Radical Redesign of Homelessness Services
The current system for addressing homelessness in the US is broken, with cities spending more on services each year, yet homelessness continues to rise, and public frustration grows.
According to experts, the issue may be that the system is trying to solve too many problems at once, without effectively addressing any of them.
Reimagining the System
A thought experiment by the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL) explores what it would take to radically redesign the way communities serve people with severe mental illness living on the street.
What if we’re trying to solve too many problems at once with a system built to solve none of them well?
A Path Forward
There are precedents from communities across the country that can provide guidance on how to reimagine a complex system like this.
Local governments, nonprofits, and philanthropists could work together to create a more effective system.
- State and city leaders can work with experts to redesign services around outcomes.
- Communities can learn from successful precedents and adapt them to their needs.
Author's summary: Redesigning homelessness services around outcomes could lead to more effective solutions.