Utah is trying a new strategy in dealing with the homeless that sounds so simple as to be obvious -- giving them homes. NBC News reports that even the director of the state's Homeless Task Force was skeptical at first, but is now a convert, calling it housing first, and employment second. As a result of the approach, Utah's chronically homeless population has fallen 91 percent in 10 years.

The chronically homeless, defined as those who live on the streets for more than a year or for four times in three years, and have a debilitating condition, account for 10 percent of the homeless population in Utah, but more than 50 percent of the state's resources for the homeless are used for them. While the Homeless Task Force reported that it coast Utah more than $19,000 on average per years to care for a chronically homeless person. It was found that to house them and provide a case worker would cost just $7,800. This other way it is better and less expensive.

People given apartments under the program pay rent of either 30 percent of their income or $50, whichever is greater. So, what do you think of Utah's approach of dealing with the chronically homeless by just giving them homes, and then trying to deal with all the other problems they have after that? Do you think this could be adopted by other places, or could there be problems in places where housing is scarce and expensive?

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