The famous phrase goes, “If all you have to solve your problems is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a nail.” In the case of homelessness policy, the government has consistently failed to realize that they don’t have to use their ‘hammer,’ the police. Sending the police in to deal with complex situations involving unhoused people that may be physically or mentally ill is seldom the right option if social workers or other professionals are available.

Alternative first response programs, being implemented in communities across the country, send health professionals and other community-based workers instead of police officers to respond to calls where community members need mental health or crisis intervention services, substance use or stabilization services, and other social support services. They’ve been proven to be better at understanding situations and solving them because they’re trained to deal with this kind of stuff. The problem with sending police officers is that they are trained to deal with criminals–homeless people aren’t criminals; they’re just people who are in a position where they need help.

The reason that alternative first response programs are not in wide use around the country is chiefly a lack of investment in such programs. True change to make it better for unhoused populations starts at that policy level, so go out and make your voice heard.