4 Reasons Homelessness Will Get Worse Before it Gets Better
Homelessness has been a part of our society for centuries. Some people in this world are just not able to take care of themselves and provide for their basic survival needs (food, shelter, and clothing). While reasons for this have been debated for centuries, the fact is that there are more people in this world than ever before — more wealth, more government. Yet homelessness numbers continue to surge.
The reasons and opinions for this grow as well. Knowledge and understanding are at an all-time low. That means feelings of frustration and resentment are at all-time highs. Compassion takes a severe blow. The government yields to ongoing pressure to try to remove these people from our society in hopes they’ll never return to the streets where we have to see them every day and be reminded of society’s failed responsibility to help others. The frustration mounts.
The good news is that the homeless are not as invisible as they use to be. The government continues to throw billions of taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars at this epidemic in the form of more emergency shelters and “affordable housing.” Yet the numbers are surging, and assigning blame and creating a false narrative about why they are homeless with historical stereotypes is the new norm.
Let’s break it down with some facts:
1. Addiction and mental health issues are treatable but not curable. Studies show that at least 50% of all homeless are afflicted with addiction and/or mental health issues. Unless they receive long term-care and treatment (therapy, medication, support), these vulnerable people are likely to relapse and return to the streets. Relapse is common and a part of the process, even for those who are not homeless. Trauma, PTSD, and violence are leading causes of addiction and mental health issues such as depression.
Living on the streets is traumatic enough to begin with. Imagine also having untreated mental health and addiction issues. Many homeless people have been abused and disappointed and do not trust. The trauma has rewired their brains for protection instead of connection. They are in survival mode now. So how is it possible for some to comprehend the benefits of getting better? The majority of women and children on the streets have been subjected to violence. And yes, they choose the streets over the abusive environment.
2. Affordable housing works in 0 counties in the US (See my latest podcast). The poverty threshold in this country is just below $30k per year for a family of four. That means an at-risk person can afford about $750 (30% of their income) per month for rent.
Affordable housing studies by Harvard Research show that the average monthly cost for a family of four in the affordable housing model is around $2,500.
That means someone needs to bring in around $100k per year for income. The cost for projects is rising and the tax incentives are lower. Disability payments run around $800 per month and the average monthly food stamp (SNAP) benefit was $127 per month, per recipient in 2018, which is about $1.40 per meal. The numbers do not lie, and the model does not work for those who need it the most. Over 16 million children are living in poverty today with a GDP that has nearly doubled since 1980. Where’s the trickle-down economics?
3. Federal and State laws enable drug dealers. Drug dealers must be punished as violent offenders. Some politicians argue that the costs of maintaining prisons is exorbitant and costing taxpayers. In California they enacted Prop 47 and Prop 36.
Proponents said it would save $100 million that could be used in other ways. Yet the taxpayers are spending billions to combat homelessness with numbers surging. Under Prop 47, a person with 15 to 20 packets (street price of $20 per packet) will only be charged with a misdemeanor because it is for $950 or less. Prop 36 amended the “3 strike” rule from 1994 to reclassify drug dealers as non-violent offenders. Many proponents argued that marijuana convictions were too punishing. It’s legal now in many states. So what about the other drugs? It’s now even easier for a homeless addict to find drugs than to seek help. Addiction is that powerful and deadly and so are the drug dealers. Ghandi said, “Poverty is the worst form of violence.”
4. The Federal budget for SAMSHA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, is significantly lower than HUD’s budget. The 2020 SAMSHA budget includes everything from prevention, treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and prescription overdose prevention, to first responder training, mental health services, and clinic expansion. After three consecutive years and $4 billion in cuts, the 2020 SAMSHA proposed budget came in at $5.68 billion, which still represents a YOY decrease of $65 million. Even with the proposed cuts from the Trump administration, the HUD budget is slated for $44.1 billion in 2020.
The cost to build affordable housing to eliminate homelessness in San Francisco would be over $6 billion alone, and that doesn’t include longer-term care for these individuals. LA County passed Prop HHH for $1.3 billion in affordable housingand the numbers are at an all-time high in Los Angeles. Again, the numbers do not lie. The $5.68 billion that is proposed for SAMSHA 2020 doesn’t begin to scratch the service.
The perceptions and stereotypes run all the way to the highest levels of authority in the country, but it begins with us. Many people will simply hang their hat on the belief that homeless people simply choose to be homeless. Addiction and mental health illnesses are diseases. They are treatable but not curable. Many women and children make a conscious choice to live on the streets rather than remain in toxic and abusive environments. Yes, many are in the grips of untreated mental illness and addiction. Yes, some have stated publicly that they choose to remain on the streets. But, how many have said that? They are in survival and protection mode and trusting others is a major barrier for them.
We can continue to debate the reasons and subscribe to the new norm of assigning blame and being resentful about this crisis, or we can simply start to get educated, get involved, and do something about it. It’s time to stop dehumanizing the homeless and this crisis. Nothing ever good comes from acting out of anger and ignorance. This requires education, solidarity, respect and love. The numbers do not lie. To do good you actually have to do something. I urge you to get started by learning the facts instead of the narrative. Thanks, and God Bless!