WEEK 1: Why One-Size-Fits-All Fails
Over the years, I’ve noticed something about how we tend to talk about homelessness.
We want it to be simple.
We want one solution. One program. One policy. One clear fix that, if implemented well enough, would finally “solve” the problem.
I understand the impulse. Complexity is exhausting. Nuance takes time. And when human suffering is involved, we’re understandably eager for answers that feel decisive and hopeful.
But, like most things on this side of heaven, homelessness is not simple—and pretending it is often does more harm than good.
Over the next 5 weeks, I want to invite you into a series where we talk honestly about the complexity of homelessness, and why one-size-fits-all solutions—of any kind—will always fail.
As I wrote in my book, Neighbors With No Doors, homelessness is the ocean where all rivers and streams of injustice pool when left unchecked and undeterred. It’s a single mom fleeing domestic violence, a senior whose rent increased faster than their Social Security, a young adult aging out of foster care, someone living with untreated mental illness, or a person working full-time who still can’t afford a place to live.
The pathways into homelessness are different—and so are the pathways out.
Housing is an essential, overarching need—but the form that housing takes, and the supports wrapped around it, must be responsive to each person’s unique situation. A single model cannot meet the needs of people whose circumstances, health, histories, and risks are profoundly different. And the truth is, our system depends far too heavily on a limited set of housing options, when what’s needed is a much more diverse and comprehensive toolbox.
Over the next 5 weeks, I’ll explore:
The shelter and housing options that exist today—and why many don’t work for everyone
Creative and alternative housing models I’ve encountered through my work and research that are offering real hope
The historical and structural reasons we’re so far behind in meeting housing demand
How healthcare access and disability discrimination shape who falls through the cracks
Practical ways you can learn more and get involved in your own community
My hope isn’t to overwhelm you with data or debates. My hope is to invite you into a more honest, humane conversation—one that resists easy answers and makes room for better ones.
Because if homelessness is complex (and it is), then our compassion—and our solutions—need to be complex too.
Thank you for being willing to wrestle with this alongside me. I’m grateful you’re here, and I’m looking forward to the conversations ahead.
With Gratitude,
Josiah Haken
CEO, City Relief
