We must Provide by Anonymous
“Hey. I need a bed; I lost my apartment.” Often this phrase is uttered by a person who was housed after many years of living on the streets or in a shelter. The way we have set up some programs in the homeless continuum of care short-changes the individuals it is designed to help. How are they doing that by providing them with free programs? So many things are given for free, that some homeless people have lost the ability and/or desire to do things for themselves. They don’t want to work or pay for anything. They want free clothes, shoes, food and shelter.
The Rapid Rehousing Program is a program some people use to take advantage of the system, instead of using the help to get out of homelessness permanently. They use it as an extension of free living, and then come back into the shelter system as if nothing has happened, expecting the system to continue to provide for them.
If a person has an income, they should be responsible for some percentage of their own personal care, even in the shelter. If a person has mental health issues, then they should be able to get the support they need to live outside the shelter system and pay a percentage of their income. Anybody getting SSI or SSDI should also have a support system in place that helps them manage their affairs so that they are able to get and keep housing.
People who are dealing with drug and/or alcohol addictions and are not ready to stop using need a payee that will responsibly manage their money. This would ensure that their rent and other bills are paid, while at the same time giving them an allowance that can be used any way that they want. Perhaps over time the process of contributing to their own well-being will change their mental image of themselves to someone who wants to provide more for themselves than just getting high.
With these changes, over time they may want to live differently; learning that being self-sufficient is better than being given everything. Learning that it is possible to obtain new furniture or a tv, to buy clothes regularly, and develop new friendships that will enhance their lives. But first they must learn to take on some responsibility again.
Placing a man in a house without the tools and willingness to take care of himself is a recipe for failure. If we are going to make a lasting impact in reducing the numbers of people who are homeless, then we must find ways to help those individuals develop the skills to take care of themselves. Giving free food and clothing is not enough. We must also provide education and money management training in addition to support programs so that people can stand on their own as they find their way back into society.