To those who fear riding the subway:
How often have you hesitated before sitting in a public seat?
Crossed the street to avoid a stranger?
Averted your gaze from someone deemed “crazy”?
These reactions stem from a common source: fear. When we fear something, our instinct is to avoid or eliminate it altogether, a mindset reflected in Governor Hochul’s recent legislation: forcibly detain mentally ill homeless individuals in an attempt to “cure” them. While framed as an act of compassion, Hochul’s policy raises significant ethical and practical concerns.
To illustrate the magnitude of this policy’s impact, consider the state of homelessness in New York City. In December 2024, roughly 125,000 people slept in city shelters, with thousands more unsheltered, and 200,000 living doubled-up in others’ homes (The Coalition for the Homeless). Among the homeless, many suffer from mental illness. The Coalition estimates that about 40% of unsheltered homeless individuals have mental illness, underscoring the necessity of support.
However, as the New York Times notes, “politics and perceived dangers on the subway [are] driving the debate, not what [is] best for vulnerable people living with mental illness.” In this context, fear fosters policies that infringe on civil liberties. While confining perceived “threats” may offer a temporary sense of security, it fails to address the root causes of homelessness and mental illness. More critically, it raises the question: where do we draw the line?
Mental health exists on a spectrum, making qualifications for forced hospitalization subjective. According to the Times, last year, at least 800 individuals were forcibly removed from the transit system for psychiatric evaluations, prompting concern regarding potential abuse and overreach. Even assuming the policy functions as intended, will those detained receive aid or return to the same cycle of homelessness and treatment?
For supporters of the legislation, forced hospitalization is a necessary intervention for those suffering on the streets. They believe it protects both suffering individuals and the public. However, this view overlooks deeper issues. Forced hospitalization is not compassionate—it’s a short-term fix that fails to address mental illness and homelessness at its roots. Rather than empowering individuals, this policy perpetuates a cycle of institutionalization.
A more effective solution focuses on long-term care and reintegration. Programs like “Housing First,” which provides permanent housing without preconditions, have reduced homelessness by 70% in Finland (The Guardian). Additionally, the National Library of Medicine reports that 73% of individuals in Housing First programs remain stably housed after one year, with improved mental health. Furthermore, the program benefits the city and public financially. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Housing First saved taxpayers millions by reducing emergency care and incarceration costs. These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of compassionate solutions.
However, beyond systemic solutions, individual actions matter. Volunteering, advocating for humane policies, or treating homeless individuals with dignity are significantly consequential. Fear should not dictate how we engage with those in need. Instead of concealing mental illness, we should champion support, not confinement.
Ultimately, change begins with us, not legislation.
Sincerely,
Nicole Jiang
Works Cited
Oreskes, Benjamin, and Andy Newman. “Will New York Force More Mentally Ill People into
Treatment?” The New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/nyregion/kathy-hochul-nyc-homeless-involuntary-commitment.html. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
Reed, Betsy. “Manchester Turns to Housing First Scheme to Eradicate Rough Sleeping.” The
Guardian, 10 Sept. 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/sep/10/manchester-turns-to-housing-first-scheme-to-eradicate-rough-sleeping. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
Tsai, Jack. “Is the Housing First Model Effective? Different Evidence for Different Outcomes.”
American Journal of Public Health vol. 110,9 (2020): 1376-1377. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2020.305835
Weegman, Melissa. “Opinion: A Housing First Policy Will Save Lives among Utah’s
Unsheltered Population.” The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Jan. 2024, www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2024/01/30/opinion-housing-first-policy-will/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
