The cost of denial

People, many of them Democrats, who have dismissed my years of blogging about the dysfunction of homeless support services have deprived themselves of a persuasive argument in favor of extending eviction moratoriums.  The homeless support systems cannot possibly accommodate a large influx of homeless people; it would be a disaster with both short-term and long-term consequences for individuals and communities.

For those who dislike being implored by what they think of bleeding heart tactics:  homelessness is a major expense for every community, and the expense is not balanced by a corresponding productivity.  Homelessness is chaotic and disorienting; this is added to the trauma, grief, terror and shame that people experience when they lose their housing. 

Anyone who has a mental or physical condition prior to being homeless is guaranteed to experience decline.  A lot of people who don't have those conditions will end up with them.  People who are already homeless will be agitated by overcrowding.  Those who have made progress toward addiction recovery or who are trying to stay out of jail could relapse.    

It is going to cost the country less to prevent evictions than to allow them.