Christina Mojica
Senior Policy Analyst
Layal Bou Harfouch
Drug Policy Analyst
Sephria Reynolds
Criminal Justice and Drug Policy Analyst
“Public safety reform should not be defined by how many arrests are made, but by how many people are safely housed, connected to care, and able to rebuild their lives.
In July 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to “End Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets,” which called for stronger law enforcement involvement in addressing visible homelessness and addiction. While the order frames these challenges as stemming from criminal disorder, the data tell a different story.
With the U.S. homeless population reaching a record 771,480 people in Jan. 2024, an 18% increase from the previous year, it’s clear that enforcement alone cannot solve a problem of this scale, prompting questions about how the executive order will be implemented and whether it will be at all effective.”
https://reason.org/commentary/housing-centered-harm-reduction-approach-homelessness-public-safety