When we talk about homelessness, the conversation often centers on the price tag of solutions. How much will it cost to build new housing? How much do supportive services add? Can we afford long-term investments in stability? These are fair questions, but they leave out a crucial reality. There is already a huge cost to our community when we do nothing.
National research shows that people experiencing chronic homelessness make up about 20 percent of the homeless population, yet they drive nearly 80 percent of the related costs. Why? Because when someone lives outdoors without stability, every problem becomes an emergency. A small health issue turns into an ambulance ride and an ER visit. A conflict in public becomes an arrest, a court appearance, and a jail stay. Lack of shelter leads to constant interaction with police, hospitals, and other crisis systems that are not designed to provide long-term stability.
These costs are not abstract. In Northwest Arkansas, we see them every day. Neighbors without homes cycle through emergency rooms, jails, and shelters at enormous public expense. Beyond the financial burden, the human toll is devastating. People remain exposed to the elements, vulnerable to violence, and disconnected from the very resources that could help them heal. For them, “doing nothing” means more years of instability, trauma, and loss.
And yet, despite all that spending, the problem remains unsolved. Reacting to crises again and again is not only inhumane, it is also profoundly inefficient. The cycle continues, the costs add up, and lives hang in the balance.
The good news is that we know what works. Permanent supportive housing is a proven model that combines affordable homes with case management, healthcare connections, and life-skills training. Studies show that between 75 and 90 percent of chronically homeless individuals remain stably housed in supportive housing. More importantly, they gain stability, health, and hope for the future.
Supportive housing also saves money. Providing someone with an apartment, a case manager, and access to services costs far less than the revolving door of jail time, hospital stays, and repeated shelter visits. Communities that invest in supportive housing see both lives and budgets transformed.
At New Beginnings, we believe the choice is clear. Doing nothing is not only the most expensive option, it is also the most damaging. By investing in homes and support together, we can break the cycle, reduce costs, and most importantly, give our neighbors the chance to belong and thrive.
