While most Washington policymakers believe a lack of affordable housing to be the root cause of homelessness, an essential part of the equation is often ignored: the looming danger of opioid abuse. Homelessness is a ubiquitous crisis that afflicts all major American cities, and it has affected people from all social and economic backgrounds. The impact of substance abuse, and opioid consumption in particular, has played a large part in pushing people into homelessness.
Nearly 70% of American cities reported substance abuse as the most significant factor responsible for homelessness in their communities. Roughly one in four of homeless individuals surveyed cited substance abuse as the most critical cause of their living condition; but it is important to remember that addicted individuals are not always ready to admit that they have a problem with substance abuse. Among veterans, those who suffer from opioid addiction have been shown to have a tenfold higher risk of homelessness compared to veterans who aren’t suffering from addiction.
In contrast, a 2018 cross-sectional study showed that the inability to afford rent was ranked ninth among the economic reasons for homelessness, in striking contrast to the popular opinion that unaffordable housing is the leading cause of the problem. Opioid use doesn’t just cause homelessness. It also contributes to maintaining it.
Research has shown that homeless people with substance abuse disorders face considerable obstacles to obtaining basic social service needs, including employment or primary healthcare, which exacerbates comorbidities and pushes them further into poverty. They also experience grueling barriers to accessing safe treatment, a situation further worsened by a lack of transportation and a fragmented service delivery system.
With this body of evidence in mind, it is clear that solutions which prioritize affordable housing while completely ignoring the intrinsic issues of drug abuse are bound to be ineffective. Lawmakers must understand the complex interrelationship between the two problems and opt for integrated approaches to solving them with a focus on employment, housing, and addiction care in order for the results to be truly sustainable.
Research suggests that integrated interventions are the most successful, and there is evidence that homeless people are just as likely as those with stable housing to achieve freedom from addiction when provided with the care they need. Focusing on the homelessness crisis while ignoring the problem of opiate addiction would create short-lived results at best, and it wouldn’t have a lasting effect in improving the quality of life for the people affected.
Washington must treat both homelessness and opioid addiction at the same time, because this is the only option to successfully eradicate both long-term issues.
