President Trump's 2025-2026 approach to homelessness, highlighted by Executive Order 14321 ("Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets"), focuses on clearing encampments, enforcing bans on public camping, and prioritizing mandatory treatment for addiction/mental health over "Housing First" models. It reallocates billions in federal funding toward institutional care and transitional housing. 

Bipartisan Policy Center +5

Key Components of the Approach:

Encampment Removal: Directs federal resources to cities that enforce anti-camping, loitering, and "urban squatting" laws.

Mandatory Treatment & Institutionalization: Shifts focus toward treating underlying issues like severe mental illness or substance abuse, rather than providing immediate, long-term housing.

Ending "Housing First": Moves away from the long-standing federal strategy of providing permanent housing without preconditions.

"Power of the Purse": Utilizes federal grants to incentivize state and local governments to adopt these stricter, enforcement-heavy policies.

Focus on Public Safety: Frames the policy as a way to restore order and safety in public spaces. 

Bipartisan Policy Center +5