Opinions

In this op-ed, Trina Johnson PhD, MSc, postdoctoral fellow with the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, highlights how the overdose death rates for white people had fallen dramatically by but it isn't the same for Black people. These disparities have been attributed to structural determinants including inadequate access to harm reduction services, as well as a treatment system that is not designed to meet the needs of all communities. "We can create a model for equity and antiracism in addiction treatment that can inform all areas of medicine, so all patients and communities can thrive." Dr. Johnson writes.

In this op-ed, Margot Kushel, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at UCSF, highlights the frequency people experiencing homelessness are exposed to violence. Across the country, people are viewing the presence of people experiencing homelessness on public transportation as a thread, leading efforts to remove individuals sleeping on public transportation. "Throughout literature, sleep has been a metaphor for death. But, in real life, sleep should mean neither death nor arrest. We need to focus on real solutions — increasing housing affordability and the services that allow people to thrive — instead of demonizing tired, frightened people" Dr. Kushel writes.

In this op-ed, Morgan Philbin, PhD, MHS, associate director at the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative and director of the Educations Program, and Emilie Bruzelius, PhD, MPH, a post-doctoral fellow in substance use epidemiology at Columbia University, advocates for rolling back punitive policies and creating non-stigmatizing medical environments that can support pregnant people who use drugs. They outline the unique barriers that people who are pregnant face. They write, "All stakeholders—healthcare providers and policymakers—must bring compassion to innovative drug policies that are fueled by science instead of stigma." This op-ed was published as part of the Public Voices Fellowship in partnership with The OpEd Project and funding from the California Health Care Foundation.

In this op-ed, Morgan Philbin, PhD, MHS, associate director at the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative and director of the Educations Program, highlights the lack of tailored programming and shelters where LGTBQ+ youth feel safe, resulting in youths feeling safer on the streets. She calls for state and local governments to invest in tailored services to support LGTBQ+ teenagers and youth. Dr. Philbin writes, "These programs should coordinate with each other to most effectively deliver the services within their expertise, while simultaneously ensuring every young person has their needs met." This op-ed was published as part of the Public Voices Fellowship in partnership with The OpEd Project and funding from the California Health Care Foundation

In this op-ed, Margot Kushel, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at UCSF, highlights the cruelty and counterproductive policies in light of the US Supreme Court's ruling in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. She outlines the systemic issue of state and local governments punishing people who experience homelessness and calls for fixing the affordable housing problem. "It is now up to us to insist that our local and state officials instead enact policies that will end homelessness by providing safe, secure and affordable housing for all of us." Dr. Kushel writes. This op-ed was published as part of the Public Voices Fellowship in partnership with The OpEd Project and funding from the California Health Care Foundation.

In this op-ed, Dalma Diaz, MA, a health equity fellow at the California Health Care Foundation, highlights how housing supports other social determinants of health, providing a lifeline. She puts forward the idea of prescribing housing as a way to provide limited rental subsidies. Ms. Diaz writes, "Our housing was a lifeline. It meant that my family, which included two children under 12 — one with a developmental disability — had a stable place to live during one of the most frightening and precarious moments of our lives." This op-ed was published as part of the Public Voices Fellowship in partnership with The OpEd Project and funding from the California Health Care Foundation.

In this op-ed, Claudine Sipili, one of the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness Lived Expertise Advisory Board co-chairs, advocates using AI as a component of a holistic strategy to address homelessness. She outlines the concerns and need for clear guidelines, transparency, and community oversight when employing predictive AI. "With the vital input of people with lived experience of homelessness, urban leaders have an opportunity to harness AI's vast capabilities to identify vacant properties for conversion to affordable housing, automate and expand rental assistance programs, coordinate entry into a comprehensive continuum of care, and equitably allocate limited resources for maximum community impact." Ms. Sipili writes. This op-ed was published as part of the Public Voices Fellowship in partnership with The OpEd Project and funding from the California Health Care Foundation.

In this op-ed, Alma Yates, MSW, the Education Program Manager at the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, and Lourdes Johanna Avelar Portillo, PhD, an alumni postdoctoral fellow with the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, call to recognize menstrual health as a human right. Many countries and the United States have tried implementing initiatives that address menstrual health inequities, but "period poverty" continues, especially in armed conflicts." Dr. Portillo and Ms. Yates write, "Everyone who menstruates –  in conflict zones and refugee camps, in shelters and unhoused – needs and deserves access to necessary information, sanitary products, and facilities to manage their periods safely and with dignity." This op-ed was published as part of the Public Voices Fellowship in partnership with The OpEd Project and funding from the California Health Care Foundation.

In this op-ed, Tom Murphy, the Senior Director of Communications for the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Yolanda Stevens, program and policy analyst for the National Alliance to End Homelessness, call Congress to do more for older Americans facing homelessness. Older adults are the fastest-growing age demographic of people experiencing homelessness. They highlight the need to reconcile the stereotypes against older adults experiencing homelessness. "Leaders must also commit the resources to ensure that homeless systems can meet the needs of an aging population." they wrote. This op-ed was published as part of the Public Voices Fellowship in partnership with The OpEd Project and funding from the California Health Care Foundation.

In this op-ed, Claudine Sipili, one of the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness Lived Expertise Advisory Board co-chairs, highlights the need for compassion and innovation to the growing homelessness crisis. She outlines the devastating impact of criminalizing homelessness and the need to focus on evidence-based solutions that prioritize the well-being and dignity of people experiencing homelessness. "Addressing the homelessness crisis requires a balanced and comprehensive approach that combines short-term relief with long-term solutions. While shelters and temporary assistance can help meet immediate needs, they must be coupled with efforts to expand affordable housing, decriminalize homelessness, and address the structural inequalities that perpetuate poverty." Ms. Sipili writes. This op-ed was published as part of the Public Voices Fellowship in partnership with The OpEd Project and funding from the California Health Care Foundation.