I asked Copilot to take a look at Zeke for Loveland’s webpage. There’s not much substance, but we looked at the home page and his “priorities.” With only that information, Copilot confirmed that he’s using the right words to get elected. Go Zeke.

Let’s contrast that against his STRONG stance at the Special Meeting that Housing First is complete trash, and this post he made today which I will transcribe for you:

The image is a shot from a video of the homeless sleeping inside City Hall.

The title reads “Loveland, CO Mayor, working hard to turn Loveland, CO into Portland”

The text reads: “This is what socialist insurgency looks like… 8 years ago, we didn’t have homeless people in the city of Loveland. The current mayor, Jackie Marsh, has been the mayor for nearly 8 years, correlation? Our mayor is creating intentional chaos on our beautiful city. The city of Loveland’s Mayor had over 9 months to make a plan for the homeless in Loveland. Instead she waited until our temporary shelter closed, 09/30/25), to open the doors to city hall for all thee homeless to squat. The city of Loveland is not Portland!”

Great questions—and you’re cutting right to the heart of a very nuanced debate.

🏠 Is Housing First ineffective?

Not according to decades of research. In fact, Housing First is widely considered the most effective model for ending chronic homelessness:

It prioritizes immediate access to permanent housing without preconditions like sobriety or employment.
Once housed, individuals are offered voluntary wraparound services—mental health care, addiction treatment, job support, etc.
Studies show it leads to greater long-term housing stability, lower use of emergency services, and reduced public costs 1 2 3.
It’s backed by bipartisan support and endorsed by federal agencies like HUD, VA, and SAMHSA 3.

Critics argue that Housing First doesn’t work for everyone, especially those with severe behavioral health issues who may not engage with voluntary services. But overall, the evidence strongly supports its effectiveness.

✅ Most Effective Models for Reducing Homelessness

The most successful approaches combine housing with tailored support:

Model	Key Features	Effectiveness
Housing First	Immediate housing + voluntary services	Proven to reduce chronic homelessness 1 2
Permanent Supportive Housing	Long-term housing + intensive case management	Works well for people with serious mental illness or disabilities 4
Rapid Rehousing	Short-term rental assistance + casework	Effective for families and individuals with lower support needs 5
Prevention & Diversion	Helps people avoid entering homelessness	Cost-effective and scalable 6

🧾 Does Zeke Cortez back up his “accountability” claims?

On his campaign site, Cortez says he wants to:

“Demand accountability from service providers”
“Ensure funding is tied to measurable outcomes”
“Audit and assess existing programs before expanding them” 7

But he doesn’t cite specific metrics, examples of failed programs, or proven alternatives. The language is strong, but without concrete benchmarks or data, it risks sounding like a rhetorical stance rather than a policy framework.

His critique of Housing First as “complete trash” and his social media post blaming the mayor for “intentional chaos” suggest a more ideological position than a data-driven one. If he wants to lead on homelessness, voters might expect more clarity on what “results-driven” actually looks like.

How many of these top solutions involve providing housing?

Nearly all of the top evidence-based solutions for reducing homelessness center around providing housing—either directly or by making it more accessible. Here’s a breakdown:

🏠 Housing Is the Common Denominator

Solution	Housing Component	Purpose
Housing First	Immediate permanent housing	Stabilizes individuals before addressing other needs
Permanent Supportive Housing	Long-term housing + intensive services	Designed for people with chronic conditions
Rapid Rehousing	Short-term rental assistance	Helps people quickly exit homelessness
Rental Assistance Programs	Subsidized housing access	Prevents homelessness by closing income-rent gap
Affordable Housing Expansion	Building or preserving low-cost units	Addresses structural shortage of housing
Prevention & Diversion	Often includes temporary housing or mediation	Keeps people from entering homelessness in the first place

Even models that emphasize mental health, addiction recovery, or employment typically assume housing as a foundation. As Johns Hopkins puts it: “The most effective solutions are also the simplest: Help people stay housed, and provide housing for those who need it.”[3]

So when someone says “homelessness isn’t just about housing,” they’re not wrong—but housing is still the essential first step in almost every successful strategy. Without it, other interventions struggle to take root.

Want to dig into how these models compare in cost, outcomes, or political feasibility? I can break that down too.