Although homelessness and opioid abuse are often linked to one another, it is also possible for one to be present without the other; and as such, they have to be handled separately. Attempting to take the two problems on simultaneously would be an oversimplified approach.

Seattle's #homeless crisis has been years in the making, and its roots are quite profound. One of the significant causes of homelessness and death is drug overdose, the most commonly abused drug being opioids. There are several other causes of homelessness in the city, though. These include a lack of affordable housing, a decentralized response to regional crises, and a lack of follow-up services within the foster system. 

Opioid abuse increases when people are not able to find stable housing. According to Seattle's reports, most of the city's homeless population is hooked on opioids, including heroin and fentanyl. The reports estimate that around 11,000 homeless opioid addicts live in Washington. The city of Seattle's homeless-outreach team estimates that 80 percent of the homeless population has substance abuse disorders. 

These statistics are alarming, and it is clear that drug addiction is a serious threat to our population. But we can't just assume that addressing the drug crisis will somehow fix the problem of our rapidly increasing homeless count. Even when people take the commendable step of seeking treatment for addiction, they still need a place to call home. And the sad truth is that when people are recovering from drug addiction, keeping company with current drug users makes it nearly impossible for them to succeed in maintaining their recovery.

Unsheltered people, whether or not they are suffering from addiction, need a source of income. It is almost impossible for them to find work when they have no permanent residence or phone number to provide to potential employers. No matter how many millions of dollars the government invests in anti-drug campaigns, it does not solve this simple fact. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, "Substance abuse can cause homelessness, but it often arises after people lose their housing."

Homelessness and addiction often go hand-in-hand, but they are comorbidities, not just differing aspects of one overarching problem. If we are to have any hope for solving either one, it is important to realize that they are indeed separate issues which each require their own specific treatments.