Homeless service providers could help more people overcome homelessness if they measured success differently

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Morvarid Rahmani, Georgia Institute of Technology

(THE CONVERSATION) Homelessness is a major problem in the U.S., and it’s getting worse: A record 650,000 Americans were homeless on a single night in January 2023, according to the most recent point-in-time report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That amounts to one out of every 500 people nationwide.

My state, Georgia, has seen a consistent rise in homelessness since 2017. By 2022, the number of unsheltered homeless individuals in Georgia – in other words, those living on the street or in cars – surpassed those who had access to emergency shelter, according to state data.

Politicians have been paying attention: Every year, the federal government allocates billions in funding to local governments and nonprofit service providers to help fight homelessness. Yet this money hasn’t been enough to turn the tide. Why?

Homelessness has many complex causes, including unemployment, housing...