Thoughts on “The Outsiders” SanFrancisco Magazine

After reading the article The Outsiders, written by Gary Kamiya, a few strong points became apparent…

“I’m from Santa Rosa. I could live in a big house there — a friend’s house; he owns a construction company. But I choose to be here because I can dance every day here. That’s why I’m here — because I’m a dancer, and that’s what I do.” Tap

Sometimes, there is choice. Common misconceptions

“In many cities, they are treated like medieval lepers — shunned, shamed, and driven outside the walls. Even in the most tolerant places, like San Francisco, they provoke frustration, weariness, and anger as often as compassion — when their existence even registers at all. ”

Leper, becomes an accurate description in light of the emotional reactions to the homeless including: anger, compassion, frustration, weariness, IF they are recognized.

“The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the federal agency responsible for addressing homelessness, defines a chronically homeless individual as someone with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for one year or more or had four or more episodes of homelessness within the last three years.”

Defining homelessness and its ambiguity: Some with a disabling condition, is this accurate? Should the definition not encompass those without a disabling conditions?

“San Francisco didn’t create the contemporary homeless crisis. Many factors led to it: loss of blue-collar jobs, deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, widespread drug use, the rise of an urban underclass, and the return of traumatized Vietnam vets in the ’70s. But the most critical factor was drastically reduced federal spending on low-income housing.”

Job Loss, Deinstitutionalization of mentally ill, drug use, rise or urban underclass, Vietnam vets: all contributors to homelessness