Congressional candidate Monique DeSpain has a vision for ending homelessness. Unfortunately, it is based on a myth that addictions and mental illness are the primary causes of homelessness. They are not. Basing public policy on such a myth will help some individuals, but will do nothing to solve the larger issue.

In their book, “Homelessness is a Housing Problem,” researchers Gregg Colburn and Page Aldern show that the cost of housing and low vacancy rates are the most important factors that lead to homelessness. From my own experience of nearly 30 years working on this issue, I have found that homelessness more often leads to mental illness and substance abuse than the other way around. 

I can’t entirely blame DeSpain for the error. Her ideological allies in the Trump administration made the same mistake, citing a 2019 study from the California Policy Lab to justify shifting HUD dollars away from “housing first” and toward mental health and substance abuse treatment. The only problem is, the authors of that study completely reject HUD’s interpretation. 

In fact, the study’s authors note, “we are deeply concerned about these survey results being misused to make broad claims about the causes of homelessness. Hundreds of studies — including our own — show economic pressures are the primary drivers of homelessness [and] that housing people ends homelessness…” (italics added)

DeSpain also fails to mention in her column that while the Point In Time count was up in 2025, the more accurate Homeless By Name List for Lane County is down significantly in 2026, a hopeful sign that we are beginning to turn the tide. The problem with “housing first” policies is not that they don’t work, but that they are not sufficiently funded. 

We need leaders who base policy not on myths, but on facts. We are fortunate to have such leaders in Rep. Val Hoyle and Gov. Tina Kotek who actually understand what needs to be done and are moving the needle.

Dan Bryant
Eugene