During a recent trip to Washington, DC, I had the privilege of joining leaders from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and fellow leaders from Citygate Network member ministries for a meaningful conversation about addressing homelessness and poverty together. I appreciate the seriousness with which many policymakers are trying to wrestle with the rising costs of housing programs, the growth of homelessness, and the question of how government assistance can avoid fostering long-term dependency.

• These are real concerns.
• The economic cost of subsidized housing and welfare programs matters.
• The desire to help people regain agency, work, and stability matters.

But after decades of working alongside people experiencing homelessness and poverty, I believe our national conversation often starts from the wrong premise.

The question should not be whether people should become dependent or self-sufficient.

Beyond the Myth of Pure Self-Sufficiency

The language of "self-sufficiency" is attractive in American culture. It appeals to our ideals of independence, hard work, and personal responsibility.

But the truth is that no human being is fully self-sufficient.

• Children depend on parents.
• Businesses depend on employees and customers.
• Communities depend on teachers, nurses, sanitation workers, pastors, volunteers, and public servants.

The reality of human life is not independence — it is interdependence.

From a Christian perspective, this is not a weakness; it is how we were designed. Scripture consistently calls us into lives of mutual care, shared responsibility, and neighborly love.

Our goal should not simply be self-reliance.
Our goal should be interdependent human flourishing — people contributing their gifts within healthy communities.

The Spectrum of Need

One of the most important realities often missing from policy discussions is that people experiencing poverty or homelessness are not a single category.

There is a spectrum of need.

Some individuals need short-term assistance to get through a crisis and will quickly regain stability. Many Americans move through public assistance programs temporarily and then move off them again.

Others need transitional support: time, coaching, recovery services, and community in order to rebuild stability.

And some individuals — because of trauma, disability, chronic health conditions, or severe addiction — may need long-term supportive housing in order to live safely within the community.

If our systems treat all three groups the same way, we fail all of them.

The Problem with "Housing Only"

Much of the current debate around "Housing First" illustrates this challenge.

Critics often point to communities where housing programs appear ineffective. But in many cases the model being implemented is not truly Housing First — it has become Housing Only.

• Housing alone does not heal trauma.
• Housing alone does not treat addiction.
• Housing alone does not rebuild relationships or restore purpose.

But neither do shelters alone, jails alone, or emergency services alone.

Real transformation requires a community of care — housing combined with relationships, recovery support, meaningful work, spiritual healing, and time.

At Everett Gospel Mission we have learned this repeatedly: a bed or a subsidy alone rarely changes a life. Transformation happens when safety, community, accountability, and hope come together.

What a Community Response Looks Like

In Snohomish County, we try to approach poverty as a continuum of care, recognizing that people are on different journeys and require different kinds of support.

• Emergency shelter provides safety and stabilization.
• Transitional housing creates space for recovery and life rebuilding.
• Permanent supportive housing provides stability for those who will need ongoing assistance.
• Employment, coaching, healthcare, and spiritual support help people rediscover purpose and agency.

The goal is not to warehouse people.
The goal is transformation.

But transformation rarely happens quickly, cheaply, or through a single intervention.

A Kingdom Perspective on Poverty

As Christians, our framework is not primarily economic efficiency or political ideology.

Our framework is the Kingdom of God.

Scripture calls us to hold two truths at the same time:

We are called to empower people to work, contribute, and take responsibility for their lives.

And we are called to care for those who cannot carry the full burden alone.

This is not a contradiction. It is the ethic of a healthy community.

In the Kingdom vision, people are not problems to be managed or costs to be minimized. They are image-bearers with gifts, wounds, and potential.

Moving the Conversation Forward

If we want real progress in addressing homelessness and poverty, we must move beyond simplistic debates.

The question is not whether people deserve help.

The question is how we build communities where people can heal, contribute, and belong.

• Some will need help for a season.
• Some will need help for many years.
• And many will move from needing help to helping others.

That is not failure.

That is what a healthy community looks like.