Homelessness Is Not So Much About Broken People As It Is About A Broken System

In response to Tatiana’s blog regarding the treatment of homeless people in Texas cities, I find myself in agreement that homelessness is indeed a huge problem in Texas and in Austin. I have personally devoted the past ten years volunteering to help the homeless and have changed the way I see the problem and the solutions.

Tatiana, I don’t think that it is negative to have laws that prohibit vagrants from sleeping in public places. In fact, I want strict regulations for vagrants so that they are not sleeping in public places. By allowing them to sleep in public places we basically condone the problem this creates. We are enabling the homeless when we allow certain behaviors. In an NPR article a man who had been homeless got help and is now living independently because the forced him to get help for his schizophrenia.  He stated, “What changed for me first and foremost was I got arrested, and I know that doesn’t sound like a good thing, but it was a good thing for me because it was the first time anybody realized that I needed help.”

Though I do agree with you regarding the need for shelters for the homeless, I feel that there should be stipulations for how long people can use these shelters so that these people don’t become dependent and abuse the privilege. You make a good point that there is a need for shelters to help people get back on their feet, but before we can help them get jobs the majority of homeless people need help becoming functional citizens. The statistics show that people living in Texas are not homeless because of lack of jobs. Texas has been able to maintain employment during the downsizing of recent years. The main issues of homelessness seem to revolve around mental problems.  What would be optimum is to offer addiction counseling and therapy for the 68% homeless people who are dealing with addiction issues. Treatment programs are needed because homeless addicts are likely to return to their addictive behaviors and become homeless over and over again. Another overwhelming issue that I experienced in working with this community of homeless people in Austin was that of mental illness. From statistics, between 20 – 25% of homeless people are plagued with mental illnesses including some that are easily remedied with proper medication and psychiatric help.

Indeed I agree that Texas has a growing issue of homelessness, but I sincerely feel that the root issues are those of mental illness, addiction issues, and violence, rather than lack of jobs. It is heartbreaking to see these homeless people in need of help, but I feel there are more effective ways to help them without enabling them.