{"id":392,"date":"2017-03-19T13:17:35","date_gmt":"2017-03-19T20:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/noahdyer.com\/campaign\/?p=392"},"modified":"2017-12-17T12:37:28","modified_gmt":"2017-12-17T19:37:28","slug":"2-for-100","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/noahdyer.com\/campaign\/2-for-100\/","title":{"rendered":"2 for 100 – Ending Homelessness in Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’m incredibly proud\u00a0to announce an\u00a0initiative to end homelessness that I know Arizonans will be excited about.<\/p>\n

But as always, a little background first.<\/p>\n

One of the comments I see most frequently in debates about government responsibility is:<\/p>\n

“Why are we spending money to\u00a0________, when there are homeless vets we should be supporting?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While I certainly don’t support the notion that\u00a0government should do nothing if it cannot agree on solutions to our biggest problems, I do agree that government\u00a0should prioritize solving our biggest problems. \u00a0I also agree that homelessness is one of those\u00a0big challenges, and I know that Arizonans are motivated to solve the problem.<\/p>\n

Why\u00a0“2 for 100?”<\/h2>\n

The 2 stands for 2% of Arizona’s annual tax revenues.<\/p>\n

The 100 stands for 100% of Arizonans with safe shelter every night.<\/p>\n

2%?<\/h2>\n

I am proposing an\u00a0annual budget of $180 million for homeless programs.<\/p>\n

This is actually substantially less than 2% of tax revenue, as Arizona typically takes in much more than $9 billion in annual tax revenues. \u00a0Additionally, Arizona gets back a substantial portion of the money we pay in federal tax. \u00a0In short, the 2% we are talking about is far less than the state’s annual budget. \u00a0It is 2% of the money that Arizonans put directly into the state budget.<\/p>\n

All these nuances aside, simply saying 2% does a few\u00a0things:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. It prevents possible opponents from nitpicking the figure. \u00a0“He says it will only cost .75% of the state’s budget, but he’s including federal dollars that have to be spent a certain way!”<\/li>\n
  2. It speaks to a willingness to continually invest in this issue. \u00a0We’re not talking about a 1 time $180 million dollar investment. \u00a0We’re talking about ongoing programs to help those at the very bottom of our society. \u00a020 years from now, 2% may be much higher than $180 million, and I know\u00a0Arizonans\u00a0will still be willing to provide that level of funding.<\/li>\n
  3. 2 has a much better ring to than some more accurate decimal. “How about that 1.64 for 100 plan?! Pretty cool, am I right? \u00a0Or wait, was it 1.67 for 100?”<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Putting $180\u00a0Million in Perspective<\/h2>\n

    2% of state tax revenue is way, way less than 2% of earnings. \u00a0The Gross Domestic Product\u00a0in Arizona is around $250 billion. \u00a0$180 Million is less than 1\/1000 of that.<\/p>\n

    That means that that someone earning minimum wage (currently $10\/hr) is being asked to give less than a penny to help the homeless for every hour they work. \u00a0On the other end of the spectrum, an incredibly successful lawyer or surgeon earning $1000 per hour\u00a0is being asked to give less than $1 to homeless causes for every hour they work.<\/p>\n

    Is there anyone who is unwilling to make this incredibly small sacrifice to ensure that vets and families have a safe place to sleep every night, and the help they need to get back on their feet?<\/p>\n

    Where did the budget number come\u00a0from?<\/h2>\n

    Like many things in the world, homelessness is not binary, it’s a spectrum. \u00a0The stereotypical picture\u00a0of homelessness is the people\u00a0living on the street, under bridges, or in abandoned buildings. \u00a0This kind of homelessness certainly causes the most visceral reaction. \u00a0But there are also vets\u00a0who live in a vehicle. \u00a0There are\u00a0families that secretly cram 5 or 6 people into motel rooms, and who don’t know if they’ll be able to pay for that room the next night. \u00a0There are hardworking people\u00a0who rely on the kindness of family or friends for a couch to sleep on. \u00a0Many homeless people combine these strategies from day to day according to their fluctuating fortunes.<\/p>\n

    Experts agree that 20,000-30,000 people are experiencing some level\u00a0of homelessness\u00a0in Arizona at any given time, with about 25% of that number living on the streets. \u00a0$180 Million is a daily budget of just under $500,000, which is about $20 per head.<\/p>\n

    Can you imagine trying to survive on $20 per day? \u00a0Currently, we are asking our homeless to survive on less. \u00a0We can do better if we work together.<\/p>\n

    How will the budget be used?<\/h2>\n

    For the homeless on the street $20 is enough to cover the cost of basic emergency shelter service and a 2000 calorie diet. \u00a0This is by no means luxurious accommodations. \u00a0This is a cot in a wide open room and very simple food.<\/p>\n

    What’s more exciting is that, since 75% of homeless people don’t need to take advantage of emergency shelter services, that portion of the\u00a0budget can be used towards more advantageous\u00a0programs that create long term solutions for homelessness, including:<\/p>\n