I was surprised by this week’s readings at seeing just how complex the issue of homelessness is. The reasons behind it are not necessarily limited to poverty alone as I once believed, with factors like education, mental illness, and drug abuse all playing a role. Therefore, while it’s clear that we must look for a long term solution to the problem, I’m also aware that there is no one panacea or cure all solution, especially given that the reasons behind homelessness can be so diverse and multifaceted.
The housing first initiative outlined in Peter Katel’s “Housing the Homeless” chapter represents a novel approach to the homelessness problem. It seeks to provide quick housing for individuals who have lost their homes in order to avoid shelters and other temporary settlements. While the concept is great, and will certainly be beneficial in helping those who have become homeless for economic reasons in getting back on their feet, it fails to address a huge portion of the homeless population that has become homeless for non-financial reasons. Those who suffer from mental illness, limited education, or other problems, for example, will still be unable to keep their houses once they get them, and so the cycle will continue. For this portion of the homeless population, a different kind of support system is needed. Services such as rehabilitation (for drug abusers), psychiatric care, and job training need to be offered in conjunction with proper housing in order to permanently end the cycle of homelessness for certain individuals.
While having a place to call home is extremely important, equally important is the quality of the neighborhood and area where one lives in. As is described in Kenneth Jost’s “Housing Discrimination” chapter, one-third of African Americans living in cities are in fact living in highly segregated neighborhoods. This is important in the context of homelessness because the neighborhood you live in dictates the opportunities you get, and, by extension, the socioeconomic status you occupy. Barring minorities from privileged white-only suburbs with superior school districts and other resources prevents them from attaining economic opportunities and being part of an environment that is conducive to employment and prosperity. Therefore, laws such as the Fair Housing rule must be enforced to ensure equality in housing practices.
A more active role by the government, especially with regards to addressing the diverse reasons behind homelessness and actively preventing housing discrimination through the aforementioned laws, may be able to affect significant changes in the state of homelessness within a matter of years. At the end of the day, having that safe space to call home is one of the most important humanistic needs, and with some planning and a solid approach we can empower homeless individuals to not only get their homes back but also to have the means necessary to keep them.
