President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping executive order that significantly alters the federal government’s approach to homelessness, signaling a move away from the widely accepted “housing first” strategy and toward stricter enforcement policies.
The order, signed on July 24, directs federal funding to prioritize involuntary commitment and law enforcement actions against individuals experiencing homelessness, particularly those with mental health or substance use disorders. It also threatens to withhold funding from communities that do not comply with the new directives.
“Surrendering our cities and citizens to disorder and fear is neither compassionate to the homeless nor to other citizens,” Trump stated in the order, criticizing the current system as ineffective despite billions in federal spending.
A Shift Away from Housing-First
The move departs from the “housing first” model, a proven and cost-effective strategy that prioritizes stable housing as the foundation for recovery and reintegration. Health and housing experts warn that the new directive lacks new funding and misunderstands the root cause of homelessness — unaffordable housing.
Dr. Margot Kushel, a professor at UCSF and expert on homelessness, called the policy “a formula to worsen homelessness,” arguing that without affordable housing, forced detentions are unlikely to help people stabilize.
Law Enforcement and Encampment Crackdowns
Trump’s order was partly prompted by his frustration over homeless encampments near the White House and across major cities. It comes days after a Supreme Court ruling that allows local governments greater leeway in clearing public encampments.
“You can’t have tents outside the White House when world leaders come to make trillion-dollar trade deals,” Trump said, emphasizing the visibility of homelessness in the capital.
Under the new directive, law enforcement will be given more authority to arrest individuals for drug possession and clear encampments deemed hazardous.
Bipartisan Criticism from Advocates
Advocates and service providers argue the order will deepen the crisis. Jesse Rabinowitz of the National Homelessness Law Center called the policy “criminalizing poverty,” and warned it reflects a developer mindset rather than a public health approach.
Patrick Wildes of Albany Law School noted that involuntary commitment is “expensive and dehumanizing,” and emphasized the effectiveness of permanent supportive housing, which has demonstrated long-term success in stabilizing individuals.
A Colorado study found that housing-first programs saved taxpayers over $3,700 per person annually in reduced policing and incarceration costs.
Unclear Implementation Path
Critics also point out the lack of funding or logistical mechanisms to implement the policy. Heidi Eastman of Colorado’s WellPower said the new approach risks overwhelming healthcare systems, as more people could be forced into high-cost inpatient care unnecessarily.
“There’s no funding or mechanisms in place to make this executive order happen,” Eastman said. “It will strain providers and force more expensive interventions.”
The executive order also mandates new federal data collection efforts to track service recipients, raising concerns about privacy and administrative burden.
As implementation remains uncertain, the order marks a dramatic shift in federal homelessness policy — one that may reshape services for years to come while drawing increasing scrutiny from public health and housing experts.
