Housing Is the "EpiPen" for Homelessness — But We Need Enough of Them

August 18, 2025

Housing works. We just don’t have enough.

In a recent Urban Institute article, experts caution that while calling in the National Guard might seem like decisive action against homelessness in Washington, D.C., it doesn’t address the root problem: a lack of housing resources.

The piece uses a striking and creative analogy:

One would not assert that EpiPens don’t save people from allergic reactions if a hospital only had five EpiPens but 25 people experiencing an allergic reaction.

The same is true for homelessness. We know that getting people into housing is a proven, life-saving intervention. But when there’s far less available housing than people in need, the solution can’t reach everyone.


The takeaway is clear: rather than relying on temporary stopgaps, our communities must invest in more permanent housing solutions and supportive services. With enough resources, we can ensure that everyone who needs “the EpiPen” of housing actually receives it.


Support proven local efforts to end homelessness.

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