I know that most people have been programmed to hate the poor, or look down on the poor, and likewise to the homeless.
I see and hear examples almost every week.
But what if I let you know that actually giving homeless people “housing and supportive services” would save taxpayers from $21,000 to $30,000 per homeless person per year, would that help you accept the challenge we all face with homelessness?
One 2014 study from Florida shows that it costs “$10,051 to house and supply supportive services” to the homeless. A 2012 quote by a HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan says, “a homeless person costs taxpayers $40,000 a year.”
These figures that show housing the homeless instead of letting them roam aimlessly on our streets, show me that we should all take the responsibility of housing the homeless, because we will all save at least $25,000 per homeless person per year doing so.
Curtis Bradley,
Port Angeles