A week ago, President Donald Trump signed an executive order called “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets.” The order states that “vagrancy” and “violent attacks have made our cities unsafe” and encourages the expanded use of institutionalization.
The order comes at a crucial moment for many American cities that have tried—and often failed—to meaningfully address homelessness and addiction. In 2024, the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night was 771,480, the highest number ever recorded in the United States.
In recent years, San Francisco has become emblematic of the crisis. And now a new mayor has pledged to prioritize the problem. To understand what’s at stake, I got to know one man who has been living on the street and struggling with addiction—and who says he is finally ready to make a change…