Many try to offer simple answers. “Give them a home and they are not homeless anymore.” Abbra Kadabra. Problem solved. Others will call to just quickly get them a job and all will be well. Even others will announce that education is the key. While all of these are a part of the answer, they are incomplete at best.
There are many programs that will house folks. Some put them in hotels or motels and others put them in rental places and call it permanent housing. Many of those that I work with read permanently and think they can do whatever they want. This is not communicated to them by any social worker I have ever met. But they get the idea from permanent. With that in mind they tear up the place, skip out on their portion of rent or otherwise abuse the situation. Eventually the landlord is done, and they leave. Not so permeant.
Talking of permanent housing. Is there a man or woman in congress that has really thought about what they are voting for. They are giving permanent housing to folks that are in their 20s. Is our government really in a position to commit ourselves to pay the rent for the next 50-60 years?
Most of my friends that stay at the mission can get a job with their eyes closed. The problem is that many cannot keep a job. They were given a job without dealing with addiction or mental health problems, so the stress of a job sets them off. To exasperate the problem, they now have burned a bridge to future employment.
It might be more profitable to learn what the hopes and dreams of those that are homeless will discover when they go to the workplace. Help them with their recovery. Introduce them to great councilors and make some healthy friends. Then when they get the job they might have some friends that can support them when they have a bad work day.
Education is fantastic. At one point I did a quick survey of those that we served on their education level. It was almost evenly divided between no High School diploma, High School diploma and Bachelor degree. That season we even had one with a doctorate. Education did not prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place.
Shelters have come a long way. They do not just run flop houses anymore (that seems to be what the state wants to fund.). They develop programs and encourage those that sign up to experience a better life. Shelter will get them off of the street. They can develop a step toward healing and then get them into longer term housing as they prepare to eventually own a home. Train them for a job they will love and get the education to be promoted and you will launch them into a successful future.
