Statement by UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative Director Dr. Margot Kushel on the Potential Impact of the 2024 Election on Housing Justice
SAN FRANCISCO (November 15, 2024) – Following is a statement by Dr. Margot Kushel, MD, Director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) at the University of California, San Francisco, on the potential impact of the 2024 election on housing justice.
“As the nation anticipates shifts in homelessness policy and funding following the 2024 election, it is more important than ever to ground our responses in evidence and compassion. Homelessness is solvable, but solving it requires a commitment to addressing root causes—particularly through expanding affordable housing and support services for those most impacted by the housing crisis.
“At BHHI, we remain committed to advancing housing justice, building toward a future in which communities can flourish in health, equity, and dignity.
“The potential policy changes may present new obstacles for individuals and communities already vulnerable to housing insecurity and discrimination, including those experiencing homelessness; Black, Latino/a/x, Indigenous, Muslim, Arab, trans and queer youth, immigrants, refugees, and other historically marginalized communities. BHHI remains committed to supporting these groups and providing policymakers with the evidence needed to create effective, equitable solutions that address structural injustices.”
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About UCSF BHHI
The UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) provides accurate, timely policy-oriented research about homelessness for local, state, and national policymakers and practitioners. Funded by a generous gift from Marc and Lynne Benioff and based at the UCSF Division of Health Equity and Society, UCSF BHHI is a trusted source for evidence-based practice, policy, and scalable solutions—turning evidence into action to prevent and end homelessness.
About Dr. Margot Kushel
Margot Kushel, MD, is Professor of Medicine at UCSF, Division Chief of the UCSF Action Research Center for Health Equity, and Director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. Her research focuses on reducing the burden of homelessness on health through examining efforts to prevent and end homelessness and mitigating its effects on health care outcomes. She is a primary care physician at ZSFG’s Richard H. Fine People's Clinic. Dr. Kushel is the principal investigator of The California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH), the largest representative study of homelessness in the United States since the mid-1990s. Released in June 2023, CASPEH provides a comprehensive look at the causes and consequences of homelessness in California and recommends policy changes to shape programs in response.