Part 9/13:
On the ground, the consequences of current policies are visible and distressing. News stories highlight open-air drug markets, tent cities near university campuses, and the eye-witness accounts of substance abuse, violence, and sanitation hazards. Encampment clearings are often temporary; people just relocate and continue their cycle of marginalization.
Critics argue that surrendering cities to disorder neglects compassion in favor of public order. The streets are littered with needles, human waste, and discarded possessions—an environment hostile to residents, business owners, and the unhoused alike. The cycle of criminalization, criminal justice, and displacement perpetuates homelessness rather than curing it.