I believe that we tolerate homelessness as a society because we have bought into the lie that we all get what we deserve (until WE don’t). So if someone is in the street, it must be his fault. We can build outdoor dining pods, but encampments need to be torn down.
We blame homeless people for being homeless so that we can absolve ourselves from being responsible for doing nothing about it. If we really wanted to end homelessness, we could. But it would require a shift in thinking and a shift in resources.
There is a reason some wealthy folks hire lawyers to sue city governments who want to place a shelter or low-income housing in their communities. They believe they earned their position of privilege and the houseless earned theirs. If we ever want to make a dent this must change.
Understanding that homelessness is a result of systemic injustice is a first step. By insisting that all housing units include access for low-income and homeless individuals we would be offering a small down payment on a debt that we incurred with years of neglect and oppression. By increasing access to housing vouchers, SNAP benefits, and Medicaid we would actually be admitting that we ALL share the burden of homelessness and if we REALLY were concerned about the encampments, the public urination or the trash, we could collectively do something about it.
I don’t believe there are enough people in power who understand that when it comes to homelessness and poverty “handouts” are part of the solution. Not because they deserve it, but precisely the opposite: they don’t! They don’t deserve to be hungry in the street. Nobody does.
