Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt said that many people experiencing homelessness in the city are on the streets by choice due to drug addiction [1].
Pratt's comments highlight a contentious debate regarding the root causes of urban displacement and whether the solution lies in social services or targeted addiction treatment. His approach suggests a shift away from traditional housing-first models toward a medical and behavioral intervention strategy.
During an interview with reporter Robby Soave on the Rising morning program, Pratt said he plans to address the crisis by focusing on the addiction that he says keeps individuals from seeking stable housing [1]. He said that addressing this chemical dependency is the essential step to solving the city's broader homelessness problem [2].
Pratt's perspective on the motivations of those living on the streets was blunt during the broadcast. "They wanna do drugs," Pratt said [2].
This position places Pratt in direct opposition to advocates who argue that homelessness is primarily a result of systemic housing shortages, and economic instability. By framing the issue as a choice driven by addiction, the candidate suggests that the city's current efforts may be misplaced if they do not prioritize sobriety as a prerequisite for stability [1].
Pratt did not provide specific budgetary figures or a legislative timeline during the interview, but he said that the cycle of homelessness cannot be broken without first targeting the drug use that fuels it [2].
“"They wanna do drugs"”
Pratt's rhetoric signals a move toward a more punitive or clinical approach to homelessness in the Los Angeles mayoral race. By attributing homelessness to personal choice and addiction rather than systemic failure, he is positioning himself to appeal to voters who believe that current social safety nets are enabling drug use rather than curing it.
