Homelessness

I was in Philadelphia this weekend and noticed that the homeless problem there is either more conspicuous or just plain worse than it is in a lot of other cities. I have always wondered what has brought these people to their current circumstances and how much of it was in their control. Given the choice between hard work or a life on the streets, I’d like to think that anyone would choose to work, no matter what that entails. However, anybody who empathizes with these people and their plight immediately risks being called “bleeding-heart.” And while I agree that personal responsibility is a quality that we all should practice and embrace, there’s nothing wrong with empowering people to help themselves. And if that means a handout is in order initially, then so be it.

It’s hard to imagine yourself in a situation with no one to turn to and that contributes to our indifference towards the homeless. Most of us are fortunate enough to have families willing to help when we need it. Our families also have the means to help. But I imagine that many homeless people probably have no one to provide a temporary home or a meal. And even in situations where there may be family members nearby that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have the cash flow to support another person. Also, I’ve notice that many homeless people seem to suffer from mental problems. So I looked up some of the leading causes of homelessness on the internet and found that very reason near the top of the list. Caring for someone with a mental condition can be a significant burden physically, mentally, and fiscally and that’s probably another reason that family members haven’t taken them in.

It also seems that when a situation is so desperate and a person is forced to live on the street, their problems begin to compound. For example, it’s hard to go to a job interview when you don’t have access to a shower and decent clothing. It’s hard to to signup for programs when you don’t have an address or a phone number. Since drug addiction is a leading cause of homelessness, lack of access to rehabilitation programs is another problem faced by the homeless.

Fortunately, there are organizations that provide some relief to the homeless, such as temporary lodging and a healthy meal. I think the people that run the shelters and soup kitchens are saints. Public funding for those institutions is definitely money well spent. I understand that programs to help the homeless are abused, but that is probably offset by the good that comes from these programs.