Many aspects to housing crisis

Jesica Giannola (letters, September 4) accurately points out that housing costs and homelessness are related, but I believe misses the point that there are two overlapping yet distinct aspects to the housing affordability crisis.

The first involves the plight of young working families who desire to become a part of the ownership economy, but find themselves competing with buyers all over the world. California real estate has become a most desired commodity, and is therefore very attractive to investors residing in stagnant economies elsewhere. Only appropriate changes in public policy can alter this unfortunate and unsustainable situation.

The second has to do with the fact that there is no level of affordability that will make housing available to individuals who have no legitimate income or recent work history, and whose employability— even in an economy fraught with labor shortages—is doubtful. Often, but not always, the thing that is incompatible with self-sufficiency is current or past use of intoxicating substances.

In my 40 years as a vocational rehabilitation professional, I was able to assist numerous people with disabilities (including psychiatric) to become gainfully employed in sheltered, supported, or fully integrated environments. One thing I could not do was create or find workplaces that would accept folks who were chronically intoxicated. If an individual could hold off on their first drink or toke until five in the evening, we might have had a chance. But if they needed that first dose to start their day, our prognosis for success was nil.

— Carl Ochsner, Chico