“Solving” Homelessness

Putting an end to homelessness may seem simple right? Just give homes to those that are homeless. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Housing alone will not put an end to homelessness. Giving a homeless person a house is like giving an elderly man an iPhone. What I’m trying to say is that giving a homeless person a house obviously helps them by providing them with shelter, but it doesn’t help them with other things like social integration. Just like giving an elderly man an iPhone, it would be difficult for them to adapt to something so new. This is where permanent supportive housing (PSH) comes into play. PSH provides “affordable housing and supportive services [to] unstably housed and socially marginalized [individuals]” (Harris, et al.). The key here is social integration. Social integration is important because it allows homeless people to live just like everyone else, with the same choices and opportunities for neighborhood-based social interactions. In other words, social integration curates a sense of belonging through emotional and practical support which in turn enables homeless people to get their life back on track.

Others believe that homeless people are criminals and that “policing strategies [should be used] to address the spatial concentration of homeless encampments and, thereby, reduce some crimes associated with this disproportionate concentration” (Culhane). Doing this is like aggravating a beehive, you aren’t solving the problem, you’re just making it worse. Think of it like this, what’s going to happen if you expel a homeless person from his/her encampment? They aren’t going to acquire a house and a job overnight, they’re just going to find another place on the street to “set up camp”. Hence, a more feasible approach would be to use policing strategies, in tandem with social service providers, “to help indigent people connect to services and to discourage unhealthful encampments that enable people to avoid engaging with meaningful services and supports” (Culhane). This way, the problem isn’t exacerbated, but instead alleviated through reforms and initiatives that work to get homeless people off the street.

Lastly, what about the homeless people? What do they think? Oftentimes we fail to consider this point of view because we’re too focused on what we think is best for them. Recall the last time you saw a homeless person holding up a cardboard sign, did the sign say “deploy housing first system-wide” or “anything helps”. The truth is that “[homeless people] wish to take part in developing strategies and solutions to end homelessness, yet doing so may threaten their survival and well-being” (Norman, et al.). Thus, by facilitating meaningful participation through a “common ground” that consists of comfortable meeting space, food, childcare, etc… we can expect more effective solutions that come from within the affected group.

Works Cited

1. Harris T, Dunton G, Henwood B, Rhoades H, Rice E, Wenzel S. Los Angeles housing models and neighborhoods’ role in supportive housing residents’ social integration. Housing studies. 2019;34(4):609–635. doi:10.1080/02673037.2018.1462308
2. Culhane DP. Tackling homelessness in Los Angeles’ Skid Row: The role of policing strategies and the spatial deconcentration of homelessness. Criminology & public policy. 2010;9(4):851–857. doi:10.1111/j.1745–9133.2010.00675.x
3. Norman T, Pauly B, Marks H, Palazzo D. Taking a leap of faith: Meaningful participation of people with experiences of homelessness in solutions to address homelessness. Journal of social inclusion. 2015;6(2):19–35. doi:10.36251/josi.82