Why Interim Supportive Housing Makes MORE Sense vs. Leaving Folks on the Streets ($80K/yr) - How Cities Can Save MILLIONS!

On the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, the best podcast for affordable housing investments hosted by Kent Fai He, I sit down with Elizabeth Funk, founder and CEO of DignityMoves, to break down one of the most misunderstood topics in housing today. How can we actually solve unsheltered homelessness at scale? Because the logic, compassion, and math all make sense with Interim Supportive Housing.Elizabeth’s core argument is simple and uncomfortable. Leaving people on the street is far more expensive at $80K / year... more harmful, and less humane than getting them indoors quickly. The problem is not a lack of compassion. The problem is speed, cost, and outdated assumptions about what housing must look like, despite good intentions.In this conversation, Elizabeth explains why permanent housing alone cannot solve the crisis fast enough, especially when per-unit costs in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco can approach over $1M! She introduces a different framework that all cities and counties must pay attention to: Interim supportive housing that is dignified, private, safe, and fast to deliver... at a FRACTION of what it costs today!She shares the real math that cities rarely talk about. Keeping someone unsheltered can cost roughly $80K per year across emergency services, healthcare, and public systems. Bringing someone indoors with meals, services, and support can cut that cost roughly in half. Add a modest capital cost for a high quality interim unit, and the return on investment becomes immediate when neighborhoods see their streets cleaned up FAST while folks get the support and help that they need!Elizabeth explains how cities can calculate the number of units needed, how relocatable housing unlocks flexibility, and why interim housing should be treated as essential infrastructure, not a temporary compromise.This episode challenges conventional thinking and replaces it with a clear, data driven, and human centered approach to solving unsheltered homelessness at scale.Why This Episode MattersUnsheltered homelessness is one of the biggest challenges facing cities today. It impacts public safety, healthcare costs, neighborhood stability, and human dignity. Most debates get stuck in ideology. Elizabeth brings the conversation back to execution.This episode matters because it explains:• Why permanent housing alone cannot scale fast enough• How cost comparisons between street homelessness and interim housing actually work• Why speed saves lives and money• How interim housing can be dignified and humane• What functional zero really means in practice• How cities can set a clear finish line instead of managing a crisis foreverFor developers, policymakers, investors, and advocates, this conversation offers a framework that is actionable, measurable, and grounded in reality.Common Questions This Episode Answers:• Why is unsheltered homelessness so hard to solve for?• How much does it actually cost a city or county to leave someone on the street?• How much does permanent supportive housing cost to build vs. interim supportive housing• What new solutions are there to help with solving for the homelessness problem?• How can cities address their homeless populations faster?• What can cities do to implement interim supportive housing solutions faster?• What does a partnership look like for a city / county to work with a nonprofit to build interim supportive housing?• What are the roles and responsibilities of such a partnership?You can follow Elizabeth Funk on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-funk/and find exclusive content on her website: www.dignitymoves.org.Please DM any questions or content suggestions to Kent Fai He, affordable housing developer, educator, and host of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, the best podcast for affordable housing investments in the United States.Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.#realestate #ElizabethFunk #DignityMoves #kentfaihe #affordablehousing #interimhousing