Elon Musk has sparked intense backlash after declaring that “homeless” is often a lie, describing it as a term for violent drug addicts with severe mental illness. The billionaire made the remarks on his platform X in response to a post by Jeremy Kauffman, who highlighted grim realities of housing programs in San Francisco.
Musk’s views are not new, however. In an October interview with Tucker Carlson, he doubled down on his stance, stating that homelessness is not about people falling behind on their mortgages but rather violent drug users with severe mental health issues. He also argued that pouring more money into homelessness programs only makes the problem worse due to a dark financial incentive.
Critics have labeled Musk’s comments tone-deaf and wrong, saying they ignore decades of research showing that homelessness affects millions of Americans, particularly those who are not violent or addicted. Advocates point out that funding federal programs is essential for addressing housing costs and stagnant wages.
The issue highlights the need for nuanced solutions rather than relying on simplistic rhetoric. As the debate rages on, it’s clear that Musk’s commentary has significant implications, even if opinions about his views may vary.
Source: https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/12/42678750/elon-musk-says-term-homeless-is-a-lie-and-misleading-argues-the-programs-claiming-to-fix-it-are-only-making-it-worse-for-financial-gain