"Not in my neighborhood" to "Yes in my neighborhood: Techniques to oppose NIMBYism and provide assistance for the homeless.”

 

"Not in my neighborhood" to "Yes in my neighborhood: Techniques to oppose NIMBYism and provide assistance for the homeless.”

The word "homeless" refers to the state of not having a fixed, safe, or a stable place to live. Unfortunately, millions of individuals around the world are struggling with this problem. There is no denying that homelessness is a social problem that has gotten out of control in our country recently. It is abundantly evident from the available data that the number of homeless people is increasing daily making it a very serious issue. “On a single night in January 2020, 580,466 people (about 18 out of every 10,000 people) experienced homelessness across the United States, a 2.2% increase from 2019” ( Sleet et al, 2021.) This date is specific to the US, and as a resident of this country, I believe it's critical to address this problem. There hasn't been much of an improvement in the state of homelessness in the US, despite the government's numerous efforts to combat it. Housing First Program, the Homeless Assistance Program, and numerous other organizations and programs have been putting in a lot of effort to support this community, but it appears that we are still falling short of our goal because there are still hurdles and impediments standing in our way.

    The opposition and resistance of individuals and groups to projects that entail constructing resources, homes, and shelters close to their property or neighborhood is known as "Not in my backyard" (NIMBYism). This is one of the challenges we have to conquer in order to guarantee that our efforts will yield fruitful outcomes in this example, aiding the homeless community. The NIMBYISM movement has a lot of negative effects, and in order for communities to make informed decisions, they need to be aware of all of these effects. Without a doubt, NIMBYism is one of the numerous factors contributing to the shortage of resources, such as reasonably priced housing, for our homeless community. “In 2021, there was a shortage of 7.3 million affordable homes and rental units, an increase of 500,000 from just two years earlier” ( Peterson, 2024.) Concerns about safety, property equity, security, and a host of other issues are major contributing factors to this resistance. As property owners, these worries are understandable, but before drawing such judgments, individuals should conduct in depth study. The association between local crime rates and homeless shelters, for example, has not been thoroughly studied and hasn't been proven yet. 

      Shouldn't we move on to "Yes in my Neighborhood" and provide this community with a place to call home? Isn't it time we gave them another chance at life.? One approach to achieving the objective of assisting homeless communities in overcoming their challenges and hardships is to show support for the resources that assist this community. "Not in my backyard" has been demonstrated to have a detrimental effect on both the communities and the economy in general. If we allow the government to develop and provide resources for this community, they will have the opportunity to change their life in a positive way. Once they settle down, they are more likely to give back to the community when they have access to resources that support them, such as affordable housing, work opportunities, and healthcare services specific to their needs. 

Sleet, D. A., & Francescutti, L. H. (2021, November 6). Homelessness and public health: A focus on strategies and solutions. International journal of environmental research and public health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8583397/ 

Peterson, M. (2024, January 2). The sad irony of “not in my backyard” (nimby). AIER. https://www.aier.org/article/the-sad-irony-of-not-in-my-backyard-nimby