Home Truths--Mother Jones

[whirlygigspin]

America doesn't like to think, much less talk, about homelessness. Case in point: who knew that last week was National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week? Promoted by the National Coalition for the Homeless, the week brought together a number of schools, communities and cities take part in a nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the fate of America's 3.5 million homeless, at least 750,000 of whom will spend the night of Thanksgiving on the street.

When people do think about the homeless, it's usually to figure out how to "punish" them or at least get them out of the way.
Most cities tackle the problem of homelessness by effectively criminalizing it. The National Coalition for the Homeless recently published a report titled "Illegal to be Homeless: the Criminalization of Homelessness in United the States."

It found a nationwide pattern of draconian measures against the homeless.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/dailymojo/2003/11/11_508.html

[teryang]

1. Making a status a crime

I thought that was unconstitutional.

In any event, it is interesting that the homeless who overload the inadequate support structure with their new numbers, are basically forced into the common domain. Usually public property, parks, rights of way, and so on. Now along comes the government in the form of police and says these public areas are off limits to you. The well heeled applaud at the new found orderliness on the streets on the way to and from work. Private institutions offering services not previously rendered to support the needs of the homeless are also made off limits by enforcing the permited uses of churches or other community assets under zoning codes. Local property owners applaud the business-like disposition of the problem.

Where is the new burgeoning class of unhoused to go? Theoretically, a reciprocal relationship must exist for all people to find a suitable place to lay their heads and fill their stomachs. If society as a whole does not recognize it's obligations to the ill, mentally ill, underpaid, underemployed, veterans, homeless families and their children, what will be the social impact of that repudiation of reciprocity? I guess some people feel that the few millions currently suffering this fate (and I think that is an underestimate) is too small to have any earthshaking impact.

My personal opinion is that the problem is being pushed onto smaller communities who have not yet had the opportunity to coordinate their attacks on the homeless. The result can be higher rates of crime, murder, suicide, death, felonies and drug addiction (mostly among the homeless) for the smaller communities as a result of the larger more resourceful cities abdicating their responsibility.

I see the new homeless people who have been pushed into my community on my way to work every day. The inhumanity of their struggle is an indictment on our society. I'm glad the local police here let them sleep in the park under the shelters and use the fresh water and bathrooms there. Because the police are aware of their presence and readily monitor the open area in the center of the community it is more likely that they get through the night without being beaten, robbed or killed. While this isn't the ideal solution and it is obviously not suitable for children it is better than actively driving these people off into more dangerous and less healthy environments.

I hope they get the day labor jobs available nearby that they waiting for in line every morning. I hope that their work and presence results in more meaningful ties with the community and employers so that they can find support and a better place to live. Without a safe place to put their head down to sleep and return to at night their situation will never improve.