Taishya Adams

Homelessness is a response to failed policy, not failed people. I believe the most promising initiatives in reducing homelessness are those that are sufficiently funded, staffed and supported over multiple years. Our affected community members and community support organizations have been clear on the need for sustained support of existing evidence-based approaches (e.g. day community center) while expanding mental health, detox, recovery, transitional living, etc. This is not charity. These extreme inequities are a result of a system that encourages myopic economic growth on the backs of discriminatory policies.

I advocate for investments in evidence-based, knowledge-aligned proactive approaches like basic income support, increasing the minimum wage to a living wage to stop new people from becoming unhoused, and expand affordable housing programs to include transitional and sober living options. I bring an ecosystem approach to policymaking that addresses more than the tip of the iceberg.

We need to better define what “affordable” means across the socioeconomic spectrum in our city. Building on the recent success of the rise in occupancy limit, we must invest in climate resilient neighborhoods with multi-unit duplex, triplexes, commercial, transportation and community/communal spaces. Houses are a part of a neighborhood, which also must include access to food, jobs, childcare, schools, etc.