Can U.S. Strategy Reduce Vancouver's Homelessness?

In the last five years, U.S. cities have taken a different approach to dealing with homelessness -- providing specialized services to the most vulnerable. The man heading this effort says that other cities like Vancouver should follow the U.S. lead.

1 minute read

May 10, 2007, 9:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"The United States, after 20 years of grappling with persistent homelessness, has moved to an approach that is radically different in the last five years, according to Philip Mangano, head of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness."

"If Vancouver wants to do the same, it will need to listen to homeless people, not homeless-service providers, about solutions and develop business plans that demonstrate the financial benefit of solving homelessness, says the man who is leading the U.S. effort."

"Instead of simply servicing them, it has worked to actually solve homelessness, something that many had assumed was impossible."

"To do that, cities are targeting services to the most vulnerable instead of trying to provide equal services to all homeless."

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 in The Vancouver Sun

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