In Portland they reduced their homelessness by 70%, and they were dealing with the same kinds of people—drug addicts, alcoholics, folks with mental problems, whatever. They discovered that the cost of having a person on the street was over $52,000 a year, when you count arrests and hospitals visits, while welfare is only $24,000 in homes. The precious part is that you're providing them with the dignity of living in their own home.
On November 30th, 2009. See this statement in context.