Solving Homelessness

7/31/18  from Francesca Hampton
I truly can't remember seeing a single homeless person sleeping outside as a child growing up in Los Angeles in the fifties, although I had heard the term "skid row." I know now there must have been some, out of sight of my sheltered world., but today there are homeless encampments everywhere, regularly cleared out by local police departments. Hundreds of thousands are finding themselves without means to pay ever higher rents. Once homeless, their lives become a survival marathon, not least because it is harder to retain hope and dignity as they enter the world of the shunned. With the lack of showers, presentable clothes, a mailing address and computer access, it is also much harder to find work again. Does it really have to be this way?

I won't address the larger picture of more jobs with better pay here. But what can we do in the short term with the huge homeless populations expanding in every urban area?

IDEA  Dedicate one or several park areas in cities as "Traveler Parks," to provide safe overnight tent sleeping areas for the homeless but also for young travelers wanting to explore the country in a low cost way.  Funding of such parks could come from federal grants and local taxation, as well as small (perhaps optional) user fees. Their existence would solve a host of problems that also cost money and would be worth the investment. It would pay for toilet facilities, trash collection, and the services of a park manager who would orient residents to the rules and enforce them. These rules would be the friendly cooperative guidelines one finds in youth hostels everywhere. There would be a time limit on staying, though longer than a hostel, and residents would be required to do a daily chore to help with park maintenance. Serious misbehavior or drug or alcohol use on park premises would result in eviction, but there would also be resources to help truly indigent travelers get a hold on life again. Public showers at the park would mean all citizens in a community could keep clean,  regardless of their situation, and have a better chance to find jobs. An indoor area with a public  ironing board, public phone, poste restante services and several public computers could also make employment easier to accomplish, especially in this new gig economy. There would be space for local residents to leave off donated food and clothing.  A private room where clients could meet with social workers upon request would also be part of the central structure. Social workers could work with the homeless for longer term solutions.

In areas with extreme winters, dormitory space would take the place of such parks, but it should never be punitive or prison-like.  Several large older houses with bunk beds could be rented by the cities using the same funds and same management system as hostels.

IDEA #2  City jobs for the homeless. In Santa Cruz, where i live there is a large ongoing garden project, managed by volunteers and planted and harvested by homeless persons who receive a small hourly wage. In winter they work in a store to sell gifts developed from pottery or plants from the garden. Homeless people who take advantage of this develop community. They make friends. They hear of opportunities. And of course they have the dignity of some spending money they earned doing enjoyable, meaningful work. It is cost effective for communities to provide jobs like this. Trash collection along highways, beach clean ups, road repair, (screened) workers at animal centers or homes for the elderly. Grounds and building maintenance of schools. All of these are services the city pays for anyway. Why not make them more readily accessible to the homeless? Two birds.

IDEA #3  An Online community housing board . In every community there are many kind people in households who might be willing to rent at low cost, or volunteer a safe living space for a few nights. It this were set up in an organized way, the extra risk of letting a stranger into one's home could be mitigated. The manager of the Travelers' Park campground could, for example, access a person applying in this way and take down his or her identifying information. Possibly the web site itself would even be able to screen for known prior offenders. This could provide a much needed half-way option for city residents who hold jobs but find themselves just briefly homeless, especially in the case of women and children coming from abusive situations.  What is needed is the web site to connect people.

Love this company's efforts to design livable  printed houses for as low as $4000 - they can be erected in 24 hours and provide a weather secure, lockable shelter for years! Excellent stop gap solution as our world is faced with ever growing tides of refugees.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCzS2FZoB-I