Loss of dignity keeps some from housing solutions
By Claudine Sipili / For Progressive Perspectives
A recent report from Santa Clara County in California highlights a troubling trend: Despite housing more people than ever before in a single year, the rate of new people falling into homelessness spiked by 24 percent in 2023. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2023 homelessness assessment report shows a 12 percent national increase, with over 650,000 people experiencing homelessness, the highest numbers recorded since the Point-in-Time Count began in 2007.
Addressing the root causes of homelessness is urgent, but the consequences of living on the street can’t be ignored either. Invisible to many, unhoused individuals endure the trauma of being dehumanized in a society that denies their basic rights. For some, trying to preserve personhood takes precedence over well-being or even survival in the face of discrimination, judgment and disregard from fellow citizens.
The erosion of dignity that comes from losing one’s home can make it more difficult to take advantage of housing solutions. Restoring and preserving dignity alongside other interventions is essential for effectively supporting those experiencing homelessness.
When I became homeless following my military service and divorce, I felt defined not by my whole story but by unfair assumptions. Sleeping outside, I sensed passersby averting their eyes, as if my existence was too ugly to acknowledge. In overcrowded shelters devoid of privacy, I felt more alone, among so many like me robbed of identity and worth. No one tries to end up in dire circumstances. Rather than make assumptions, it is necessary to meet people where they are, with open arms, not pointed fingers.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-loss-of-dignity-keeps-some-from-housing-solutions/