To most people, homelessness is defined by the lack of a brick-and-mortar shelter. This is certainly the biggest defining factor of the issue, but homes are so much more than the structure itself. A home is where one builds their life, where memories are made. It's both a financial and emotional investment, with both factors growing over time and making the home, well, homier. The "glue" of a home is not the house itself, but one's perceived stability in this space. A home is defined by the feeling of safety exactly where you are, knowing nothing can tear you away or invade your peace.
Homeless individuals are deprived of far more than a house; to be deprived of a home is to be deprived of safety, stability, and peace of mind. In most developed communities, there is a large focus on promoting local homeless shelters to keep people off the streets. This is a good first step towards giving the homeless physical safety, but shelters are largely temporary. The true end-goal to solving homelessness is not just keeping homeless individuals off the streets, but guiding them towards permanent housing so they may have the stability they need to make it a home. Organizations such as JOIN have focused their mission specifically on providing permanent housing for those in need. They recognize the importance of a stable home environment and place great value on empowering their clients as the real "agents of change" in their partnership. To learn more about JOIN's efforts here in Portland, you may visit their website here.
-Nathan Hammer
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