Homeless Housing….Beneficial or Detrimental?

HOMELESS HOUSING:

BENEFICIAL OR DETRIMENTAL?

By Jennifer Troy

Beneficial Or Detrimental?

This may seem an odd question. How could housing the homeless be harmful? While the primary concern is getting people off the streets and into shelter, there are no means implemented to further their self-sufficiency and independence.

Homeless Housing Increasing

New communities of tiny homes and pods are sprouting up everywhere. The communities provide shelter, food, pet supplies, and cohabitation with others who all take part in the daily workings of the community. This is a tremendous step toward providing homeless housing for street people. Yet no measures are in place to keep the ball rolling.

As An Example

I live in Portland, Oregon and I can only speak from my experience in that geo-political sphere. Take for example the recently implemented Women’s Village in the Kenton area of North Portland. Two years ago community resources came together and took fourteen women off the street and housed them in individual “pods” where they can have a sense of privacy and safety within a working community.

Neighborhood

The surrounding neighborhood has wholeheartedly supported this endeavor. Neighbors made it their mission to drop off donations of food, clothes, toiletries, bedding, furniture and pet supplies, etc…to provide for the needs of the women in the pod community. This neighborhood’s heart warming embrace of the Women’s Village has been amazing.

Getting Fuzzy

This is the junction where things become fuzzy. Here are fourteen women who have been homeless for many years who either have given up the idea of rejoining society or just can’t, due to health issues, past traumas, addiction and mental diseases and more. It has become almost impossible for people with such problems to find work, even in these relatively prosperous times. There is a mutual distaste and distrust between the homeless and the greater society. Let’s face it…life is not fair.

Survive Another Day

So what is to be done for us to accept each other’s fortunes or losses? What will stop the angst that society feels when they continuously work for their money, while others get what appears to be a free ride ? As cold this may sound it is a reality.

Personally Speaking

The Homeless Housing issue is a serious political and financial problem for the local community, the state and the federal government. Some transitional homeless housing communities attempt to force these clients to conform to multiple restrictions and rules but offer little support or measures to keep them from sliding back into homelessness without near to complete government financial support.

Holistic Approach

It seems obvious that you don’t take a person who is homeless, with multiple social, physical and psychological issues back into the work force without addressing the causes of the individual’s homelessness. In other words, what can society do to change their lives? And is it a thing that we as a society want to undertake?

Residential Rules

Most homeless housing communities have mandatory rules. Typical resident rules are to find employment, volunteer time, or go back to school, yet how realistic is it for outcasts of society to magically have the skills to do this? Life on the streets becomes a world of survival and people will do what they must do to survive. Street level smarts don’t translate to living in suburban America. To cure homelessness we must solve issues such as isolation and disconnection from the greater society.

Rebuilding Lives

Housing the homeless is probably the easiest part of the problem to solve. The real issue is can society rebuild the lives and expectations of the most alienated and displaced among us? Hell, we haven’t even figured out if health care is a right or a privilege. I believe that at some point there must be a reexamination of programs centered on housing the homeless. Life skills revisited in order for them to gain the confidence needed to rejoin the world.

One Out Of Fourteen

Self confidence is probably one of the first major hurdles. Building self-confidence comes with time, encouragement, new skills and successful experiences. It is clear that before the bird can fly society must be willing to invest in training, rehab and education. Stepping into the abyss takes courage, but it also requires skills and resources, none of which we are currently providing the homeless.

Back To Kenton And The Women’s Village

Last year after the Village was up and running, a proposal was presented to the women. A group came to the Village and offered to teach all the women how to sew and make commercial products they could sell locally at markets and street fairs. All means were provided from industrial sewing machines to the pins. There was one to one instruction, demonstrations and access to guidance 24/7.

One Step At A Time

One would think the once homeless women would jump at the opportunity to become independent. However, only one tentative and reluctant member decided to give it a try. She is now sewing, taking on personal jobs and working towards her own apartment. How wonderful is that?

Why?

It appears the remaining thirteen would rather live off the system.  This is where the division of thought and angst stems from.  Thirteen of the group were given an opportunity and they did not take it.  Why?  We must look at this issue. Why were less than 10% able and willing to make the commitment to a new life course?

Build A Foundation

It appears to me that before we insist on mandatory work we must build a foundation for their re-entry into the real world or work and self-sufficiency.  It is imperative we include the means towards independence within these communities. Where better than right at the Kenton Village itself? A separate work annex where workshops and lectures can be offered along with the tools and means to create. A place where these previously homeless women can begin learning what assets they hold and just how valuable they can be. And yes, I believe attendance should be a mandatory condition of the homeless housing communities.

Back To The Original Question

I have seen the system in operation close up. I have become convinced we must go beyond homeless housing.  Homeless housing needs to become a reasonable and responsible stepping stone to a sustainable life within the greater society.  Here again the question is; are these communities detrimental?

Ask The Question

I believe we must confront the organizations behind these homeless housing developments, such as  Catholic Charities, Central City Concern, St.Vincent Dr Paul, Salvation Army, as well as private supporters.  When donors are approached about the possibility of  incorporating a work pod into the new Kenton Village plan the issue has been discouraged or dodged.  This is incomprehensible to me.

Struggling

I struggle to keep my apartment, myself and my dog safe. Every day is a battle in almost every way. I am cleaning houses, I am baking at 2 a.m.  for resale. To put this in perspective, while I am struggling to keep a roof over my head these women are now each housed in apartments waiting for their homeless housing to be built. And it seems that there will be no means for them to be uplifted from their current situation.

Training Is Part Of The Solution

Society must recognize that the need goes beyond homeless housing. I feel it will be up to the greater community to demand vocational training, self-improvement workshops, basic computer training, sewing and cooking classes be provided to each recipient of housing.  If I may say, with the surge of “work from home” opportunities available, there should really be no excuse for people not to take part in paying their way.  It is obvious that they just need to be provided the skills to take part in the national work force.

 

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5 Comments

  1. Very well-written article. You make excellent points about the system being able to work better to truly enable support and success.

  2. What a thoughtful, comprehensive, sensitive article. Beautifully written especially because Jennifer Troy has a real feeling for anyone on that other side. She described the difficulties and determination needed to put a homeless person’s life back together. In writing about the women’s village it was especially sad to hear their response to learning a trade when the opportunity was offered to them. She touched so many aspects of the homeless problem and offered possible solutions. I hope her article is read widely and will draw a response from municipal agencies

  3. This clear-eyed, intelligent article makes so much sense! It helps the reader understand the resentment many people have toward programs for the homeless, while at the same time pointing out the huge problems the homeless face on so many levels.
    Jennifer Troy outlines the kinds of multi-faceted programs, in addition to housing, that are needed to solve this problem–I hope she is listened to by people who have the power to take action.

    • Thank you Phyllis….
      The next article will be about ways in which this can be achieved…
      It’s very simple

      Happy New Year

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