Homelessness is evil and must be destroyed! Homelessness kills people prematurely, steals hope, and destroys opportunities for people to reach their full potential. The fact that we can largely end homelessness, but as a society choose not to, makes it evil.

Today, December 21, is Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day (HPMD), and on and around this day in cities throughout the world, people are remembering their neighbors who died due to or while experiencing homelessness. We recognize that the lack of affordable housing and services in America—the world’s richest country—leads to poorer health and premature death on our streets. In a very real sense, each of our neighbors’ deaths is unnecessary, and these preventable tragedies are laid at our collective feet.

Last Saturday, I attended Nashville’s HPMD observance to remember the 126 people known to have passed away this year. More Nashvillians died in 2018 than in 2017, and more died in 2017 than 2016. It is the same across America. Indeed, a recent study’s findings reinforce what we already know: that people without homes are more likely to die prematurely and face drastically shorter life expectancies than people with homes. I was glad to hear Nashville's mayor and a city councilman recognize that the city failed to provide sufficient housing and services to prevent Nashville’s tragedies. They understood that these deaths were not primarily the consequence of individuals’ personal weaknesses but rather the direct result of a systemic crisis.

Correctly diagnosing the problem is but the first step towards a cure. We know the cure for homelessness is affordable housing and services, but unfortunately, America has not committed to providing the cure to our poorest neighbors, even though we can afford to. Whatever the reasons, the results can only be described as deadly and cruel.

However, collectively we have the power to reorder society’s priorities and policies to provide for our neighbors in need. Your efforts are critical, and my prayer is that each of the premature and preventable deaths of those we remember during HPMD observances this year will strengthen our resolve to end homelessness.