Local Cities Get The Brunt of Homelessness
I was interviewed today by a film crew from Sacramento on the continuing occurrence of tent cities propping up around the country.
I tried to make it clear that tent cities are not the result of local cities not doing enough. Tent cities are a result of a bad economy, bad federal policy on homelessness in the last two decades, no long-term planning on housing, and an insufficient creation of a safety net.
So when people become homeless, cities like Ontario, California get stuck with the problem. Many times these people are not even from the city. The community ignores the fact that homelessness is increasing until some large tent city is established, almost over night.
Then everyone is upset-businesses, schools, homeowners. And they scream at the city to do something. But most cities have limited funds. We all know where the big bucks are at-the federal government and the county government.
Back in the 1980's, the city of Los Angeles sued the county of Los Angeles accusing the county of not doing enough for homelessness. One incident of a city saying enough is enough.
So until there is a long term plan to house all Americans, and the jurisdictions that truly have the resources to make that happen actually fund it, local communities will receive the brunt of homelessness.
(Pic from http://media.komonews.com)
posted by LA's Homeless Blog at
2:14 PM
6 Comments:
As an employee of city government in a city that has a "tent city" and being close to the issue I say this. The vast majority of these "homeless" people CHOOSE to live this way. Our city has opened our arms to these people and have taken them in. Giving them almost endless opportunities to improve their situations with all kinds of "transition" programs to release them from the situation. They CHOOSE not to participate. These are people who do not want the everyday responsiblities of life. No rent or house payments, no phone bills or gas bills or electric bills. We are providing them with a FREE place to live while our city employees are losing their jobs in order to keep our city afloat. These are the people that worked hard to ensure the homeless had places to live and programs to help get them out of their situation. The compassionate ones. I wish someone would realize or acknowledge that this is happening. Precious few are there because of the economy.
Houses have mostly been built for people who are middle income or higher. I think tiny houses in what are now the "bad" parts of cities, were originally probably built for the working poor. "Projects" were built for poor inner city people. I read that the New Orleans housing projects are being torn down, but are not being replaced with other low-income housing. I also read that SRO hotels are being torn down in Detroit and being replaced with condos. Government leaders, including mayors, don't want to build housing for those who don't have any money, (the mentally ill, alcoholics and drug addicts). Where I live, the mayor aggressively got the police to get the residents of a tent city to "move along." The only type of housing that is being built where I live, are big, two-story houses.
Where I live, there is transitional housing for women with children. They live at that sheter until the employees of the shelter find housing for them. They then are given housing that is paid for by the government. I've never seen homeless children. There isn't a transtional shelter for mentally ill. I decided to help a homeless mentally ill woman find housing, and I found out that there wasn't any help. There should be a shelter that helps homeless mentally ill apply for section 8 housing, but there isn't. The Salvation Army has a program for homeless who are alcoholics. The homeless alcoholics have to stop drinking and get a job. How many people who have been getting drunk for forty years are going to stop drinking and start working?
There aren't endless transition programs for homeless. There are just temporary shelters for about half of the homeless who need them. The social services are for "families." First Five includes parenting classes for low-income and middle-income parents. I called First Five and found out that there is money for supplies for art programs. There are thousands of dollars available for each play group. Then there are the nurses who to to the homes of first time mothers and give advice. These programs aren't for the homeless.
"Giving them almost endless opportunities" I'm guessing the "almost" mean you have no housing. Shelters are not housing, they are horrifying, have no privacy, and are not fit for humans. Offer housing and the streets will be empty, that's the only thing you people refuse to try.
I have never seen an alcoholic/addicted homeless person. Those people you see that way are the treatment agencies success stories, they already have places to live. They party all day on the streets, panhandle, throw up on side walks and stumble back to their apts. at night.
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