At Christmas, many of us are gathered in warmth—homes filled with light, familiar traditions, and the simple comfort of being with family and friends. Unfortunately, for too many, this season arrives without shelter, stability, or hope.
For the past several years, I’ve walked neighborhoods that have been allowed to become open-air drug dens and insane asylums. I’ve spoken with residents—both those trying to live their daily lives amid deteriorating conditions and those suffering in the streets. And I’ve been part of Independent Institute’s research initiative exposing the government spending and policies that have driven the crisis.
Culminating in this year’s publication of Beyond Homeless: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes, Transformative Solutions, Independent is forging a bold initiative to advance transformative solutions to restore hope and dignity in our cities and neighborhoods. And thanks to our generous supporters, we’re helping redirect attention toward private-sector approaches that treat people as individuals.
Homelessness is not the only area where expansive government programs have produced disastrous results. Healthcare is another. Just last week, Independent Institute Public Affairs Counsel Christopher Briggs testified before the U.S. Senate about his young daughter being denied cancer treatment under their Affordable Care Act Plan (aka Obamacare). Opening with the question, “If Obamacare is such a great plan, why are you all not on it?”, Christopher challenged lawmakers to confront the real human consequences of broken policy.
