Can We End Homelessness?

I came across an interesting post on Facebook today. It was from the L.A. Times. It reported a survey of 9 million public assistance recipients of Los Angeles County, coming to the conclusion that 13,000 of them descend into homelessness each month. The article also states that there was a 12% increase in overall homelessness in the county over the last two years. 


A homeless encampment underneath the 110 Freeway. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

That is an unbelievable number, right? As one homeless service provider expressed it, “It really brings home, just the sheer numbers. We're talking about 13,000 a month. Even me who works in the field had no idea those numbers were out there.” For those of us who have been homeless, however, this number may not seem so incredible. 

The good news is that 10,000 people were housed over the past three years. Unfortunately, that statistic is shadowed by a 37% rise in chronically homeless people, according to the latest official count. 

I have the privilege of serving as a homeless representative on our county’s Collective Impact (on homelessness) Steering Committee. I’ve learned a lot, and hope I have taught a few people a few things about what homelessness is truly like as well. 

Those co-committee members who may still have a less clear idea of the who?, what?, where?, when?, and why? of homelessness say that we can completely eradicate this social ill. 

Now you know I’m going to tell you what I think of that. 

I would like to say that I believe that we can eradicate homelessness. That would be a lie. Although I’m ever hopeful that we can help as many people as possible who want to be helped, we will always have the poor and unhomed. Here’s why: 

1) Just do the math. 13,000/month x 36 months (3 yrs.) = 468,000 – 10,000 housed = 458,000 left unhoused. Of course I know it’s not this simple. Many people move in and out of homelessness very quickly. Still, you get the general picture. 

2) There are those who do not want to be housed. I can say this is true from personal experience while I was homeless. 

3) There are too many paths into homelessness, and not enough paths out. Lay off/termination, jail, addiction, major illness... All the pitfalls are intertwined, while all the woefully inadequate services function independently for the most part.
Those are my top three reasons I believe the “homeless problem” is here to stay. There are dozens more. 

Still, I also believe there are solutions to drastically decrease the problem, and alleviate the suffering of those who must live on the streets of our cities. 

I’ll present some of them in next week’s blog. 

Please share this post, and comment with your thoughts below. 

Keep your chin up 

RGR 

Visit the Rio Grande Report Facebook page 

Read the entire LA Times article By GALE HOLLAND 

100,000 Homes  

Counterpoint: The Push to End Chronic Homelessness is Working By David Bornstein MAY 28, 2014 11:40 AM from Community solutions via The New York Times 

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U. S. Department of Justice Speaks on Boise Sleeping Ban

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Frustrated by the growth of “The Homeless Problem” since the last recession, many cities have passed laws, often under the guise of public and/or individual safety, banning activities such as panhandling, sleeping, or merely lying down, in public places, including but not limited to sidewalks, storefronts, benches, and even parks. I suppose city leaders’ thinking was if they couldn’t ban homeless people, they could drive them off by making their lives even more uncomfortable than it may already be.

Last Thursday, the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) ruled that a Boise, ID ban on sleeping outdoors/camping (except in a designated campsite, we’ll assume) is unconstitutional.

While this will hardly halt attempts of criminalization of homelessness in their tracks, it seems like a step in the right direction. More progressive cities have taken the higher road, treating homeless people with more compassion and empathy. Here in Utah, both the City and County of Salt Lake have undertaken a yea-long endeavor to evaluate all services for homeless people, and discover the best practices to improve and maintain them. This writer is not completely convinced that the well-being of our homeless neighbors is the first priority of either of these municipalities, but transparency and inclusion have been above par so far.

To paraphrase what the USDOJ said in a nutshell, In the absence of suitable shelter, Boise’s ban on sleeping deprives people of a basic human need, and is “cruel and unusual punishment,” prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution.

Boise is not the only city which has taken drastic measures to discomfit homeless people, nor is the U.S. the only country to attempt far from sympathetic measures to shoo them away. Denver, Colorado City, and Boulder all enacted similar ordinances. “Homeless Spikes,” similar to those used to deter pigeons from roosting, have popped up in U. S. and European cities, most notably London.

  

Cities across America are likely to be nervously watching for challenges to any law which might be perceived as “anti-homeless.” Here’s hoping this ruling moves everyone toward more compassionate solutions to homelessness, and more kind, less cruel treatment of homeless people. Please feel free to call, e-mail, or write your legislators about issues affecting homeless people in your communities.

read more:

“Anti-homeless” laws have risen rapidly in U.S. cities. Finally, Washington responded.

by Robbie Couch, Upworthy

Anti-camping ban suit in Boise draws in feds; Colorado has like bans

By Kieran Nicholson The Denver Post 

It’s unconstitutional to ban the homeless from sleeping outside, the federal government says

by  Emily Badger, Washington Post 

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Gone, but not forgotten?

 

Well, here we go again.

Some of you may have wondered, “Whatever happened to the blog that was related to this page?”

A valid question, with many answers. Short version: My Windows Live Writer seems to be communicating with Blogger once again, I like Blogger because it’s simple to set up and a simple place to write. Simple is good. What I try to do here is simple: To inform you of the plight of those experiencing homelessness, and suggest ways, with the help of the many fine organizations and people who LIKE the Facebook page, you can get involved and help.

Homelessness is everywhere, and the problem is increasing. Nationwide, and locally, leaders & peers are creating solutions that are helping families and individuals access the services they need, find them shelter & housing, and improve the over all quality of life in our United states.

So, I’ll post, and comment upon local, regional, national, and international news related to homelessness and homeless people, their suffering and triumphs, successes and failures, along with the same items from, for, and about those of us who step up to alleviate the suffering of our fellow humans. The news is not always good, but I feel that it is all important.

 

 

So Rio Grande Report is back. I was gone from Blogger for a while, but I hope I wasn’t forgotten. I hope those we choose to serve were not forgotten as well. Please, read comment, and share vociferously. I’ll try and make the blog more current, and interesting, pictures , videos, news...let me know what you like to see. Except for breaking news, we start this weekend, and are scheduled to post weekly.

Welcome back

---RGR

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