In this Marketplace special, we’re taking a look at how the debt ceiling drama further restricts us from addressing big issues like homelessness.

How did homelessness become such a defining and intractable economic issue in America? What are the root causes of the recent rise in homelessness, and more importantly, how do we fix it? In this special report, we delve into six different facets of the fight against homelessness to get a better sense of what people have been going through — and what that can tell us about how to tackle the issue that’s been vexing mayors and legislators across the nation for decades. 

That’s impacting efforts to get people into housing. But there are some programs trying to increase the number of specialists in the pipeline.

Part of the advice prescribed as a “cure” to homelessness is getting a job. But what happens when the work people do still isn’t enough to afford a place to live? A new study from the Economic Roundtable nonprofit delves into the surprisingly-high rate of homelessness amongst California fast food workers. Plus, businesses in some resort towns are offering subsidies for landlords to rent to local workers. 

Fast-food workers, who are often paid low wages and work limited hours, make up 11% of homeless workers in California, a study finds.

There are moves afoot in numerous states and cities to criminalize elements of homelessness, including living in encampments. As part of our ongoing “Finding Your Place” series exploring the issue, we talk to Ann Oliva, CEO of the nonpartisan National Alliance to End Homelessness, about these moves and what they say about the debate over how to handle the unhoused crisis. Plus, a group of players in the AI space has issued a stark warning that calls for greater regulation of the technology. And finally, the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, has reached a $6 billion opioid settlement that also shields those individuals from civil liability. 

“The proven strategy is … to use housing as the base,” and then add services, says Ann Oliva of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Though the affordable housing shortage is key, mental illness increases the risk of losing a home and makes it harder to regain one.

We’re going to need a lot of money and cooperation to address homelessness.

Getting an unhoused person into a home can cost $10,000 a year — and more than 580,000 people are unhoused on any given night.