The AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s approach to homelessness is centered around the “Housing First” model. This policy emphasizes providing permanent housing without preconditions related to sobriety or mental health treatment. The underlying principle is that stable housing is essential before addressing other issues.
Critics of Housing First, such as Christopher Rufo, have raised concerns about its effectiveness as a universal solution. In a 2020 report, Rufo referenced a University of California survey from 2019, which indicated that many unsheltered homeless adults reported physical health (46%), mental health (50%), or substance abuse (51%) problems contributing to their homelessness. Rufo argued that efforts to reduce homelessness must address these underlying issues alongside housing.
Stephen Eide from the Manhattan Institute has also critiqued Housing First and its limitations. Some national advocacy groups supporting Housing First align it with broader left-wing public policy agendas, potentially politicizing the issue.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness views homelessness as primarily driven by structural factors like systemic racism and discrimination. It advocates for decommodifying the housing sector through measures like rent control and social housing. The alliance also considers climate change a significant factor in homelessness and argues for prioritizing “climate justice” in policy solutions.
Major funders of the National Alliance include the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation ($3.15 million from 2021 to 2023) and the Melville Charitable Trust ($1.08 million from 2021 to 2023). Jeff Bezos contributed over $500,000 annually from 2020 through 2022.
Similarly, the National Coalition for the Homeless attributes the housing crisis to structural inequity rooted in institutionalized poverty and racism. It believes homelessness can only be addressed through systemic resources, policy changes, and government funding for affordable housing programs.
In partnership with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation since 2022, the coalition opposes clearing homeless encampments and opened its West Coast office at the foundation’s Los Angeles headquarters. They are partners in the Bring America Home Now campaign, which links homelessness to systemic racism and calls for expanding government regulatory and welfare state apparatuses.
The National Coalition has received funding from sources including the Melville Charitable Trust ($407,800 from 2021 to 2023), Network for Good ($362,173 from 2021 to 2023), National Football League Foundation ($100,000 from 2023 to 2024), New Venture Fund ($50,000 in 2023), and Arc of Justice ($20,000 in 2022).