Miami Aims for ‘Functional Zero’ Homeless Population. Mayor Francis Suarez Explains How.

The mayor of Miami has an ambitious goal—to reach a “functional zero” homeless population within his bustling city. 

“We reached functional zero veteran homeless, and I realized … that we could, we should, take it a step further and get to a functional zero,” says Mayor Francis Suarez, a Republican who leads Florida’s second-biggest city.

Miami is partnering with several organizations—including Hermanos de la Calle, Lotus House, and Camillus House—to meet the varied needs of the homeless and create a model that other cities could duplicate to tackle their own homelessness crises. 

But Suarez says addressing homelessness extends beyond meeting the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the homeless—cities must also create an economic environment that allows all citizens to thrive. 

If city leaders want to effectively address homelessness, Suarez argues, they also must consider a “broader macroeconomic reality” that plays a role in creating or alleviating the problem. To this end, the mayor says Miami’s government has followed three rules: “We’ve kept taxes low; we’ve kept people safe; and we’ve leaned into innovation.” 

Suarez joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to explain how Miami is advancing toward a “functional zero” homeless population and to share the exciting results of a recent event toward reaching that goal. 

Listen to the podcast below: