“Enforcing public nuisance laws or penalizing actions like blocking streets, creating public health hazards, or disturbing the peace is not inappropriate or unjust. Incarcerating peaceful people who choose to live unhoused is. And coercing people with substance abuse and mental health problems to undergo treatment assaults their autonomy.”
In a new blog post, Dr. Jeffrey Singer critiques the oversimplified views on homelessness expressed by Elon Musk, and addresses President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to coerce homeless individuals into treatment, claiming it undermines their autonomy.
Dr. Singer emphasizes that both Musk and Trump overlook critical factors contributing to homelessness, such as the shortage of affordable housing and the prevalence of mental illness. He cites research indicating that coercive treatment is often ineffective and can even increase risks for those affected. Singer argues for a more compassionate approach, advocating for the elimination of the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for clozapine, a medication essential for treating schizophrenia. By improving access to this treatment, the homelessness population could potentially decrease by 60,000 to 120,000 individuals.
If you would like to speak with Dr. Singer about this topic, please feel free to reach out to us.
