At Mary Magdalen House, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of treating every person experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect.
For over three decades, we have operated under the fundamental beliefs that hygiene is a human right and that every individual deserves to “refresh and renew in body, mind, and spirit from the hardships of living on the street.” Today, we challenge our community to consider not just the policy implications, but the human cost of abandoning Housing First and other approaches that honor the inherent dignity of every person.
When we discuss homelessness, we’re not talking about abstract policies—we’re talking about family members, friends, neighbors, and fellow residents: people who deserve compassion rather than condemnation. The research paints a complex portrait that elicits our desire to understand rather than a desire to condemn.
According to SAMHSA, more than half of adults living in supportive housing have either a mental health condition or both mental health and substance use challenges. Among those experiencing homelessness and undergoing SUD treatment, 68 percent of men and 76 percent of women have experienced some kind of trauma. Additionally, up to 80 percent of people experiencing homelessness show some cognitive issues, making it harder for them to process information, learn new skills, and navigate complicated systems.
These numbers aren’t just statistics—these are real people facing real challenges. Research also reveals something crucial: these mental and physical health conditions are often made worse by the experience of homelessness itself, rather than being the main cause of homelessness.
Think about this: wouldn’t you feel anxious and depressed if you were sleeping outside, uncertain of your next meal, constantly worried about your safety? The harsh reality of street life would test anyone’s mental strength. When someone turns to substances to ease the symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma from living in such conditions, can we truly blame them for seeking relief from such an unbearable situation?
Our vision at Mary Magdalen House is simple yet profound: “a Greater Cincinnati where all people experiencing homelessness are afforded dignity.” This isn’t just idealistic language—it’s a practical framework that recognizes and honors the imago Dei in every person who walks through our doors.
Every day, we see individuals who have been pushed to society’s margins, yet still possess inherent worth. When someone comes to us for a shower, clean clothes, or simply a moment of safety, we’re not just providing services—we’re affirming their dignity. We’re saying, “You matter. You deserve care. You deserve respect.”
Our dignity-centered approach aligns with successful Housing First concepts, which recognize that stable housing is the foundation that allows people to feel safe enough to address other obstacles in their lives. These programs don’t ignore mental health or substance use issues—they acknowledge that these challenges are much harder to address when someone lacks the basic security of shelter. The medical community recognizes stable housing as one of the social determinants of health, affecting physical well-being. It should be obvious that it would also affect one’s emotional well-being.
Eliminating affordable housing funding would create effects that reach far beyond budget cuts. Federal research is clear: “Providing housing to people experiencing homelessness can help prevent substance use and mental health problems from getting worse.” When we remove this foundation, we’re not just taking away shelter—we’re removing the stable platform from which recovery, treatment, and rebuilding become possible.
The data reveals the tragic consequences of living without shelter. People experiencing homelessness have a risk of death up to 11.5 times higher than everyone else. They face higher rates of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, heart problems, dental issues, asthma, diabetes, and other medical conditions compared to those who have housing. These numbers directly represent preventable suffering that stable housing could address.
Given this research, it becomes clear that both treatment and housing needs must be addressed simultaneously to be effective. Without stable housing, people cannot keep regular doctor appointments, stay engaged in mental health treatment, or develop the daily routines necessary for recovery. The very programs designed to address the root causes of homelessness become impossible to access when someone lacks a secure place to sleep.
By treating homelessness as a crime and neglecting to fund housing, we’re essentially choosing the most expensive, least effective approach—one that pushes people toward emergency room visits rather than preventive care.
The impact goes beyond individual suffering to our entire community. When we fail to provide adequate housing support, we increase the burden on emergency rooms, police, and crisis services. We create a cycle that costs everyone more in the long run while failing to address underlying problems.
At Mary Magdalen House, we understand that lasting change requires comprehensive approaches. While we provide essential interventions—such as showers, clean clothing, mail, a phone, and connections to additional resource providers—we know that the best, most sustainable solution is to have a secure place to call home.
As we face decisions about affordable housing funding in our community, we must ask ourselves: What kind of city/state/country do we want to be? Do we want to be a place that recognizes the inherent dignity of every person, or one that abandons, condemns, imprisons, and punishes our vulnerable neighbors when they need us most?
Available affordable housing options, when properly implemented with appropriate support services, represent both an effective policy and a moral necessity. This goes beyond the statistics and studies: this is about fundamental human decency. It’s about recognizing that housing is not a privilege to be earned, but a basic human need that facilitates well-being.
Every person experiencing homelessness has a story, dreams, potential, and inherent worth. Many struggle with mental health challenges that any of us might face under similar circumstances. Some cope with trauma or turn to substances to manage the brutal reality of street life. Rather than judging these responses, we should ask: How can we create conditions that support healing, recovery, and hope?
Mary Magdalen House remains committed to our mission of restoring dignity and hope to those experiencing homelessness. We will continue providing our services and creating a safe, welcoming, and consistent environment regardless of policy changes, because we believe deeply in the inherent value of every person we serve.
The people we serve are not statistics to be managed or problems to be solved. They are human beings deserving of dignity, respect, and genuine opportunity for rebuilding their lives. Funding for affordable housing doesn’t just provide shelter; it affirms that we believe in people’s capacity for growth, healing, and contribution to our community.
Housing First ideals aren’t just good policy– they’re a reflection of our values, our compassion, and our commitment to leaving no one behind.
Our doors here will remain open, and our commitment to dignity will not waver. We invite our community to join us in ensuring that dignity, hope, respect, empathy, and proven practical supports define our response to homelessness.
Jenny Perez, Executive Director of Mary Magdalen House
Mary Magdalen House has served adults experiencing homelessness in Cincinnati since 1988, providing showers, clean clothing, and connection to community resources with dignity. Learn more about our work at marymagdalenhouse.org.
Click to View Sources for Additional Reading
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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8423293
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30055-4/fulltext
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Behavioral Health Services for People Who Are Homeless. Advisory. https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep20-06-04-003.pdf
Madeline Bailey, Erica Crew, and Madz Reeve. No Access to Justice: Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness and Jail. New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2020. https://vera-institute.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/publications/no-access-to-justice.pdf
Tsai J, Mares AS, Rosenheck RA. A multi-site comparison of supported housing for chronically homeless adults: “Housing first” versus “residential treatment first”. Psychol Serv. 2010;7(4):219-232. doi: 10.1037/a0020460. PMID: 21829324; PMCID: PMC3151537. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3151537/
https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/Housing-First-Evidence.pdf
Peng Y, Hahn RA, Finnie RKC, Cobb J, Williams SP, Fielding JE, Johnson RL, Montgomery AE, Schwartz AF, Muntaner C, Garrison VH, Jean-Francois B, Truman BI, Fullilove MT; Community Preventive Services Task Force. Permanent Supportive Housing With Housing First to Reduce Homelessness and Promote Health Among Homeless Populations With Disability: A Community Guide Systematic Review. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2020 Sep/Oct;26(5):404-411. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000001219. PMID: 32732712; PMCID: PMC8513528. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32732712
https://housingmatters.urban.org/feature/housing-first-still-best-approach-ending-homelessness
