Systems engineering can help manage big, complex social problems. But it doesn’t build houses, and it may not prove sufficient to overcome deep-seated prejudice against the poor, especially poor people of color. “Algorithms are intrinsically stupid,” said public interest lawyer, homeless advocate, and emeritus professor of law at UCLA Gary Blasi. “You can’t build any algorithm that can handle as many variables, and levels of nuance, and complexity as human beings present.”
