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Supporters, including Mayhan, argue that these aggressive tactics are necessary to restore order and human dignity. They contend that it’s not sustainable to ignore the realities of drug addiction, mental illness, and public health hazards, which threaten the safety of both unhoused individuals and residents.
Resources, Funding, and Institutional Challenges
However, implementing such measures faces significant hurdles. Randy Shaw, director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic in San Francisco, pointed out that most jurisdictions lack the resources to place every homeless person into treatment or shelter. The recent federal Medicaid cuts, part of Trump-era policies, further exacerbate this problem by reducing essential funding for mental health and addiction services.