After reading the article and monitoring the news on a daily basis... the issue of Homelessness is far more complicated than most people think. There is NO easy solution to homelessness! Many homeless people suffer from mental illness, alcohol and drug addiction, unemployment, cost of living, etc... there are a variety of reasons that contribute to homelessness. Many so called “activists” believe that housing the homeless will solve the problem. I disagree. Providing a housing solution is the first step toward ending homelessness. Then we must evaluate each person to determine their needs. Each person is different and some may need more assistance than others. Some homeless individuals are competent and need job placement to get back on their feet. Others need more assistance such as Supportive Housing with medical care and services that would help them. There is NO cookie-cutter solution to homelessness. Many people think there is but they are wrong and couldn’t be farther from the truth. I am an advocate for social justice but I do not engage in certain activities that would disrupt housing the homeless such as transitional housing which is a step toward a more permanent solution.
We have to work together and not against one another. There is NO easy way out. We have to start somewhere. What I’ve learned in Graduate School is that we have to meet in the middle. Each group on either side can’t have all they want. During negotiations, each side must give up and give in. The ‘Tiny Homes’ may not be perfect but they are a step forward. We can build on the progress and we can expand to other places to provide housing and services to the homeless community.
I hope that we can more forward and put our political differences aside. We have one goal, and that goal is to help the homeless. The housing solution may not be perfect and many people on the street may not like it but it is better than nothing. We should build on that and grow so that no one is left behind.
Dear Editor,
After reading the article and monitoring the news on a daily basis... the issue of Homelessness is far more complicated than most people think. There is NO easy solution to homelessness! Many homeless people suffer from mental illness, alcohol and drug addiction, unemployment, cost of living, etc... there are a variety of reasons that contribute to homelessness. Many so called “activists” believe that housing the homeless will solve the problem. I disagree. Providing a housing solution is the first step toward ending homelessness. Then we must evaluate each person to determine their needs. Each person is different and some may need more assistance than others. Some homeless individuals are competent and need job placement to get back on their feet. Others need more assistance such as Supportive Housing with medical care and services that would help them. There is NO cookie-cutter solution to homelessness. Many people think there is but they are wrong and couldn’t be farther from the truth. I am an advocate for social justice but I do not engage in certain activities that would disrupt housing the homeless such as transitional housing which is a step toward a more permanent solution.
We have to work together and not against one another. There is NO easy way out. We have to start somewhere. What I’ve learned in Graduate School is that we have to meet in the middle. Each group on either side can’t have all they want. During negotiations, each side must give up and give in. The ‘Tiny Homes’ may not be perfect but they are a step forward. We can build on the progress and we can expand to other places to provide housing and services to the homeless community.
I hope that we can more forward and put our political differences aside. We have one goal, and that goal is to help the homeless. The housing solution may not be perfect and many people on the street may not like it but it is better than nothing. We should build on that and grow so that no one is left behind.
Thank you for reading my point of view.
Regards,
Lionel M.