The Only Workable Solution to Homelessness That Will Never Be Implemented in America
by John Lawrence
What drives the lack of a solution to homelessness is fear - fear by politicians that any humane solution will create more homelessness and fear that people in poverty will lose their fear of becoming homeless if there's a humane solution. Secondarily, there is this mindset that every homeless person needs to be housed in lumber and concrete housing which is extremely expensive to create and be given away for free. Also, landlords don't want to lose their pool of renters who may opt to become homeless and avail themselves of free housing. Meanwhile, the homeless are increasingly consuming the time and resources of police and hospital emergency rooms.
So here is my solution, and then I'll tell you why it will never be implemented. Set aside land for free campgrounds just as a city sets aside land for parks. These should be open to all people not just the "homeless" at some snapshot in time. The financial savings from not building lumber and concrete housing would be immense. These campgrounds should have basic services like rest room facilities and showers. Also trash collection and security. The homeless can provide their own tents as they already have which are strewn all over public sidewalks. This solution accomplishes two very important goals: 1) it provides a marginally better lifestyle for the homeless with much better sanitary conditions and 2) it gets the homeless off the streets and sidewalks letting the general public feel safe in using them again. The money saved in police and hospital resources would probably pay for the minimal services provided. In addition social worker services in terms of mental health, drug counseling and job search might be provided as they are even today.
So this solution would make both the general public, who could reclaim the streets and sidewalks, and the homeless, who would have a marginally better and more sanitary life, better off and the whole scenario could be implemented on a very cost effective basis. Why would it never be implemented in America? Here's why. It heightens the fear among politicians and especially conservatives that the homeless population would continue to grow unabated as more and more people would choose to live in a campground than to pay exorbitant rent. Landlords would lobby politicians because they would fear losing their tenants. People on the lowest rungs of the financial ladder would lose their fear of becoming homeless as a free or almost free solution to housing in lumber and concrete becomes available. Most of the homeless already have rudimentary transportation i.e. bicycles. This gives them access to bus routes which can get them around the city. Most have some income which they use for food at fast food places which, while not nutritious, at least keeps them from starving. So my solution would not necessarily include food services or transportation services.
So why would my solution never be implemented? The fear that it would swell the ranks of the homeless by attracting more people who would prefer to live at a campground rather than paying exorbitant rents. No politician wants to admit that there is any other solution than to house the homeless in lumber and concrete which will never be feasible because of cost. Taxpayers won't stand for it. If politicians and the general public could ever get over their fear of attracting even more homeless if any humane solution is implemented, the solution outlined above might be approved. It is a cost effective solution that would marginally improve the lives of the homeless while creating an alternative for all those paying exorbitant rents and at the same time opening up public spaces formerly occupied by the homeless to the general public who would be able to use the public walkways, which are today strewn with trash, without fear.
