the city. Jare Neiuwenhuis CM Jared Nieuwenhuis on Plymouth Housing/PorchLight. Naren Briar CM Naren Briar on Plymouth Housing/PorchLight. Vishal Bhargava CM Vishal Bhargava on Plymouth Housing/PorchLight. Claire Sumadiwirya CM Claire Sumadiwirya on Plymouth Housing/PorchLight. Mo …

New Seattle Mayor Cancels First Major Encampment Sweep

_{Jonathan Choe
January 13, 2026
2
Homelessness}

Canceled Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson abruptly canceled the first major encampment sweep of the year. It was scheduled for Wednesday morning in Ballard. Neighbors are furious and some in the outreach community are questioning this decision. But Wilson’s risky call could be a long-term blessing in disguise. NEW! The @MayorofSeattle just postponed indefinitely the first scheduled encampment sweep under her leadership. People in these tents need intervention to treat addiction and mental illness. I hope our new mayor can see for her own eyes this isn’t a shelter or housing crisis and… https://t.co/VfYbiKnzh8 pic.twitter.com/Il1f25Sx7v— We Heart Seattle (@weheartseattle) January 14, 2026 Other Sweeps Continue Wilson’s spokesperson sent me a …

HUD Secretary: We Must “Treat the Root Cause,” Not Just House the Homeless

_{Jonathan Choe
December 17, 2025
1
Homelessness}

Tackling the Root Causes HUD Secretary Scott Turner takes direct aim at America’s “homeless industrial complex” and says the the days of “warehousing people” are over. The Trump administration is reallocating federal dollars to tackle the root causes of homelessness like drug addiction and mental illness. This plan could cripple so called Housing First programs that do not require people to find jobs or enter drug treatment. Many of these understaffed facilities under Housing First also trigger the most 911 calls in cities, allow drug use behind closed doors, and attract an inordinate amount of crime to neighborhoods. California and WA are ranked in the top three for overall homelessness in the nation. But elected officials in these states are …

Crime Watch Volunteers Keep an Eye on Shoplifters in Bellevue QFC

_{Jonathan Choe
December 16, 2025
1
Crime, Law, and Order}

From QFC to the Black Market Here we go again. Bellevue crime watch volunteers say repeat offenders love the QFC in Crossroads. Late Monday evening, these alleged crooks stole multiple items but got away. They are apparently a notorious couple that operates between Seattle’s Chinatown-ID and various parts of Bellevue. #EXCLUSIVE: Bellevue is under siege. A steady flow of criminals from outside the city are targeting local stores. In many instances homeless drug addicts get around using the bus, ransack businesses, then sell the items for pennies on the dollar in Seattle to purchase fentanyl.… https://t.co/vBPOda7bhl pic.twitter.com/mjaXZfJ6bK— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) December 16, 2025 Have You Seen Them? Be on the look out for these alleged …

Community Members Step Up to Stop Drug Addiction Thefts at Bellevue QFC

_{Jonathan Choe
December 16, 2025
2
Crime, Law, and Order}

Under Siege Bellevue is under siege. A steady flow of criminals from outside the city are targeting local stores. In many instances homeless drug addicts get around using the bus, ransack businesses, then sell the items for pennies on the dollar in Seattle to purchase fentanyl. This has been going on for years. But community watch members now say it’s getting worse. Here is one of several incidents Monday evening at the QFC grocery store in the Crossroads neighborhood. Good Samaritans stepped in and forced an alleged crook to return stolen items. After being confronted, this Black woman kept saying, “I’m a n*gger. I’m a n*igger.” Some may call this vigilante justice. But there is limited security and not enough officers on the streets to go …

Seattle Homeless Man Ambushes, Injures Cop

_{Jonathan Choe
December 15, 2025
2
Crime, Law, and Order}

Brutal Attack Bellevue cop Sean Winebrenner is out of the hospital after being brutally attacked by a deranged homeless man at the Transit Center last week. Mohamed Morray Bangura faces multiple assault charges and is also accused of making a false 911 report to ambush officers. Assailant Shot, Remains in Hospital Aside from a 6-inch gash to his face, Winebrenner also suffered a broken clavicle and dislocated shoulder in this attack. Bangura remains in the hospital after being shot by officer Guilherme Spagnolo who was responding to the call with Winebrenner. Facing Charges 38-year-old Bangura is facing First and Second Degree assault charges, not attempted murder. But prosecutors say it could be upped to something more serious depending on what else comes …

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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.

Resources

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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