What is “Good Service”

“Good service” is when the lines between the helper and the person being helped are blurred to the point where there is no hierarchy in which the person being helped feels inferior to the one helping. Usually when someone is serving another person they naturally feel superior to the person they are helping, but they simply do not realize. It is extremely easy to fall into this trap as usually the volunteer is simply in a better living situation than the person being served; however, this does not give the volunteer the right to feel superior as oftentimes the reason that unhoused people are in their current predicament is out of their control. An important misconception that people usually have is the stereotype that all homeless people are out of touch with reality or on some type of drug, when in reality, most of the time they are simply just victims of a system pitted against them such as the heavy increase in housing prices.

Stereotypes that depict all unhoused people as drug addicts and out of touch with reality are simply incorrect as most unhoused people are homeless because they simply cannot afford housing. The reason this stereotype is so dominant is because most people simply do not devote enough time and attention to the unhoused population and generalize them into a group of people who have simply given up on life and are just trying to meet the minimum requirements of food, water, and shelter to survive. Although this may be the case for some unhoused people it is dangerous to assume that all unhoused people have the same reason for their current situation as there is no possible way for anyone to do “good service” without understanding why the people they are helping are in their current predicament as if the people someone is helping feel understood, they will be more open and comfortable, which will foster a healthy relationship between volunteer and person being served. Also, it is impossible to fix the housing crisis without a proper understanding of the reason why most unhoused people are in their current situation.

The real reason for homelessness is not entirely a matter of mental health, but instead due to the unaffordable housing prices especially in Los Angeles. The unrelenting surge in housing prices has made it nearly impossible for many individuals and families to secure stable shelter. In the Los Angeles Times article “Cause of homelessness? It’s not drugs or mental illness, researchers say” authors Clayton Page Aldern and Gregg Colburn looked at all contributing factors of homeless and they found that “By looking at the rate of homeless per 1,000 people, they found communities with the highest housing costs had some of the highest rates of homelessness, something that might be overlooked when looking at just the overall raw number of homeless people”. This crisis exposes the harsh reality that even those without mental health issues can find themselves without a home. Additionally, in The Atlantic “Los Angeles Is in Crisis. So Why Isn’t It Building More Houses?” article it is clear “that homelessness is a problem most pronounced in successful cities, where dynamic economies all too often meet rigidly regulated housing markets”. As housing costs continue to outpace wage growth and the gap between rich and poor widens, a growing segment of the population is being pushed to the brink. To address homelessness effectively, we must prioritize accessible, affordable housing as a fundamental solution, alongside appropriate mental health support, as they are intertwined in a complex web of social issues; however, on the individual level it is important to understand this issue as much as possible in order to have a complete and true perspective of the challenges unhoused people face as that is the only to create a personal connection between a volunteer and the unhoused person they are helping as most people feel as though unhoused peoples’ issues are mainly mental health related.

The misconception that mental health is the primary cause of homelessness in Los Angeles has a detrimental cause-and-effect relationship that significantly impacts service and charity work for the less fortunate. When society fixates on mental health as the singular root cause, it tends to overlook the broader issue of housing affordability. This skewed perspective leads to an underallocation of resources for housing initiatives, leaving many unhoused individuals without the support they desperately need. In turn, the misdirected focus exacerbates the housing crisis as the lack of affordable housing options remains unaddressed, deepening the despair of those already struggling on the streets. Consequently, those organizations striving to alleviate homelessness find themselves ill-equipped to combat the issue effectively, hampered by the misperception that mental health is the sole culprit, when in reality, it’s only a part of the much larger problem.

If public awareness were to grow regarding the fundamental issue of high housing prices as the main driver of homelessness in Los Angeles, a transformative ripple effect unfolds. This increased understanding not only challenges the prevailing misconceptions surrounding homelessness but also paves the way for significant positive change on multiple fronts. With a more accurate grasp of the problem, communities and policymakers are increasingly motivated to tackle the housing affordability crisis head-on. This translates into investments in affordable housing initiatives, rental assistance programs, and innovative policy measures aimed at stemming the tide of homelessness. Moreover, there is a heightened recognition of the profound challenges and vulnerabilities that unhoused individuals face daily. With this newfound empathy and knowledge, there is a surge in support for both social and political change. Communities are more likely to mobilize around these issues, advocating for comprehensive solutions that address the multifaceted aspects of homelessness. Political leaders, too, are pushed to prioritize affordable housing and homelessness prevention, recognizing that effective action is long overdue. At the grassroots level, the effect is even more pronounced. Volunteers and charitable organizations, now equipped with a deeper understanding of the true root causes of homelessness, can provide more tailored and impactful services. They work tirelessly to address the immediate needs of unhoused individuals while also actively participating in advocacy efforts. This comprehensive approach creates a more compassionate and effective network of support, ultimately assisting unhoused individuals in regaining their footing and rebuilding their lives. This positive cycle of awareness, understanding, and action, not only strives to reduce homelessness but also fosters a society that is more compassionate, equitable, and willing to engage in the collective effort to ensure that everyone has a place to call home.

On a more personal note, I had suffered from the same misconception that homelessness was a matter of primarily mental health; however, my perspective completely changed after I volunteered at Water Drop, which is a nonprofit organization that provides water and snacks to the unhoused people living in Skid Row. At first I did not know what to expect as throughout my life people would tell me about how dangerous and scary being in skid row is; however, my experience there completely contradicted all of my expectations as the unhoused people were not only extremely thankful but also respectful and social. It was easy to make conversation with them and it honestly did not even feel as though I was volunteering and more like I was just having a normal conversation with another person. Furthermore, they were all extremely understanding of our limited supplies and did not ask for more than what the other volunteers and I gave them. In fact, some of them even took less than the standard amount as they did not need anymore water and wanted us to give it to someone who needed it more, which shows the compassion and care many unhoused people possess. My experience at Water Drop completely opened up my eyes and changed my perspective about homelessness as all the people that I interacted with were just as normal as any other person I have talked to in my life. Overall, “good service” is when there is no hierarchy between helper and the person being helped as that is the only way to truly connect and understand one another as if the person being helped feels comfortable and better about their situation because they know the people who are there to help them are not shallow and truly care for them. The only way to properly blur these lines is to treat the conversation with the individual who is being helped as a normal, friendly conversation you would have with someone you just met such as a classmate or coworker. Basic questions such as “Hi, how are you?” or “Hey, what’s your name?” are simple ways to begin the conversation and to help humanize the person you are talking to.

Works Used:

Los Angeles Times “Cause of homelessness? It’s not drugs or mental illness, researchers say” : https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-11/new-book-links-homelessness-city-prosperity

The Atlantic Los Angeles Is in Crisis. So Why Isn’t It Building More Housing?

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/how-solve-los-angeless-homelessness-crisis/591976/