By Haidar Alzubaidi
Homelessness is a dire situation that has been described by many as an epidemic. None are affected worse than those experiencing this difficult situation on the streets. While many efforts exist to end it, a question persists:
"Why can't people simply find a job and get a home?"
Unfortunately, escaping homelessness is not so simple. It is a difficult and confusing web of policies that seem designed to make it impossible to get off the streets. Some say that wealth pays dividends, and poverty charges interest. Homelessness is one of the worst kinds of poverty that exist in our society, with many homeless people struggling with untreated physical and mental health problems, food insecurity, and safety concerns. Life on the streets is difficult and exhausting, with many being so overwhelmed from having to fight for their survival every day that they turn to substances to cope. Homeless shelters often feel unsafe and enforce policies that are difficult for people to cope with. Employers require an address to fill out an application - something homeless people do not have. With the odds so stacked against them, how can we expect anyone to get off the streets?
Carlo Rojas, a San Francisco man, became homeless after being shot and losing the ability to work. He spent three years living on the streets with his son, doing what he could to survive and struggling to navigate a complex ecosystem of shelters and support networks. With the help of one organization, Compass Family Services, Carlo was able to secure housing for him and his son.
Amber Burns had spent most of her adult life homeless and struggling with addiction. As a single mother, she faced a horrible ordeal trying to care for her two daughters in a survival situation. What saved her family from their life of homelessness and struggle was the availability of a drug treatment program, which connected her with CaringWorks, an Atlanta organization fighting to end homelessness one person at a time.
Looking at these stories, it's clear that what homeless people need in order to get off the streets is help. Organizations and Initiatives aimed at finding jobs and permanent housing for people work, and they improve a great many lives. Street Roots, a Portland based organization, helps homeless people acquire PO boxes to overcome the hurdle of not having an address for job applications. Wherever there are problems that seem impossible for a homeless individual to overcome, we can help them and make a difference. Either by volunteering, donating, or even just sharing these resources to spread awareness. The means to house the most vulnerable members of society exist, and the power is in our hands. Will you use it?
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