Homelessness is one of the most visible and urgent challenges facing local governments today. Walk through any downtown area or public park, and the reality is undeniable. Residents are frustrated, businesses are impacted, and those experiencing homelessness are stuck in a cycle that’s hard to break.
The root causes of homelessness are complex—rising housing costs, inflation, and lingering effects from the pandemic—but the solutions don’t have to feel out of reach. Many local governments are making real progress by trying new approaches, focusing on data, and putting people at the center of their strategies.
Here are five ways we’ve seen cities and counties across North America address the homelessness crisis in practical, impactful ways.
Prioritize a Housing First Approach—And Measure the Impact
In recent years, more local governments have embraced Housing First policies, which prioritize getting people into stable housing before addressing other challenges like employment or healthcare.
But the success of Housing First programs isn’t just about providing housing. It’s about demonstrating to your community that these programs work.
Many residents are skeptical of homelessness initiatives. They see encampments growing and assume nothing is improving. That’s where data becomes critical. By tracking key metrics like reduced emergency services usage or fewer repeat encounters with law enforcement, local governments can show real progress.
For example, Beaverton, Oregon, used AI-driven data insights to better understand residents’ concerns around their Safe Parking program, which provides unhoused individuals with a safe place to park and sleep overnight. Using Zencity’s sentiment analysis tool, the city was able to adjust its messaging to address concerns and improve trust with the community, making the program more successful.
This data isn’t just about numbers—it’s about shifting the narrative. When people see evidence that policies are making a difference, they’re more likely to support long-term solutions.
Rethink Encampment Policies to Focus on Transition, Not Enforcement
Encampments are one of the most visible—and controversial—aspects of the homelessness crisis.
While some cities take a strict enforcement approach, others are finding better results by focusing on transition, not displacement. Rather than simply clearing encampments, they’re working with service providers to ensure people have a safe place to go and a pathway to more stable housing.
This isn’t just a more humane approach—it’s more effective.
Governments that focus on data-driven engagement before clearing encampments can ensure that policies are based on community needs and concerns. Using tools like Zencity’s AI-powered sentiment analysis, governments can understand what residents are thinking and adjust their strategies to build support for humane, long-term solutions.
Engage Directly with People Experiencing Homelessness
One of the biggest gaps in local government homelessness strategies is a lack of direct engagement with those most affected.
It’s easy to make assumptions about why people become homeless or what they need to get back on their feet. But those assumptions don’t always reflect reality.
Wasco County, Oregon, offers a great example of how direct engagement can change the conversation. Ahead of a Town Hall on homelessness, Wasco County used Zencity’s survey tool to gather feedback from more than 650 residents. The survey helped partner agencies understand the public’s concerns in advance, allowing them to prepare answers and address misinformation during the event.
This approach not only made the Town Hall more productive but also gave residents a sense of ownership in the conversation.
This kind of proactive engagement is critical. It adds more voices to the conversation—especially from those who can’t attend public meetings—and builds trust between local governments and their communities.
Use Technology to Connect Fragmented Services
One of the most frustrating challenges for people experiencing homelessness is navigating the fragmented network of services.
They might interact with a dozen different agencies—shelters, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and nonprofits—but those organizations don’t always share information. That means people often fall through the cracks.
In 2025, more local governments are turning to data-sharing platforms to solve this problem. Technology can help local governments coordinate services, track outcomes, and ensure that people don’t get lost in the system.
Even smaller communities can benefit from simple data-tracking tools that improve coordination between agencies. It’s not always about building a large-scale dashboard—sometimes, even small technological improvements can make a big difference.
Start Small, Measure What Works, and Scale Up
The scale of the homelessness crisis can feel overwhelming. But the most successful local governments we’ve worked with are the ones that start small and scale up based on real results.
Rather than launching a massive, citywide program all at once, start with a pilot project focused on a specific population—like veterans, youth, or families. Track what happens. Learn from the results. Adjust your approach.
In Wasco County, for example, the Town Hall survey became a catalyst for ongoing engagement and feedback loops. By creating a project hub where residents could track the progress of homelessness initiatives, the County kept the public informed and ensured that future efforts were guided by community input. These kinds of incremental improvements can help local governments build trust and make meaningful progress over time.
What Role Should Local Governments Play?
One of the biggest insights we’ve gained from working with local governments is that they can’t solve homelessness alone.
Governments need to take on the role of convener—bringing together service providers, nonprofits, businesses, and community members to tackle the issue collaboratively.
Local governments don’t have to do everything themselves. But they do need to lead the effort, set the strategy, and ensure that everyone is working toward the same goal: creating a community where no one has to sleep on the streets.
The Path Forward
Homelessness isn’t a problem that can be solved overnight. But it’s not an unsolvable problem, either.
By focusing on data-driven solutions, collaborative approaches, and human-centered engagement, local governments can make meaningful progress in 2025.
Tools like Zencity’s AI-powered platforms can play a key role in helping local leaders better understand their communities, track program outcomes, and adjust their strategies in real time.
Homelessness is a complex issue—but progress is possible. The key is to move from what feels impossible to what’s next.
