Homelessness is an issue that can be spotted in almost every major American city. While walking through any downtown, anti-homeless infrastructure can be spotted alongside homeless people who utilize the benches and sidewalks. The issue in California has even become so dramatic that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has declared a state of emergency to combat the homelessness crisis they are facing. With the number of homeless people on the rise in the U.S., it is the perfect time to take a look at why this issue exists in contemporary society and how attainable a solution is.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, homelessness rose 0.6% from 2020 to 2022, and while this increase is not stark, it is clear why the statistic is back on the rise. With pandemic aid long gone and a still-suffering economy, many people who were not able to weather the storm that was the pandemic were left unsheltered, and this story is not uncommon for homeless people.
One of the main contributing factors to the continued existence of a growing number of homeless people in the U.S. is stigmatization and prejudice. Everyone has heard or been taught at some point to avoid people experiencing homelessness. They are seen as dangerous outsiders who are in this position after recklessly spending on substances that they cannot live without abusing. This broad dehumanization due to a lack of empathy has led to inhumane acts such as the widespread integration of anti-homeless infrastructure and constant violence against the homeless. Still, worst of all, this perspective has made Americans blind to the most feasible solution to the homeless crisis: giving homeless people homes.
The Housing First model for tackling the issue is an approach that prioritizes providing for the homeless without permanent housing. While the solution seems obvious, it has been proven by various studies to be one of the most successful and cost-efficient ways to deal with the issue at hand. Instead of having taxpayer dollars spent on a patchwork of sporadic emergency services, aid can instead be targeted at a direct solution. With all this backing, one might ask why this solution is not more widely implemented by the government if it has been observed to be the most effective remedy.
The same rugged, individualistic attitude that has been with this country since its inception also happens to be the same gun that is currently shooting the American people in the foot. “Why should I pay for someone else’s housing? I work to pay my rent; why won’t they?” thinks the American citizen. It is this view that is truly at the core of the fight against homelessness because of the unpopularity it causes amongst homeless initiatives. Instead of viewing the homeless as people who have fallen into an unlucky situation or were potentially just screwed over by life, the U.S. views the homeless as people who chose the life they’re living.
While the average American view of the homeless remains negative, independent homeless programs have started to grow their Housing First initiatives in the fight against homelessness. Make sure to volunteer when possible at local homeless shelters, especially during the upcoming winter months. More information can be found at https://nationalhomeless.org/volunteer/.
